BUTTER-C
Face care
Sunscreen OEM/ODM manufacturing
Facial Sunscreen · OEM/ODM
Sunscreen is the only product in a skin care routine whose benefit is stated as a number — and that number has to be measurable. The SPF and PA on the label cannot be inferred from the ingredient list: the same set of UV filters gives different results in different bases, so every formula must be tested as a finished product. The rest is a question of skin feel: a sunscreen only works if people are willing to apply enough of it every day, which means no greasiness, no white cast and no stinging eyes. Butter-C offers full-service OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development to labeled finished goods and the cosmetic product notification.
Formula base
Three UV filter systems
Only UV filters listed in the annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive may be used, each with its own maximum concentration. Butter-C checks the current list when developing the formula.
New-generation organic filters
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. Photostable, broad UVA and UVB coverage, thin and light texture.
Mineral filters
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, usually surface-coated for easier dispersion. Suited to sensitive skin and mother-and-baby lines; the challenges are white cast and a dry, rough feel.
Hybrid systems
Organic and mineral filters combined to reach a high rating at a lower total concentration, reducing white cast while staying gentle.
What to weigh when choosing
Target rating; target market (each country has its own list of permitted filters); skin type; tone-up or not; water resistance; and cost.
Key technical points
Four factors that determine the rating and the skin feel
Dissolving and dispersing the filters
Solid organic filters need enough polar oil to keep them from recrystallizing; mineral powders must disperse evenly without clumping. Crystallized or agglomerated filters both lower the real-world rating.
An even film on the skin
SPF depends on the product spreading into a continuous, uniform layer. Film formers, viscosity and the flow of the base determine this; that is why two formulas with the same filters can give two different ratings.
Photostability and compatibility
Some filters gradually lose efficacy in sunlight or react with each other or with metal ions. We select stable combinations and add photostabilizers when needed.
Skin feel and tone-up effect
Oil-absorbing powders, volatile silicones and light esters give a dry finish. The tone-up effect uses Titanium Dioxide and small amounts of pink or violet pigments; the shade is adjusted across a range of skin tones.
Three formulation directions
Three common textures
Skin care sunscreen cream
Oil-in-water emulsion with added care ingredients such as Panthenol, Niacinamide and Bakuchiol. For daily use, replacing the morning moisturizer step.
Lightweight sun milk or gel
Fluid, fast-absorbing, low shine. Suited to oily skin and people who dislike a heavy feel; easy to reapply during the day.
Tone-up sunscreen
Contains pigments that instantly even out skin tone, replacing a makeup primer. White cast and fading of the tone-up effect after several hours must be checked.
Packaging must be planned with the formula
Multi-layer plastic tubes or light-blocking airless pump bottles. UV filters and silicones can swell some plastics, so compatibility testing is required.
Parameters we monitor
What our R&D lab measures on every sample
Below are the parameters Butter-C monitors during formula development and scale-up to production. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- SPF
- Screened in the lab during formula development; the label rating is measured in vivo per ISO 24444 at a testing facility.
- UVA protection
- Measured per ISO 24442 or ISO 24443 to determine the PA level and critical wavelength.
- Water resistance
- Tested per ISO 16217 and ISO 18329 when the label states "water resistant".
- Sensory profile & color
- Color, odor and smoothness; for tone-up products, color is checked against the reference sample for every batch.
- pH & viscosity
- pH affects the stability of Zinc Oxide; viscosity determines how uniform the film is.
- Emulsion stability
- Centrifugation, freeze–thaw cycling, storage at 40°C; filter crystallization checked under a polarized light microscope.
- Skin feel
- Spreadability, shine, white cast, pilling when layered, and eye stinging.
- Microbiology & preservative challenge
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test per ISO 11930.
- Packaging compatibility
- Filled into the actual tube to be used; checked for plastic swelling, print peeling and seal integrity.
Claims
Writing claims within the cosmetic scope
For sunscreens, every number on the label must be backed by a test report included in the Product Information File. Butter-C reviews the wording on labels and marketing materials while preparing the notification dossier.
SPF and PA
State only values measured on the finished product. Results of 50 or above are labeled "50+", never SPF 80 or SPF 100.
Helps protect skin from UVA and UVB rays
Instead of: total sun protection, 100% sun protection, blocks UV rays completely.
Helps limit sun-induced darkening
Instead of: prevents skin cancer, treats melasma, treats sunburn.
Water resistant
Only stated after water resistance testing. Instead of: won't wash off, lasts all day.
Directions for use
State clearly: apply a sufficient amount before sun exposure, reapply after swimming, sweating or towel drying; avoid prolonged sun exposure even when using the product.
Tone-up
Describe it as an instant skin-tone-evening effect from pigments; do not call it skin whitening.
Manufacturing specifications
Available capabilities
- Textures
- Sunscreen cream, milk, gel or essence; white, clear or tone-up.
- Formats
- Tubes, pump bottles or airless pump bottles. Fill volume agreed when choosing packaging.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order — depends on the formula direction and the chosen format.
- Testing
- Quality parameters tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; SPF and PA measured at a specialized testing facility.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) with SPF and PA reports, plus the cosmetic product notification, prepared by Butter-C.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Reference product
Butter-C Bakuchiol Toning Sun Cream
A sample made by Butter-C, shown here to help you picture a specific product direction. Your brand is free to choose a different direction — this is simply a starting point for discussion.
Label rating
SPF 50+ PA++++ — a protection level intended for daily use in areas with strong sun.
Bakuchiol and Panthenol
Accompanying care ingredients: Bakuchiol is photostable, so it can be used during the day; Panthenol soothes and helps retain moisture.
Tone-up effect
A pale pink cream that instantly evens out skin tone and can replace a makeup primer.
50 ml tube
White tube with a silver cap and a small nozzle for a measured dose; benefit icons printed on the tube.
Customization options
What you can specify
The same product type can serve very different customers depending on the brand. Tell us your requirements in the areas below, and our team of pharmacists will develop a matching formula.
Target rating
SPF 30, 50 or 50+; desired PA level. The higher the rating, the higher the cost of filters and testing.
UV filter system
New-generation organic, mineral-only, or hybrid.
Texture and finish
Cream, milk or gel; matte or dewy finish.
Tone-up
Untinted, lightly tone-up, or tinted with coverage.
Added care ingredients
Niacinamide, Panthenol, Bakuchiol, centella, Hyaluronic Acid.
Target market
Domestic only or export — please tell us at the outset, as each country has its own list of permitted UV filters.
Further reading
Related topics
SPF: what it means and how it is tested
How the number on the label is measured (in Vietnamese).
Bakuchiol in cosmetics
A care ingredient suitable for daytime use (in Vietnamese).
Managing skin pigmentation
Why sun protection is the foundation of every brightening range (in Vietnamese).
Dark spot brightening cream manufacturing
An evening product that pairs with daytime sunscreen.
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details (in Vietnamese) →
Get started
Tell us about the product you plan to launch
Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
Head office: Huu Le village, Dai Thanh commune, Hanoi · Factory: Thanh Oai Industrial Cluster, Binh Minh commune, Hanoi, Vietnam
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