BUTTER-C
Face care
Skincare primer OEM/ODM manufacturing
Skincare Primer · BB Lotion · OEM/ODM
A skincare primer sits on the line between skincare and makeup: it moisturizes while smoothing the skin surface and evening out skin tone, worn alone on everyday days or as a base under makeup. BB lotion is the tinted version of this category. Consumers judge the product within the first few seconds — does the shade match, does it blend evenly, does it pill or oxidize darker. For the manufacturer, the challenge is pigment dispersion and keeping color consistent from batch to batch, something uncolored skincare products never have to deal with. Butter-C provides full-service OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development to labeled finished goods with the cosmetic product notification.
Formula base
Emulsion base, smoothing powders and pigments
The formula consists of an emulsion base carrying the skincare actives, a group of powders and polymers that create effects on the skin surface, and pigments if the product is tinted.
Emulsion base
Oil-in-water for a light, hydrating feel; water-in-silicone for better adhesion and longer wear. Volatile silicones and light esters help the cream spread quickly and dry down to a fresh finish.
Smoothing powders and polymers
Silicone elastomers, spherical Silica, Nylon powder alternatives, Boron Nitride, coated Mica. They fill in uneven areas and scatter light so pores and fine lines look less visible.
Pigments
Titanium Dioxide and yellow, red and black iron oxides — surface-coated grades for easy dispersion and stability in the base. The blend ratio determines the shade.
Skincare actives
Rice extract, fermented rice water, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, centella. This is the "skincare" part that sets this category apart from makeup-only foundations.
Key technical points
Four factors that determine the quality of the base
Pigment dispersion
Agglomerated pigments cause color streaks when blended. Pigments are milled in a dispersing oil on a roller mill, or pre-dispersed grades are used, and fineness is checked before they go into the base.
Consistent color between batches
Every batch is color-matched against the approved reference sample, visually under standard lighting and with a colorimeter; the shade is adjusted before filling if it is off.
No pilling when layered
A primer sits between moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation. Film-forming polymers and powders are chosen so they do not roll into flakes when they meet other layers.
All-day wear
Skin oils cause the base to darken and break up. Oil-absorbing powders, film-forming polymers and the share of volatile oils are balanced so the base holds its color for hours in hot, humid climates.
Three formulation directions
Three common types of primer
Untinted primer
Clear or milky white, smooths the skin surface and helps makeup stay in place. Available as an oil-control matte version or a hydrating dewy version.
Color-correcting primer
Very sheer pink, lavender or green tints to neutralize dull, sallow or red-looking skin; no coverage.
BB lotion, skincare foundation
Pigmented, with light to medium coverage, in one to three shades. Worn alone in place of foundation on everyday days.
Packaging is planned with the formula
Pump bottles, tubes or airless pump bottles. Pigmented products need a mixing ball or a base thick enough to keep pigments from settling; plastics and gaskets must be silicone-resistant.
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.
- Color
- Compared with the reference sample under standard lighting and with a colorimeter; both the color in the bottle and the color when blended on skin are checked.
- Pigment fineness
- Checked with a fineness-of-grind gauge or a microscope; no agglomerates, no color streaks.
- pH & viscosity
- Measured at 25°C; viscosity determines pumpability and keeps pigments suspended.
- Emulsion stability
- Centrifugation, freeze–thaw cycling and storage at 40°C; oil separation, pigment settling and color change are tracked.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium — mineral pigments are a source to control; checked against certificates of analysis and tested in the finished product.
- On-skin evaluation
- Spreadability, coverage, sheen, pilling when layered, and how much the shade darkens after a few hours.
- Sun protection values (if any)
- SPF and PA are stated only after testing on the finished product to recognized test standards.
- Microbiology & preservative challenge
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test per ISO 11930.
- Packaging compatibility
- Filled into the exact bottle to be used; pump force, nozzle clogging and color staining on the bottle wall are checked.
Claims
Writing claims within the cosmetic scope
Tinted products create an instant effect through pigments, and that effect needs to be described accurately. Butter-C reviews the wording on labels and marketing materials as soon as the notification dossier is prepared.
Instantly evens out skin tone
Instead of: whitens skin, rapid whitening, lightens skin by several shades.
Covers skin imperfections
Instead of: removes dark spots, treats melasma, treats acne.
Helps pores look smoother
Instead of: tightens pores, shrinks pores.
Moisturizes, helps skin feel soft and smooth
Instead of: repairs skin, regenerates skin.
A naturally dewy base
Describes the product's visual effect; do not claim it improves skin structure.
Colorants on the label
List colorants by Color Index (CI) number in the ingredient list; multi-shade ranges may use a combined list with the phrase "may contain".
Manufacturing specifications
Current capabilities
- Texture
- Fluid lotion, light cream or gel; untinted, color-correcting or tinted with coverage.
- Format
- Pump bottles, tubes or airless pump bottles. Volume agreed during packaging selection.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order and per shade.
- Testing
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; a certificate of analysis is delivered with every batch.
- Documentation
- The Product Information File (PIF) and cosmetic product notification are prepared by Butter-C.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Reference product
ButterC Rice Water Glow BB Lotion — rice extract skincare primer lotion
A product made by Butter-C, shown here to give you a concrete product direction. Your brand can take a completely different direction — this is simply a starting point for discussion.
Rice extract
The hero skincare ingredient in the product name, tied to the story of traditional East Asian skincare.
Beige fluid lotion texture
Flows smoothly, blends sheer, light coverage; a natural shade.
Dewy effect
"Glow" — a hydrated base that catches the light softly, not matte.
Pump bottle format
Frosted bottle, white overcap, pump dispensing a small dose.
Customization options
What you can specify
Within the same product type, each brand targets a different customer group. Tell us your requirements in the areas below, and our team of pharmacists will develop a matching formula.
Tinted or untinted
Clear primer, color-correcting primer, or BB lotion with coverage.
Number of shades
One universal shade or several; each shade is a separate color formula and a separate production run.
Finish
Matte, semi-matte or dewy.
Skincare actives
Rice extract, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, centella, Panthenol.
Sun protection
With or without SPF and PA values; if included, additional testing time and cost are required.
Ingredient positioning
Vegan, alcohol-free, paraben-free, silicone-free — please state this from the outset, as it has a major impact on the formula base.
Further reading
Related topics
Facial skincare steps
Where a primer fits between the skincare and makeup steps (in Vietnamese).
SPF: meaning and testing
What to know before stating a sun protection value on a primer (in Vietnamese).
Sunscreen manufacturing
Tone-up sunscreen — a product close to a primer.
Moisturizer manufacturing
The moisturizing step before applying a primer.
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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