BUTTER-C
Face care
Brightening serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
Brightening Serum · OEM/ODM
A brightening serum aims for a more even, radiant-looking complexion, using actives that act on different stages of pigment formation. This category has two particular traits: many actives are restricted in concentration or not permitted in cosmetics at all, and the product easily changes color over time. Choosing actives from the permitted lists and keeping color and active content stable through the end of shelf life therefore have to be handled together. Butter-C offers full-service manufacturing, from formula development to labeled finished goods and the cosmetic product notification.
Formula base
Brightening actives — choose the lead active first, then pH and packaging
A serum usually has one lead active and one or two supporting actives that work on different stages, complementing each other instead of stacking up irritation.
Vitamin C and derivatives
Pure Ascorbic Acid needs a pH below 3.5 and oxidizes very easily. More stable derivatives — Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate — allow a skin-friendly pH and a longer shelf life.
Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid
Niacinamide 2–5%, Tranexamic Acid 2–3%. Stable at pH 5–7, low stinging, suitable for both morning and evening — the basis of a gentle brightening direction.
Arbutin, Kojic Acid, licorice extract
Alpha-Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Glabridin from licorice, 4-Butylresorcinol. Concentrations within regulatory limits; some are light-sensitive and prone to discoloration.
What to weigh when choosing
Use only actives permitted in cosmetics and within regulatory limits; color stability of the formula; tolerance of the target skin group; and the price difference between Ascorbic Acid and its derivatives.
Key technical points
Keeping color and active content stable through the end of shelf life
A brightening serum turning yellow and then brown is the first defect consumers notice, and it usually means the active content has already dropped. The four items below are settled together.
Antioxidants and color retention
A combination of antioxidants (Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid), chelators and oxygen control during filling. Color values are measured periodically during stability testing, not just checked by eye.
pH and compatibility
Pure Ascorbic Acid needs a low pH, while Niacinamide prefers pH 5–7. To combine both in one bottle, use a vitamin C derivative that is stable at a skin-friendly pH.
Tolerance
Brightening actives combined with acids can easily cause stinging. Soothing and moisturizing agents (Panthenol, Allantoin, Hyaluronate) are built in from the start, not added later.
Sun protection alongside
Skin using brightening products needs daytime sun protection. The directions on the label state this clearly; many brands choose to add a sunscreen to the same line.
Three formulation directions
One goal, three different experiences
Vitamin C serum
Ascorbic Acid or a derivative, combined with Tocopherol and Ferulic Acid. Used in the morning before sunscreen; aimed at dull skin.
Niacinamide – Tranexamic Acid serum
Skin-friendly pH, low stinging, for morning and evening use. A gentle direction, well suited as the entry product of a brightening line.
Combination serum for uneven skin tone
Arbutin and licorice extract with Niacinamide. Used on the whole face or targeted at dark spots; requires more thorough irritation testing than the two directions above.
Packaging must be planned with the formula
Dark bottles or airless pumps are the technically safe choice. If the brand wants a clear bottle to show the color of the liquid, a light-blocking carton and a color-stable derivative are needed.
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.
- Sensory profile & color values
- Color, odor, clarity; color values measured periodically to detect yellowing early.
- pH
- Measured directly at 25°C; pH drift monitored across stability time points.
- Viscosity
- Measured with a rotational viscometer, recording spindle and speed. Tied to the choice of dropper or pump.
- Active content
- Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Arbutin and Tranexamic Acid quantified by HPLC on every batch.
- Remaining content after aging
- Re-quantified after each accelerated aging time point — the basis for setting shelf life.
- Screening for prohibited substances
- Heavy metals and substances not permitted in brightening cosmetics are tested on raw materials and finished product, as required by regulations.
- Stability
- Accelerated aging at 40°C, freeze–thaw cycling and light exposure; monitored for discoloration, separation and precipitation.
- Packaging compatibility
- Stored in contact with the actual bottle, dropper, gasket or pump to be used; checked for airtightness and light transmission.
- Microbiology & safety
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test per ISO 11930; irritation testing before the formula is finalized.
Claims
Writing claims within the cosmetic scope
Brightening products are among the most closely monitored categories in post-market surveillance, for both ingredients and advertising. Butter-C reviews the wording on labels and marketing materials while preparing the notification dossier; below are commonly used phrasings.
Helps even out skin tone for a more radiant look
Instead of: whitening, dramatic whitening, bleaching.
Helps fade the look of dark spots
Instead of: treats melasma, erases dark spots, removes freckles.
Helps skin look brighter
Instead of: permanent whitening, whiter in 7 days.
Brightens skin
Instead of: inhibits melanin, acts on pigment cells.
Ingredient names and descriptions
Use correct INCI names and concentrations within limits; do not use substances not permitted in cosmetics.
Efficacy figures
State only when backed by test results on the product itself; make no comparative or superlative claims against other products.
Manufacturing specifications
Available capabilities
- Textures
- Watery serum, lightly viscous essence or light emulsion; clear or tinted by the actives.
- Formats
- Glass bottles with droppers, 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
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, including active content assay; a certificate of analysis is delivered with every batch.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) and cosmetic product notification prepared by Butter-C, including mandatory label warnings.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Reference product
Brightening Serum — Vitamin C Essence
This sample is shown to help you picture a specific formula direction. Your brand is free to choose a different direction — this is simply a starting point for discussion.
Vitamin C
The lead active of the formula; stable derivatives are preferred to keep the color of the liquid stable.
Essence texture
Fluid, fast-absorbing, no sticky layer — suitable for morning use before sunscreen.
Product direction
Helps skin look brighter with a naturally even tone; for dull, tired-looking skin.
50 ml format
Glass bottle with a dropper and overcap; comes with a carton to block light.
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.
Lead active
Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Arbutin or a combination — determines pH, packaging and label warnings.
Time of use
Day serum, night serum or both.
Texture
Water-thin, lightly viscous or light emulsion.
Soothing and hydrating agents
Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Allantoin; safety-assessed before being added.
Fragrance and color
Scented or fragrance-free; the natural color of the actives or adjusted to match the label.
Ingredient positioning
Vegan, fragrance-free, alcohol-free — please tell us at the outset so we can select suitable raw materials.
Further reading
Related topics
Vitamin C serum manufacturing
A closer look at forms of vitamin C and how to keep them stable.
Managing skin pigmentation: dark patches, freckles and post-acne marks
Why skin tone becomes uneven and the actives commonly used in cosmetics (in Vietnamese).
Melazero in cosmetics: how it brightens skin and usage levels
An active that evens out skin tone and how to combine it in a formula (in Vietnamese).
SPF: what it means, ISO test methods and where to test
Sun protection — an essential step when using brightening products (in Vietnamese).
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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