The United Kingdom is home to one of Europe’s most mature private-label beauty industries, with contract manufacturers ranging from small-batch indie specialists to 120,000 sq ft production facilities. Cosmetics sold in Great Britain are regulated under the UK Cosmetics Regulation — the retained and amended version of EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 — with products notified through the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) portal and oversight from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). That regulatory maturity, combined with deep formulation expertise, makes the UK a strong sourcing base for brands that want rigorous compliance alongside flexible, lower-MOQ production.
This guide profiles 9 OEM/ODM and private-label cosmetic manufacturers in the United Kingdom — what each specialises in, where it is based, and a direct link to its official website. (Looking for other regions? Browse the rest of the OEMHallmark blog.)
Key takeaways
- UK cosmetics manufacturers operate under the UK Cosmetics Regulation (retained EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009), with products notified via the SCPN portal and oversight from the OPSS.
- THG Labs and Sabel Cosmetics anchor the large-scale end of the market, with facilities built for established and multinational brands.
- Star Colour Laboratories, Herrco Cosmetics and MB Professional Beauty offer lower MOQs that suit start-up and indie beauty brands.
- The Beauty of Edinburgh brings a distinctly Scottish, natural-ingredient angle; Orean Personal Care pairs private-label manufacturing with certified B Corp sustainability credentials.
- Wormser UK and Cosmetics Lab round out the list with colour-cosmetics and high-volume formulation strengths respectively.
- Every company featured below has an active website and a verifiable UK manufacturing base.
How we chose this list
We focused on manufacturers with a verifiable UK production base, a live official website, and genuine OEM, ODM or private-label services open to external brands. Cosmetics manufactured or placed on the market in Great Britain must comply with the UK Cosmetics Regulation, be notified via the SCPN portal, and be supported by a Product Information File — with OPSS as the enforcing authority. Always confirm current ISO/GMP certifications, MOQs and lead times directly with each manufacturer before engaging.
1. Star Colour Laboratories
HQ: Linton, Cambridgeshire · Type: Private label & contract manufacturer · Best known for: Small-batch colour cosmetics, skincare & haircare
Star Colour Laboratories is a Cambridgeshire-based cosmetic manufacturer built around flexible, small-batch production for private-label and start-up brands. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 22716:2007 certified, the team covers formulation, filling and packaging across skincare, haircare, toiletries and colour cosmetics, with a cruelty-free manufacturing stance across its range.
Visit Star Colour Laboratories →
2. THG Labs
HQ: Frome, Somerset · Type: Full-service private label manufacturer · Best known for: Bespoke skincare, haircare, suncare & fragrance at scale
THG Labs is the manufacturing arm of THG plc, operating a 120,000 sq ft product-development and production facility in Frome that spans compounding, formulation labs and a dedicated scale-up pilot plant. It is one of the UK’s largest bespoke private-label beauty manufacturers, serving both multinational brands and ambitious indie start-ups across skincare, haircare, bodycare, suncare and fragrance, with a sister manufacturing site in New Jersey for US-bound brands.
3. The Beauty of Edinburgh
HQ: Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland · Type: OEM/ODM manufacturer · Best known for: Scottish natural-ingredient skincare & personal care
The Beauty of Edinburgh is a Scotland-based OEM/ODM partner built on 20+ years of ingredient-sourcing experience across South Korea, the UK and the USA. The team handles compliance testing, filling and packaging in-house, with a particular focus on natural Scottish ingredients and in-house design support for brands wanting a distinctly Scottish positioning.
Visit The Beauty of Edinburgh →
4. Sabel Cosmetics
HQ: Halifax, West Yorkshire · Type: Contract manufacturer (hair, skin & personal care) · Best known for: Large-scale hair, skin, sun & sanitiser production
Founded over 30 years ago by managing director John Abel, Sabel Cosmetics operates from a 40,000 sq ft site in Halifax and has helped bring numerous hair, skin, sun-care and personal-care products to market for major brands. The company covers formulation development through to large-scale production, and expanded into hand-sanitiser manufacturing to meet pandemic-era demand — capacity it has retained alongside its core personal-care lines.
5. Orean Personal Care
HQ: United Kingdom (with a US site) · Type: Private label formulator & manufacturer · Best known for: High-performance skincare & haircare; B Corp certified
Orean is a certified B Corporation operating private-label formulation and manufacturing sites in both the UK and USA, positioning itself around “beauty built better” — pairing high-performance skincare and haircare formulation with a documented sustainability and community focus. Its B Impact assessment score of 87.5 reflects a manufacturer that is transparent about supply-chain and environmental practices alongside its core turnkey production services.
6. Cosmetics Lab
HQ: United Kingdom · Type: Formulation, testing & contract production · Best known for: High-volume skincare, haircare & make-up manufacturing
Cosmetics Lab is a UK contract manufacturer offering an in-house path from formulation development through stability and challenge testing to bulk filling, with capacity to produce up to 100,000 units per day. Testing services span TVC, stability and challenge work in-house, with SPF and dermatological testing arranged through partner labs, plus support compiling the safety documentation brands need before sale.
7. Wormser UK
HQ: Irlam, Manchester · Type: Private label & branded cosmetics manufacturer · Best known for: Colour cosmetics, skincare, men’s grooming & fragrance
Wormser UK is the British manufacturing arm of the Wormser Corporation, founded in New Jersey in 1984, and designs, develops and produces both private-label and branded cosmetics from its Manchester-area facility. Its range spans colour cosmetics, skincare, men’s grooming and fragrance, and the company also owns the MUA Makeup Academy retail brand — giving it an unusually direct feedback loop between its own colour-cosmetics line and its contract-manufacturing clients.
8. Herrco Cosmetics
HQ: Halesworth, Suffolk · Type: Full-service beauty manufacturer · Best known for: Low-MOQ organic, vegan & waterless beauty formulation
Herrco Cosmetics is a family-run manufacturer founded in 1988 by Nigel and Sue Herrmann, covering everything from initial brief and ingredient sourcing through to filling, labelling and distribution. GMP, ISO 22716:2007 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, Herrco specialises in hot and cold fills, waterless beauty and organic/vegan formulation, with production accessible to indie and start-up brands as well as established labels.
9. MB Professional Beauty
HQ: London (Covent Garden) & Surrey · Type: Private label cosmetics & skincare manufacturer · Best known for: Low-MOQ formulation, manufacturing & packaging
MB Professional Beauty runs formulation, manufacturing, packaging and design out of a London office and a Surrey production facility, with standard formulations available from as low as 500 units per SKU. That low entry point makes it a practical option for smaller and newer beauty brands that still want full-service support through to finished, labelled product.
Visit MB Professional Beauty →
Frequently asked questions
Why source OEM cosmetics from the United Kingdom?
The UK combines a long-established private-label manufacturing base with a modern, independently-run regulatory regime. Contract manufacturers range from large multinational-scale facilities to low-MOQ specialists suited to indie and start-up brands, and most operate under ISO 22716 (GMP) alongside UK cosmetics compliance.
How are cosmetics regulated in the United Kingdom?
Cosmetics placed on the Great Britain market must comply with the UK Cosmetics Regulation — the retained, UK-amended version of EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 — and be notified via the SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification) portal. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the enforcing authority, and manufacturers typically also hold ISO 22716 (GMP) and ISO 9001 certification. Northern Ireland follows separate arrangements under the Windsor Framework. Always confirm current certifications with each manufacturer.
What minimum order quantities should I expect?
MOQs vary widely: specialists such as MB Professional Beauty and Herrco Cosmetics offer entry points from roughly 500–5,000 units per SKU, while larger contract manufacturers such as THG Labs and Sabel Cosmetics are generally geared toward higher-volume production. Lead times for custom formulations commonly run 12–20 weeks. Confirm MOQs and timelines directly with your chosen partner.
Sources: company websites and public industry reporting, compiled by the OEMHallmark research desk. Screenshots captured from each company’s official website. Always verify current capabilities, certifications and MOQs directly with each manufacturer before engaging.