Those in the beauty industry know that consumer demand for natural products is growing day by day. We are experienced natural beauty creators, using organic and naturally derived ingredients wherever possible and making science-based decisions when crafting formulas to ensure a stable, competitive final product. Our products are also cruelty free and made with sustainability in mind, so both you and your customers can feel good about your purchases. Plus, our stock products are available directly to the public, making us a great partner for small businesses while being readily equipped to support you as your company grows.
Quality
Every company has their own definition of quality, but as a skincare manufacturer, quality is our most important business practice. So what does “quality” mean to Essential?
Product Development
At Essential, we have developed a process to assist us and our business partners in a smooth collaboration of product development. A product that comes to you from our facility has gone through 5 significant product development phases. We research and create a product plan utilizing our internal resources, and after a design plan and a product proposal have been established we hand things over to our in-house lab. Our master formulators and professional chemists conduct research and development, using innovative scientific methods and creating prototype formulas of the highest quality.
Once we have settled on the best possible formula, there are rigorous tests that the product has to go through before it is ready for production, including third party lab tests. We are thorough in this so that our products can glide their way through the production process quickly and strategically. Essential strives to perfect every step of our processes and we are always adapting to provide a polished transfer to our manufacturing team to provide you and your customers with high quality, efficacious products.
Ingredient Sourcing
We source from vendors we trust and require supporting documentation on every item we bring into our facility. It’s why we’ll ask our private label customers to provide Certificates of Analysis and Safety Data Sheets on any ingredients they provide. We carefully monitor our ingredient inventory by lot number and expiry date so that when we’re ready to batch fresh products, we know they are made from fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients from around the world. Additionally, all USDA Certified Organic ingredients are quarantined in a separate section of the warehouse to maintain strict adherence to the chain of control. For us, that’s where quality assurance begins.
Testing
We test our finished products in our QC lab, we test every lot that goes out our door before it goes to our customers. Products you purchase from Essential have been through a quality assurance process to verify consistency in color, viscosity, scent, pH and of course, to ensure the product is free from microbial bacteria, yeast, and mold. We store all test results electronically and can create a Certificate of Analysis on any of our products or ingredients upon request.
Batching
Quality is also built into our batch sizes. We batch small because natural and organic ingredients have shorter shelf lives than synthetic products created from lab-manufactured ingredients. We don’t want your products sitting on our shelves for months and months before they even get to you. Know you’ll be getting the freshest product we can give you at any time.
We also batch every day, which means we’ll often have 50 to 70 batches produced each week. That’s a lot to keep track of. Therefore, we retain a batch sample (2 oz glass) for every single batch we make and store and organize it by the batch’s lot code. That retention sample serves two purposes, to determine if the next batch is the same as the previous batch and if the product can hold up over time. Additionally, we will perform in process production checks to ensure that every step of production is meeting specific criteria and our high standards. When you order your products and ingredients from Essential, you’re not just buying a lotion or an essential oil or a peptide; you’re buying confidence in the products you sell to your customers.
Proprietary Ingredients
Along with using our proprietary ingredients in formulations, we sell our own manufactured ingredients directly. This includes our essential oil blends and oil blends, which have been carefully crafted by our registered aromatherapist.
We track quality from beginning to end, therefore if we can’t find a certain ingredient that will meet our standards, we can instead decide to make it ourselves. Our lab and manufacturing facility have given us the freedom to make that choice, instead of getting stuck with what everyone else is using. Purchasing stock products, ingredients, or formulating with us gives you that freedom to choose the best ingredients possible. Along with the benefit of choice, we guarantee to give you the freshest ingredients or products possible. Manufacturing in house gives us this privilege, since we don’t have to wait to source these ingredients or for shipping.
Another benefit from our proprietary ingredients is the ability to adapt quickly. The supply chain is constantly going through unexpected changes but our ingredients manufactured in-house give us the ability to glide through these difficulties and deliver your customers products with ease.
Safety
As a manufacturing facility, our employees come first. We work with OSHA to make sure we are compliant and that we are up to date with all regulations. Finally, besides inspecting our raw materials and facility for cleanliness and sanitation, we are constantly looking to improve our process and growing as the industry grows.
Sustainability
Essential is committed to sustainability and innovative, alternative energy solutions. We believe we are members of a broader community, and we want to do our part to contribute to and influence sustainable measures through the industry and our local community, too. These values drive our day-to-day activities and decisions.
Solar Powered Manufacturing
As you think about how to increase your sustainability footprint, using skincare made at a solar-powered manufacturing facility is one giant step you can take.
Essential Wholesale has adopted this remarkable technology here in Portland, and our re-purposed warehouse boasts an enormous solar power array, with over 400 panels generating about 147,000 kWh a year (it covers our entire roof!). We worked in conjunction with Oregon Energy Trust, our landlord and a host of organizations to make this possible. We now produce almost 80% of our energy needs and are happy to provide solar-powered skincare to our customers.
Carbon Offset Shipping
We participate in UPS’s carbon neutral program, offsetting even more carbon emissions with every shipment we make to you. We ship thousands of packages and hundreds of pallets of products every month. Our partnership with UPS means every package and every pallet shipped with them is shipped through the UPS Carbon Offset program.
As a manufacturing company, we realize how much shipping is used and the extreme amount of fuel that is needed for shipments. Therefore, we try our best to counteract these emissions through offsetting our carbon footprint, and many other efforts that put the environment first.
Sustainable Shipping Materials
We use compostable packing peanuts, as well as shipping boxes made from recycled material. When you see a box with our green logo stamped on it, feel free to reuse or recycle to keep that going! In terms of packaging, we offer sustainable options, use recycled plastic, and are constantly finding and testing greener solutions that can still hold up to essential oils.
We’re always on the lookout for new ways to keep the planet a little healthier and hope you and your customers feel great about the impact you’re making alongside us.
Responsibly Sourced Ingredients
It’s not enough to simply use high quality ingredients—from the start of the supply chain to the finished product, beauty buyers care about the effect their products have on individuals and the environment.
Our Ingredient Philosophy
Consumers are becoming more and more likely to read ingredient lists before investing in skincare—make a great impression on your customer with our meticulously chosen ingredients. We are a Leaping Bunny certified facility, meaning we only source cruelty free, thoroughly documented ingredients. Similarly, we strive to source the most sustainable and ethically produced ingredients possible. Our long-standing relationships with vendors ensure that we can respond nimbly to supply chain shifts and stay on the pulse of the ingredient market.
When picking ingredients for our formulas, we take a variety of factors into account, including bioavailability, functionality, pricing, and, of course, quality. We use natural ingredients whenever possible, often favoring certified organic ingredients when they are available. When we do opt for a synthetic ingredient, it is an intentional choice, typically made to preserve the stability of a formula, or to ensure that the formula can remain vegan and cruelty free.
Interested in our science-backed skincare tips, beauty business insider advice, natural ingredient info, and more? Check out our blog to learn more.
