Service · Ingredient application lab
Show what an ingredient really does in a formula.
CSL formulation chemists test cosmetic ingredients in real finished products: application studies, dosage optimisation, stability, compatibility, starter formulas, benchmarking and technical reports, for ingredient suppliers and brands.
Guires Cosmetic Science Lab
Ingredient application science at Guires CSL
Guires CSL tests how ingredients perform inside real finished formulas. For ingredient suppliers we build application data, prototype formulas and claim support; for brands we screen and compare actives so you choose the right one for your product, your claim and your market.
Start your project with Guires CSLWho it is for
Two routes into the same lab.
Choose the route that matches you. Both use the same CSL formulation chemists, methods and reports.
Prove how your raw material performs in finished products, with application data, starter formulas and technical reports your sales team and customers can use.
- Application data in real bases
- Starter formulas for launches
- Benchmarking against competitor grades
- Claim dossiers and application notes
Test a new active before you commit, so you choose the right grade, at the right level, in a formula that stays stable.
- Supplier claims checked in your base
- Use level set for performance and cost
- Grades compared side by side
What's included
The work, in detail.
Application studies
The ingredient tested in real finished bases such as serums, creams, cleansers, shampoos, sunscreens and colour, to show where it performs and where it does not.
Dosage optimisation
Dose-response studies across use levels to find the lowest effective level and the cost in use.
Stability in formulation
Accelerated and real-time stability of the ingredient in each base, across the pH and temperature range it will meet.
Compatibility screening
Interactions with common actives, preservatives, surfactants, polymers, electrolytes and packaging materials.
Prototypes and starter formulas
Ready-to-make concept formulas with INCI lists, levels and manufacturing procedures.
Comparative benchmarking
The ingredient compared with market-leading alternatives or earlier grades, in vitro, by instrument or on panels.
Technical reports
Application notes, technical data sheet support, claim dossiers and publication-ready study reports.
Studies run at the Guires R&D Innovation Centre, alongside the CSL Cosmetic Bioscience lab for in-vitro efficacy, safety and stability testing and claims and clinical studies.
Sectors & applications
Ingredient application for every sector and application
Guires CSL tests ingredients in finished formulas across all of these sectors, and measures how each one performs for the application it is sold for.
Sectors
Skin careSerums, moisturisers, cleansers, masksExplore 
Sun careSPF, tinted SPF, after-sunExplore 
Hair & scalp careShampoo, conditioner, serums, oilsExplore 
Colour cosmeticsFace, lip, eye and nailExplore 
Body wash & body careWashes, shower oils, lotions, scrubsExplore +6More sectorsPersonal care & hygiene, Men's grooming, Baby & kids and moreSee all Applications
Anti-ageing & wrinklesFine lines, firmness, elasticityExplore 
Acne & oil controlBlemishes, shine, poresExplore 
Hyperpigmentation & even toneDark spots, uneven toneExplore 
Hydration & barrier repairMoisture, barrier, drynessExplore 
Sensitive skin & rednessCalming, low-irritation formulasExplore +5More applicationsSun protection, Hair fall & hair growth, Dandruff & scalp health and moreSee all Evidence-based
From published evidence to a product that passes regulatory review
Every Guires CSL ingredient application work project starts from published science and ends with evidence regulators and retailers accept: data from the literature where it exists, and tests, in vitro studies and clinical trials where it does not.
Deliverables
What you receive.
How it runs
Step by step.
- BriefIngredient, target applications, markets and claims
- ProtocolBases, dose levels, comparators and tests agreed
- Lab workFormulation, stability, compatibility and efficacy testing
- Interim read-outEarly results and any changes to the plan
- ReportsFinal data, starter formulas and technical documents
Market insights from Guires CSL scientists
Stay ahead in ingredient application work with regulation updates, the latest research, ingredient spotlights, recalls and market trends, written by the Guires CSL formulation, testing, clinical and regulatory teams.
Explore market insights
Questions
Asked before we start.
Who owns the data?
You do. Results, formulas and reports are delivered to you, and CSL does not publish or share them without your written permission.
Can you test against a competitor ingredient?
Yes. Comparators are bought on the open market and tested under the same conditions, with results reported as measured.
Do you also run human studies?
Yes. Instrumental and panel studies can follow the lab work through the CSL claims and clinical service.
How long does a study take?
A first application screen usually takes 4 to 8 weeks; stability adds 12 weeks for an accelerated read.
Related services
Often paired with this.
Guires CSL quality, compliance and safety
Every ingredient application work project at Guires CSL runs inside an ISO 9001 certified quality system, with documented methods, calibrated instruments, traceable raw materials and reviewed reports, so the results behind your product can be checked and defended.
Guires CSL quality & accreditations
Start a project
Create your next product with CSL.
Our formulation chemists, testing scientists and regulatory specialists work alongside your team, from the first brief to a market-ready product. Bring a brief, a benchmark or just an idea: a scientist will reply within one working day with next steps and an indicative scope.