FAQ

Three categories matter most: composition and regulatory compliance statements, safety assessment support data, and explicit nano labelling. For composition, provide full INCI names, CAS numbers and a statement on compliance with the restricted and prohibited lists in EC 1223/2009. For safety, the EU requires a Cosmetic Product Safety Report prepared by a qualified safety assessor, and raw materials must supply supporting toxicological data. If the material contains nanoscale particles, this must be declared on the label and in documentation. Also account for REACH SVHC screening, SCIP database notification obligations and packaging recycling labelling. These are not powder-specific, but they come up on every shipment.

The core principles for children's cosmetics are simplified formulas, safe ingredients and controlled use scenarios. At the powder level that translates into fewer unnecessary colorants, avoiding inhalable powder formats and tighter microbiological control. China's regulation on supervision and administration of children's cosmetics requires safety-first formulation, only necessary efficacy claims and minimal formulas, along with a dedicated child safety assessment. Powders with debated profiles, such as talc and nanomaterials, warrant extra caution in these products. For baby powder type products, inhalability is the primary concern and many markets already discourage loose powder formats in infant products. Define the use scenario during formula assessment rather than judging raw material compliance in isolation.

Yes, but the focus differs from liquid raw materials. Powders have low water activity, so microbial proliferation is limited and risk comes mainly from cross-contamination during production and recontamination after packaging. Routine tests cover total aerobic count, total yeast and mould count, and specified pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coliforms. Acceptance criteria follow the relevant standard for the intended use and finished product type. Control measures matter more than end-product testing: production area cleanliness, equipment and packaging sanitation, and finished-product water activity. Relying on final testing alone usually means discovering a problem too late.

The usual flow is: describe the application and requirement, we recommend matching grades, samples ship, you run a bench trial. Samples are typically 100-500 g, enough for several small-scale trials. To avoid a round of guesswork, tell us the product category (pressed powder, liquid foundation, lipstick, sunscreen), whether the system is water-in-oil or oil-in-water, the main sensory and performance targets, and the process conditions such as pressing pressure and dispersion equipment. With that, we can shortlist grades instead of having you test everything. Custom-treated samples take longer because the surface treatment is scheduled as a separate batch. Lead time is confirmed once the treatment plan is agreed.

For standard grades the MOQ follows the packaging format, typically one 25 kg drum, with some higher-value grades available in 5 kg or 10 kg packs. Custom-treated powders carry a higher MOQ because surface treatment is a batch operation and equipment cleaning costs cannot be spread over a small quantity. The exact figure depends on the treatment chemistry and process complexity. At the sampling stage, validate with standard grades first and discuss customisation once the direction is confirmed. This avoids committing to customisation costs while the direction is still uncertain.

Yes, customisation is one of our core capabilities. Adjustable variables include the treatment chemistry and coating level, the particle size distribution, and the blend ratio with other powders. The right starting point is your formulation problem, not a powder specification. A single symptom such as pilling in liquid foundation can map to three different treatment directions, so we first establish whether it is a dispersion, compatibility or over-absorption issue, and may ask for a sample to verify. Once a custom grade is confirmed, we retain a reference sample and build a technical parameter file, and subsequent batches run against that standard to hold batch-to-batch consistency.

Standard grades are normally stocked, with shipment scheduled after order confirmation. Custom grades are queued against the treatment process and take noticeably longer. Three factors drive lead time: whether the grade is standard, the packaging format, and whether additional test reports are required. If a project is time-critical, state the required arrival date at the enquiry stage so we can confirm against the production schedule rather than estimate. For export orders, remember that inspection, customs clearance and freight usually take longer than production itself, so build in that margin early.

Yes, all three. The COA is issued per batch with measured values for that batch; the MSDS follows the standard format; the TDS gives typical properties and application guidance. Do not confuse them. The COA covers actual data for the delivered batch and is used for acceptance. The TDS carries typical values and is used for formula design. The MSDS carries safety information for storage, transport and regulatory filing. For export or registration purposes we can also supply composition declarations, regulatory compliance statements and third-party test reports. Request these at the order stage so nothing is missing at customs.

Powder pricing has four components: raw material cost, processing method, particle size and purity control, and surface treatment. For the same nominal specification, most of the spread sits in the last two. A narrow particle size distribution means lower yield and higher cost, but noticeably better batch consistency and performance. Coating level and uniformity directly affect dispersion, and under-treatment cannot be compensated by dosing more. Neither gap shows up on a TDS; only testing reveals it. When comparing quotes, compare three things alongside price: the full particle size distribution curve (not just D50), the treatment chemistry and coating level, and historical batch-to-batch variation data. Buying on unit price alone often delivers a product that meets the spec sheet and still will not run.

D50 is the median of the cumulative particle size distribution, usually measured by laser diffraction. Different instruments and different dispersion conditions can produce quite different numbers. The main variables are the dispersant medium (water or organic solvent), the type and dose of dispersing agent, ultrasonic power and duration, and the optical model settings. For the same powder, changing the ultrasonic time alone can shift D50 by 10-20%. That means D50 figures from different suppliers are not directly comparable unless the test conditions match. A more reliable approach is to review the full distribution curve and ask for the test method. Our COA states the test conditions so customers can verify.

Three things: a stable raw material source, fixed process parameters, and per-batch testing before shipment. Powder production is most exposed to changes in deposit or supplier; once the impurity profile shifts, no amount of process discipline compensates. On the process side, classification accuracy and coating level are the critical parameters because they determine size distribution and dispersibility. These are fixed in the work standard, so a new batch does not mean new parameters. On testing, every batch is checked for particle size distribution, whiteness or hue, oil absorption and moisture, with coating level measured where relevant. Customer-specific requirements can be added to the routine test list by agreement.

There are two types, soft and hard agglomerates, and they require completely different responses. Soft agglomerates are held by van der Waals forces and static and can be broken by dispersion. Hard agglomerates involve chemical bonds or sintered necks and cannot be redispersed once formed. Nanopowders are most prone to hard agglomeration because of high surface area and surface energy. Prevention sits in drying and storage: moderate drying temperature, avoiding repeated moisture uptake and re-drying, and sealed moisture-barrier packaging. On the user side, soft agglomerates usually mean the dispersion step is insufficient. Check the tip speed of high-shear dispersion, the dispersion time, and whether an appropriate dispersant is used. Frequently the powder is fine and the dispersion energy is not.

Cleanliness control for powder production differs from liquids: powders do not readily support microbial growth, so dust control and cross-contamination prevention are the focus. Key control points include dust collection in production areas, dedicated equipment and containers to prevent cross-contact between different powders, and cleanliness management in the packaging area. For cosmetic-grade powders we control temperature, humidity and cleanliness in the production environment and validate packaging material cleanliness. If you require a specific cleanliness class, for instance for sterile or high-microbial-control applications, raise it at the order stage so we can assess process feasibility before confirming.

Yes. Retention samples are kept for a defined period after each batch ships, with the duration depending on product type and customer agreement. Custom grades are retained longer because they correspond to a specific formula and process parameter set. Retention samples serve more than complaint handling. They enable batch-to-batch comparison: when a customer reports that this batch behaves differently, a parallel test against the retention sample quickly shows whether the product changed or the conditions did. If you keep your own samples for long-term stability observation, store them in the same packaging and conditions as the delivered goods and record the opening date, so storage differences do not create false conclusions.

Step one is always to freeze the information: keep the physical sample from the affected batch, record the use conditions, and establish how the anomaly can be reproduced. Without those three, any conclusion is guesswork. Then run a two-way comparison: test the affected batch in parallel with the retention sample to confirm whether a real difference exists, and check whether use conditions changed (formula, process, equipment, storage). In practice a meaningful share of issues trace back to a change on the user side rather than the product. If the product is confirmed at fault, we trace the raw materials, process parameters and test records for that batch, provide a root cause analysis and a corrective plan, and for batch-wide issues review inventory and shipped lots at the same time.