Long gone are the days of writing cosmetic formulations down on a notebook and using a calculator to verify that the proportions correspond to the official recommendations. Cosmetic formulation software has become an invaluable tool in the cosmetic industry. Reducing the margin of error and effectively streamlining processes, formulation software comes with a lot of benefits. Designed to assist research and development teams from the early stages of conception all the way to product launch, these solutions cover a wide array of uses.
The Benefits of Cosmetic Formulation Software for Workflow Optimization
One of the main benefits of cosmetic formulation software is the fact that it allows every person involved in the creation of a new product to have access to up-to-date information at all times. When it comes as part of a PLM solution, formulation software indeed addresses the needs of every actor on the development chain by becoming a collaborative platform where all the data pertaining to the product’s lifecycle is centralized. From suppliers to marketing teams: everyone can make sure their actions align with the decisions made upstream or bring up issues affecting the product at a particular stage.
This central role cosmetic formulation software can play is often not leveraged to its full potential. By automating various tasks and providing relevant information every step of the way, it can even contribute to reducing costs or ensuring the new product is compliant in every possible way.
Product Compliance Made Simple
Formulation software is an invaluable tool that can help manufacturers make sure their products are compliant with the numerous and highly specific guidelines that govern the industry. From the concentration of allergens in the formulation itself to product labeling, cosmetic formulation software also makes filling out legal documents a breeze. All the necessary elements are already present in the system, which is configured to group the data as the most recent instructions require. Putting the INCI together or generating the product’s PIF – among other things – can be done automatically.
If anything stands out – for instance if newly updated regulations invalidate one of the product’s characteristics – the software immediately picks up on it and alerts the user who can correct the issue early on.
Streamlining the Formulation Process
Above all else, as the name indicates, cosmetic formulation software is useful when creating original formulas. For instance, every raw material currently employed in cosmetics is listed in a database the system automatically updates whenever new information is available. Everything from proposed concentration to allergenic potential and country-specific restrictions is indexed to help the user make the right choices. They can utilize this function to search for particular properties, chemical profiles, recommended applications and more to develop the ideal formulation.
Manufacturers can also store a searchable history of all their INCIs to date, allowing technicians to start from an existing formula to either improve upon it or create a different product. Every time a modification is made, the formulation software records it and makes it accessible to the user who can go back and forth to test several potential outcomes. If the system detects any irregularities, corrective measures are suggested not only to alert the technician that their formulation is flawed, but to offer an alternative.
Given the wide array of possibilities cosmetic formulation software provides, a recommended approach is to assess current processes and evaluate every aspect that could be streamlined. From creating new products to ensuring they are labeled correctly in every country where they are to be distributed, computer-based solutions will continue to offer ever more functionalities. Once implemented, they evolve alongside best practices and regulations to keep you up to date with every change that could occur.
