Recall: hand sanitiser pulled from US shelves over hidden methanol
An alcohol-based hand sanitiser made in Mexico was recalled after testing found undeclared methanol. What happened, and the controls that prevent it.
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Service · Sourcing & procurement
Every ingredient in your formula, sourced, tested and delivered.
CSL scientists source the raw materials your formula needs, test them against its specification and deliver them to your own manufacturer or to CSL for your batch. One point of contact for every supplier, at any order size.
Guires Cosmetic Science Lab
Cosmetic ingredient sourcing from Guires CSL
Cosmetic ingredient sourcing and procurement from Guires CSL scientists: raw materials specified from your formula, sourced from qualified suppliers, tested before you buy and delivered to your manufacturer, from small quantities to commercial volumes, with halal, vegan and regulatory documents checked for every market.
Start your project with Guires CSLWhat's included
The work, in detail.
Formula-based sourcing
CSL scientists turn your formula into an ingredient specification (INCI name, grade, function, origin and limits), so every supplier quotes against the same standard.
Supplier qualification
Suppliers are shortlisted and checked for quality systems, documentation and reliability, with backup sources for critical ingredients.
Sample testing before you buy
Samples are tested against the specification and trialled in your formula before any order is placed, so a new source never changes how your product performs.
Documents checked for your markets
Certificates of analysis, safety data sheets, allergen and origin statements, and halal, vegan or natural certificates are collected and checked for your safety file and target markets.
Two ways to buy
CSL buys the ingredients and invoices you, the simplest option, or places orders on your behalf while you pay suppliers directly.
Any order size
From sample and pilot quantities to commercial volumes, including small amounts suppliers will not sell to you directly.
Partner warehousing
Ingredients are received, checked and consolidated at a partner warehouse, then shipped together.
Delivered where you make
Shipped to your own contract manufacturer, wherever it is, or to CSL for your pilot and micro-batches.
The Beetloop B2B network
Through its partnership with the Beetloop B2B network, CSL can reach a wider pool of suppliers and buy on your behalf.
Why brands use it
One contact instead of twenty suppliers.
A typical formula has fifteen to thirty ingredients, often from different suppliers, each with its own minimum order, lead time and paperwork. CSL manages them all for you.
Less time chasing suppliersOne contact for quotes, orders, shipping and documents
No surprises in your formulaEvery source tested against the specification
Paperwork ready for your marketsDocuments checked before the goods ship
Small quantities made possiblePilot and launch amounts, not just full drums
Sectors & applications
Sourcing for every sector and application
Guires CSL sources, specifies and tests raw materials and packaging for products in all of these sectors, chosen for the actives each application depends on.
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 sourcing 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.
Published evidencePeer-reviewed randomised controlled trials behind the actives we formulate with, linked to PubMed.Explore Standards and regulationsTechnical guides to ISO 11930, the EU CPSR and the terms that decide whether a product can go to market.Explore Evidence we createStability, safety, in vitro and clinical data generated for your product, planned around the claims you want to make.Explore Proof from projectsCase studies showing how the evidence was built and what clients received.Explore
Deliverables
What you receive.
Ingredient specificationINCI, grade and limits for every raw material
Approved supplier listPrimary and backup source for each ingredient
Test resultsIncoming checks against the specification
Document packCoA, SDS, allergen, origin and certificates
Delivered ingredientsConsolidated and shipped to your manufacturer or to CSL
One invoice or full order trackingDepending on the buying option you choose
How it runs
Step by step.
- Share your formulaSend the formula or ingredient list, quantities, target markets and delivery point
- SpecifyCSL scientists write the specification for each ingredient
- Shortlist and sampleQualified suppliers quote and send samples
- Test and approveSamples tested and trialled in your formula
- OrderCSL buys for you, or orders on your behalf
- Check and consolidateIncoming lots checked and held at a partner warehouse
- DeliverShipped to your manufacturer or to CSL for your batch
Market insights from Guires CSL scientists
Stay ahead in ingredient sourcing 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.
Does CSL buy the ingredients, or do I?
Either. CSL can buy the ingredients and invoice you, which is the simplest option, or place orders on your behalf while you pay each supplier directly. Choose per project.
Can you ship to my own manufacturer?
Yes. Ingredients can be delivered to your contract manufacturer, wherever it is, or to CSL for pilot and micro-batches.
Is there a minimum order?
No. CSL sources any quantity, from samples and pilot amounts to commercial volumes, including small quantities suppliers will not sell to you directly.
Will a different supplier change my product?
Each new source is tested against the ingredient specification and, where needed, trialled in your formula before it is approved.
Can you source halal, vegan or natural-certified ingredients?
Yes. CSL collects the certificates each claim and market needs and checks them before ordering.
Why use CSL instead of buying direct?
One contact replaces many suppliers, and every ingredient arrives specified, tested and documented for your safety file, so your team spends less time chasing orders and paperwork.
Related services
Often paired with this.
Guires CSL quality, compliance and safety
Every ingredient sourcing 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
In their words
What clients say.
“Available options were compared on quality, consistency, supplier documentation and formulation suitability, leading us to an ingredient that met our full technical specification.”
“A thorough supplier evaluation clarified specifications, documentation and alternative sources for a critical raw material before we made our purchasing decision.”
“When our preferred raw material became unavailable, the replacement they proposed was vetted for formulation compatibility and expected performance, not just availability.”
Insights
Related reading.
Guidance from our formulation, testing and regulatory teams on the topics this page covers.
Reformulating anti-dandruff shampoo after the EU zinc pyrithione ban
Permitted alternatives, how they perform, and what changes on the label.
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Vitamin C in skin care: what the evidence shows for brightening
L-ascorbic acid and its derivatives are among the most studied brightening actives. Here is what recent trials show, how strong the evidence is, and how CSL formulation…
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Tested at the Guires R&D Innovation Centre.
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.