Podcast 279: How your skincare is made – Inside the world of contract manufacturing

When we talk about launching a beauty brand, we often focus on the front-facing story – the founder’s mission, the branding, the formulation journey. But behind every successful product lies a quiet powerhouse: the contract manufacturer.

In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier lifts the lid on what really happens behind the scenes at a contract manufacturing facility that produces over 30 million beauty units a year.

Join Lorraine as she talks with Dan Williams, CEO of Orean Personal Care – the UK’s only B Corp-certified beauty manufacturer – for a no-holds-barred tour of the processes and possibilities of contract manufacturing.

Whether you’re an aspiring indie brand or already scaling up, this podcast episode is full of practical advice and inspiring stories from the world of contract manufacturing.

Discover how long it really takes to launch a product, what mistakes to avoid, and how your relationship with your manufacturer can make or break your brand’s success. If you think you know what goes into your skincare products, think again.

“We always try to take as much friction away as possible – to make it easy for brands to grow, whether they’re just starting out or scaling globally.” — Dan Williams

In this episode with Dan Williams, you will hear:

• Inside the factory: Dan paints a picture of Orean’s UK and US facilities, which produce over 30 million units a year for around 100 brands. Learn how the teams run multiple product lines simultaneously.
• The product journey: From the first phone call to finished product, Dan explains the typical 9-12 month timeline involved in launching a product with a manufacturer, and what happens at each stage.
• Formulation flexibility: Whether brands bring their own IP or co-develop with Orean, Dan shares how the team handles everything from niche ingredients to excess materials and substitutes, always aiming to reduce friction.
• Who owns your formula: Dan reveals Orean’s unique policy: brands own their formulation IP as soon as they pay their first invoice – a major advantage for founders seeking investment or future acquisition.
• Supporting indies at scale: Dan shares why he loves working with indie brands and how Orean supports small launches with reduced MOQs, free-issued packaging and tailored flexibility to help brands grow sustainably.

Key takeouts include:

• Contract manufacturing is about collaboration. It’s not just filling bottles – it’s about building trust, ensuring transparency, and creating long-term partnerships between the brand and manufacturer.
• Owning your IP sets you up for growth. Orean’s approach means you don’t pay for R&D upfront, and you retain full IP ownership – a huge asset if you’re planning to raise funds or scale your brand.
• Manufacturing takes time – plan accordingly. Expect 9–12 months from concept to shelf, especially if formulation, packaging, testing and compliance are all needed. Understanding dependencies early will prevent costly delays.
• Ingredient choice affects everything. If you want niche ingredients, expect to absorb minimum order costs or consider substitutions. Orean works collaboratively to balance formulation integrity and commercial practicality.
• Indie brands have more support than ever. With MOQs as low as 2,500 units, Orean helps new brands get started – and supports them as they scale.

Meet our guest: Dan Williams, CEO of Orean Personal Care

Dan Williams is the CEO of Orean Personal Care, an award-winning beauty manufacturer with facilities in both the UK and the US.

With 12 years at the company, Dan has led Orean through a decade of exceptional growth – from a £3 million turnover to over £30 million – while solidifying its position as the UK’s only Beauty B Corp certified manufacturer.

Orean specialises in the masstige premium personal care segment, creating high-performance skincare, haircare, body care, and suncare products. Under Dan’s leadership, the company has helped top beauty brands win industry awards for their products and is now focused on expanding its US site to offer seamless, tariff-free support for global beauty brands.

Find out more about Dan and Orean:

• Website: Orean
• LinkedIn: Weareorean | Dan Williams

Related content:

• Episode 169: B Corp beauty coalition explained
• YouTube videos with Mayfield Labs: How cosmetic products are made at scale | How to scale your beauty brand with a contract manufacturer

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier

Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.