As a
professional OEM/ODM color cosmetics factory in China, we work with beauty brands every year that want to develop liquid
foundation products — from indie startups to established international brands.
And we see the same situation again and again:
Brands want to create a liquid foundation, but they don't know
How to choose the right factory
What questions to ask
What MOQs are realistic
Or how to avoid costly mistakes
So in this article, we want to give some suggestion — from a factory's point of view — what brands should look for when choosing a liquid
foundation manufacturer in China, and how the process really works behind the scenes.
Why Liquid Foundation Is One of the Most Complex Makeup Products
From a manufacturing perspective, liquid foundation is not a "simple" cosmetic product.
Compared with lipsticks or powders, liquid foundation involves:
Emulsion stability
Pigment dispersion
Skin feel and spreadability
Shade consistency
Oxidation control
Long-term stability testing
This is why brands should never choose a factory only based on price when developing liquid foundation.
A reliable OEM/ODM cosmetics factory must have:
In-house R&D lab
Experience with liquid/emulsion formulas
Strict quality control systems
Compliance knowledge for export markets
Step 1: Brands Must Be Clear About Product Direction (Before Contacting a Factory)
As a factory, one of the biggest challenges we see is brands contacting us with very unclear requirements.
Before reaching out to any liquid foundation manufacturer, brands should define:
Coverage level: sheer / medium / full
Finish: matte/satin / natural/dewy
Skin type: oily/dry / combination / sensitive
Texture: thin, serum-like, creamy, long-wear
Claims: waterproof, long-lasting, vegan, clean, SPF
Target market: U.S., EU, Middle East, Asia
The clearer the direction, the more efficiently a factory can:
Propose suitable base formulas
Estimate realistic MOQs
Shorten sampling time
From a factory's point of view, clarity saves time and cost for both sides.
Step 2: Choose a Real OEM/ODM Cosmetics Factory — Not a Trading Company
If a brand wants a
custom liquid foundation, it must work with a true OEM/ODM cosmetics manufacturer, not a trading company.
A real factory should have:
Its own production facility
An R&D team with formulation experience
ISO 22716 / GMPC certification
Experience exporting liquid cosmetics
As a manufacturer, we always recommend that brands verify:
Business license
Factory address
Production scope
Certification documents
This step alone filters out a large number of unreliable suppliers.
Step 3: Ask Factory-Level Questions (This Shows You're a Serious Brand)
From our experience, professional brands ask professional questions.
Good questions to ask a liquid foundation factory include:
Do you have experience producing liquid foundation?
Can you customize coverage, texture, and finish?
What is your MOQ per shade?
Do you support pilot or test batches?
Which markets do you export to?
Can you support FDA or EU CPNP compliance?
A
qualified cosmetics factory will answer clearly and transparently.
Step 4: Understanding MOQ for Liquid Foundation (Factory Reality)
From a manufacturing standpoint, liquid foundation requires:
Dedicated mixing equipment
Strict cleaning procedures
Stability testing
Color consistency control
This is why MOQs are usually higher than powders.
Typical factory MOQs:
Standard custom liquid foundation: 1,000–3,000 units per shade
Complex claims (SPF, waterproof): higher MOQ
Custom packaging: higher MOQ
However — and this is important —some factories (including ours) support pilot runs or low MOQ programs under certain conditions.
Low MOQ Is Possible — If Brands Plan Smartly
As a factory, we support low MOQ liquid foundation production for brands:
Start with fewer shades
Use standard packaging first
Plan for long-term cooperation
Accept pilot batch pricing
Low MOQ allows brands to:
Test market response
Collect customer feedback
Reduce inventory risk
Improve formulas before scaling
From our perspective, low MOQ is not a problem — poor planning is.
Step 5: Sampling is the Most Important Stage
Liquid foundation quality is decided during sampling, not mass production.
A professional factory will guide brands through:
Multiple sample revisions
Texture optimization
Shade matching
Oxidation testing
Stability evaluation
Brands should expect:
2–4 rounds of sampling
Clear feedback communication
Realistic development timelines
If a factory rushes sampling or refuses revisions, that is a serious warning sign.
Step 6: Compliance Is Not Optional
As a cosmetics manufacturer, we cannot stress this enough:
Liquid foundation must comply with regulations in the target market.
A reliable factory should provide:
Full INCI ingredient list
COA / MSDS
Stability test reports
Support for FDA (U.S.) or CPNP (EU)
Compliance issues discovered after production are expensive and risky.
Step 7: Scale After Market Validation
From years of manufacturing experience, we strongly recommend:
Launch with 3–6 core shades
Produce a pilot batch
Test sales, reviews, and feedback
Adjust formula or shade range
Scale production once demand is proven
This approach reduces risk for brands and creates more sustainable long-term cooperation with factories.
What We Believe as a Cosmetics Factory
From a manufacturer's point of view, the best partnerships are built when:
Brands understand their stage
Factories provide technical support
Both sides communicate clearly
Growth is planned, not rushed
A factory should not only produce products —It should help brands build products correctly.
Final Thoughts (From an OEM/ODM Factory in China)
Choosing a
liquid foundation manufacturer in China is not about finding:
the cheapest price
the largest factory
or the lowest promise
It's about finding a factory that offers:
Technical capability
Transparent communication
Flexible MOQ options
Long-term scalability
As an OEM/ODM color cosmetics factory, this is exactly how we approach liquid foundation development with our brand partners.
If you are a beauty brand looking for:
OEM/ODM liquid foundation development
Low MOQ or pilot batch support
Custom formula and shade creation
Export-ready manufacturing
Then working with an experienced cosmetics factory can save you time, money, and mistakes.