The SULA LABS Report - Come & Test With Us!

Authors: AJ Addae, Kahina Jean-Baptiste

Abstract

Tomorrow is August. Yes, we’re also mindblown. But, we’re also super excited to share with you a few special things that we have going on at the lab — so this month’s SLR is all about claims substantiation testing, and private label products.

So what are you waiting for? Scroll down, and dive in!

SULA LABS’ Testing Capabilities

SULA LABS was built out of a labor of love for three things: skin, research, and diversity. To put it like Ken from the Barbie movie, our job is just — skin.

When AJ founded SULA LABS, she was leaving her dream job in clinical research and formulation largely due to very rarely seeing people like herself in not just the industry, but also the R&D that achieves the products we know and love.

As we all know, R&D in the beauty industry largely lacks diversity as a basic requirement at both the academic level, and the clinical + testing level. Furthermore, testing with dark skinned consumers is often a cost driver when it comes to testing, due to lack of recruitment. Therefore, it’s super important to us to be intentional in our mission, and that’s why we offer claim substantiation tests with dark skinned consumers upon request — because you shouldn’t have to pay extra to test on dark skinned consumers. Our capabilities include:

Our favorite testing instruments that we use in-house:

Our other testing services:

• Before and After Photography, which can either be combined with the tests above, or utilized in a…

• Standard Consumer Testing Panel to receive consumer perceived insights on the efficacy of a product

• Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT) panels for claims such as “Hypoallergenic, non-sensitizing, non-allergenic, sensitization tested, allergy tested, clinically tested, non-primary irritant to the skin, and non-irritating formula”

• In-vitro/ex-vivo tissue studies to test the quality and impact of ingredients at the cellular level — we achieve these by using cells donated by participants (and in most cases, dark skinned participants) to culture and grow them in the lab, apply the test product, and measure effects on things such as hyperpigmentation levels, phototoxicity from the sun, texture, epidermal thickness, and so much more!

• SPF and Critical Wavelength Testing to determine the SPF factor and broad-spectrum capabilities of sunscreen formulas

• Compositional Analyses to measure the active matter content of an active ingredient

• Heavy Metals Testing to determine the content of heavy metals in an ingredient or formula

• Microbial Testing to determine potential for yeast, mold, and bacteria growth

• Stability Testing to determine the stability of a formulation

Ready to test some products? You can either test your SULA LABS-made formulas or any formula by reaching out to testing@sula-labs.com.

The SULA LABS Private Label Innovation Line

When you go to a cosmetic manufacturer, they often offer Private Label skincare products to take a product to market quicker than a custom formulation. Yes, many of your favorite products have twins out there in the world! While this sounds convenient, many of these products are bland, not up to trend, or don’t even aim to serve specified consumer markets. Using market research and academic ingredient literature, we’ve created the SULA LABS Private Label Innovation Line to bring you formulas informed by diversity. These products are customizable with up to 3 active ingredients (or can be left as is!), and tested for quick-to-market manufacturing. Some of our favorites are:

Butter Me Up Cream Base is a powerful hydrating cream that quickly and visibly lifts, firms, and diminishes fine lines for revitalized skin. 

Key Benefits:

• Visibly lifts, firms, and diminishes fine lines for revitalized skin. 

• Reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and water loss.

• Nourishes and intensely hydrates the skin.

Key Ingredients: 

• All in One™ -  A blend of aloe vera stem cells extract, glycerin, and water that work to hydrate, smooth, and soothe irritated skin. 

• Beracare ARS - A natural complex that works to preserve skin hydration, revitalize the skin, and soften the skin with every use.

• Mitotech - An encapsulated mango leaf extract material that protects the skin from environmental damage while providing anti-inflammatory properties.

Well-Aging Face and Eye Serum is an instantly cooling and refreshing serum that wakes up tired eyes, soothes the skin, and reduces the appearance of fine lines for a youthful glow.

Key Benefits: 

• Reduces the appearance of fine lines.

• Reduces the appearance of puffiness and dehydrated skin in the under eye and the global face. 

• Soothes the skin and reduces under eye irritation. 

Key Ingredients:

• Skin Tightener - A skin tightening complex with water, glycerin, kelp extract, and vegetable protein that promotes an instant skin tightening effect, decreases the under eye volume, and provides and immediate skin smoothing effect.

• Barpull - Instantly visibly firms and moisturizes the skin.

Biocellulose Mask adheres tightly to the skin to deliver high moisture content and increased hydration compared to other substrates by creating a barrier that almost completely blocks evaporation from the skin.

Key Benefits:

• Biodegradable sheet mask

• Plumps, hydrates and soothes irritated skin

• Utilizes powerful antioxidants for environmental defense

Key Ingredients:

• Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate - The most stable form of Vitamin C for topical applications

• Hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate - For a visible, immediate plumping effect

Scalp Detox Fluid is an instantly cooling and refreshingly light product that soothes and supports a healthy scalp.

Key Benefits:

• Addresses sebum production of the scalp that causes overwhelming dryness and itchiness

Key Ingredients:

• Defenscalp - Reduces sebum and the appearance of flakes

• Sansiscalp - Utilizes a microbiome-targeted approach to improve the scalp’s skin barrier

Other innovation line products:

• Sulfate-free face and body cleanser (we’re obsessed with the foaming!)

• Hydrocolloid patches (customizable) - designed to wick moisture from zits and blemishes for faster healing overtime

• Day cream - a facial cream featuring encapsulated mango leaf extract material for antioxidant and barrier boosting capabilities

• Hair serum - a serum that includes hemisqualane, brassica oil copolymer for heat-protection at 450 degrees F, and THD ascorbate for antioxidant defense

• Textured hair mask - a multifunctional conditioner with hair strengthening and protein-reparative ingredients

• Face gel - a lightweight face gel with sebum-control ingredients and antioxidant defense

And so much more! Email our Product Dev Manager, Kristin, at kristin@sula-labs.com for either a singular sample, or a kit (supplies are limited) of our products.

Conclusion

We are so grateful for your support at the SULA LABS Report, and we’re open with welcome arms for testing, private-label products, and of course, formulation. As always, don’t forget to share The SULA LABS Report with your founder friends, beautypreneurs, and your skincare-loving friends for monthly insights, news, ingredient recommendations/breakdowns, manufacturing + vendor recs, and scientific skincare commentary. Next month, we’re diving deep into the cost of manufacturing — so stay tuned for all things pricing, COGs, and margins.

Until next time,

SULA LABS