Selling Homemade Beauty Products

AprilZ81 · January 2016

I've enjoyed making the sugar scrub I mentioned in the cleaning products thread and I've given it as gifts before. The body butter was easy and fun to do as well.

Generally speaking, would you buy homemade beauty products (face wash, sugar scrub, body butter, etc.)? If so what would you be willing to pay?

I'm thinking of two sizes for the lotion and scrub, either 8 oz or 16oz. They would be packaged in a mason jar or something similar with a label to make it pretty. I would use natural (but not necessarily organic) products and include a list of ingredients.

I've done a rough cost estimate for the sugar scrub and it would cost me about $4.50 per 16.oz jar to make it and I would want to sell it for at least $10. Is that too much? Not enough?

I know I have a hard time wrapping my head around buying something when I can make it myself, but I know there are a lot of people out there without the time, ability or desire to do it themselves.

Xstatic3333 · January 2016

I would and have bought homemade beauty products at my local farmer's market and I think your pricing is good. I'm in a more or less MCOL area. In my area, you could probably charge more if you did chose to use USDA organic ingredients. It gets pretty crunchy around here ;-)

AprilZ81 · January 2016

Xstatic3333 said:

I would and have bought homemade beauty products at my local farmer's market and I think your pricing is good. I'm in a more or less MCOL area. In my area, you could probably charge more if you did chose to use USDA organic ingredients. It gets pretty crunchy around here ;-)

I would consider Organic if I get requests for it.

I'm also in a MCOL area and I think I'm going to try to sell on some Facebook groups. All of the materials I have on hand (except for jars which are easy to get) and I don't have to keep an inventory as the scrub can be made in about 5 minutes.

It would be a pretty easy way to make a little (more) fun money on the side!

julieanne912 · January 2016

Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I don't think I would buy something homemade that I'm putting on my skin. I mean I'm sure your products are fine, but how do you reassure people that you made them safely?

short+sassy · January 2016

AprilZ81 said:
Xstatic3333 said:
I would and have bought homemade beauty products at my local farmer's market and I think your pricing is good. I'm in a more or less MCOL area. In my area, you could probably charge more if you did chose to use USDA organic ingredients. It gets pretty crunchy around here ;-)
I would consider Organic if I get requests for it.

I'm also in a MCOL area and I think I'm going to try to sell on some Facebook groups. All of the materials I have on hand (except for jars which are easy to get) and I don't have to keep an inventory as the scrub can be made in about 5 minutes.

It would be a pretty easy way to make a little (more) fun money on the side!

SITB
Maybe it is just for food products, but I've read that calling something "organic" legally, is a big red tape process. I'd say "meh" who would "crack down" on you, lol. But I recently read a story about an enterprising little 12-year-old who was selling specialty cupcakes in her local town and online. Unfortunately, her success brought restaurant health inspectors to her mom's kitchen. They told her, unless the kitchen was turned into an industrial one (or whatever that is called), they had to shut her down. I mean, I certainly get the spirit and need for such regulations. But, geez, she is a little girl selling cupcakes. Are they going to start cracking down on PTA bake sales next?
But I digress. I have very occasionally purchased homemade beauty products online and probably at farmer's market type places (though I don't remember specifically). Something I purchased recently online was a scented candle that turns into body lotion when it melts. It just sounded so wacky, I had to check it out. The candle part was great. When it turned into body lotion, just okay. For that part I prefer body lotions that are just body lotions. I think each candle was $4.50 plus a couple bucks for shipping, but they were small candles. About 3x the size of a votive.
I think $10 for 16 oz. sounds like a great price. I'd buy that if I ran across it and there was a smell I especially liked.

AprilZ81 · January 2016

julieanne912 said:

Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I don't think I would buy something homemade that I'm putting on my skin. I mean I'm sure your products are fine, but how do you reassure people that you made them safely?

Valid point. With this particular product though I'm not sure what would be "unsafe" since there are no chemicals and it isn't to be eaten. (No snark intended.)

I would see if this was a food product or something but a sugar scrub or body lotion I personally wouldn't think twice about.

I may never do anything with this idea, just fund to think about building a little hobby side business.

Xstatic3333 · January 2016

AprilZ81 said:

julieanne912 said:

Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I don't think I would buy something homemade that I'm putting on my skin. I mean I'm sure your products are fine, but how do you reassure people that you made them safely?

Valid point. With this particular product though I'm not sure what would be "unsafe" since there are no chemicals and it isn't to be eaten. (No snark intended.)

I would see if this was a food product or something but a sugar scrub or body lotion I personally wouldn't think twice about.

I may never do anything with this idea, just fund to think about building a little hobby side business.

I think it's one of those deals where there will always be some people who are comfortable with it and some who aren't. For me, as long as I can see an ingredient list I'm good. I also don't have particularly sensitive skin and have a general love of all things homemade. ETA Not blaming anyone for a different opinion. We all need to do what we're comfortable with.

julieanne912 · January 2016

Xstatic3333 said:

AprilZ81 said:

julieanne912 said:

Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I don't think I would buy something homemade that I'm putting on my skin. I mean I'm sure your products are fine, but how do you reassure people that you made them safely?

Valid point. With this particular product though I'm not sure what would be "unsafe" since there are no chemicals and it isn't to be eaten. (No snark intended.)

I would see if this was a food product or something but a sugar scrub or body lotion I personally wouldn't think twice about.

I may never do anything with this idea, just fund to think about building a little hobby side business.

I think it's one of those deals where there will always be some people who are comfortable with it and some who aren't. For me, as long as I can see an ingredient list I'm good. I also don't have particularly sensitive skin and have a general love of all things homemade. ETA Not blaming anyone for a different opinion. We all need to do what we're comfortable with.

Yes, I'm should have said I'm sure plenty of people would be into it. I also should have mentioned that I have super sensitive skin... meaning I pretty much never change what I use because when I find something that works and doesn't make my skin freak out I stick with it. Anyway, just something to consider when deciding to sell the items.

brij2006 · January 2016

I think your price point sounds right on for being in a MCOL area.

dragonstarjk · January 2016

julieanne912 said:

Xstatic3333 said:

AprilZ81 said:

julieanne912 said:

Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I don't think I would buy something homemade that I'm putting on my skin. I mean I'm sure your products are fine, but how do you reassure people that you made them safely?

Valid point. With this particular product though I'm not sure what would be "unsafe" since there are no chemicals and it isn't to be eaten. (No snark intended.)

I would see if this was a food product or something but a sugar scrub or body lotion I personally wouldn't think twice about.

I may never do anything with this idea, just fund to think about building a little hobby side business.

I think it's one of those deals where there will always be some people who are comfortable with it and some who aren't. For me, as long as I can see an ingredient list I'm good. I also don't have particularly sensitive skin and have a general love of all things homemade. ETA Not blaming anyone for a different opinion. We all need to do what we're comfortable with.

Yes, I'm should have said I'm sure plenty of people would be into it. I also should have mentioned that I have super sensitive skin... meaning I pretty much never change what I use because when I find something that works and doesn't make my skin freak out I stick with it. Anyway, just something to consider when deciding to sell the items.

I am this way as well, and no, I would not/do not buy homemade beauty products for this reason. No judgment here, they're just not for me!

CuriousKiddosMama · January 2016

I'm one of those I guess that like to support crafters. I don't see a problem with your price, and I bet f you could find a small craft fair to get into you could test the market and get out there a bit. A farmers market could be good too.

JoanE2012 · January 2016

CuriousKiddosMama said:

I'm one of those I guess that like to support crafters. I don't see a problem with your price, and I bet f you could find a small craft fair to get into you could test the market and get out there a bit. A farmers market could be good too.

I like this idea. I think I'd be more inclined to buy homemade products if it looked more like a professional business. I wouldn't buy from someone advertising on a facebook selling page.

englishtrish1 · January 2016

On a side note, one of my colleagues markets her home made skin care products which are allegedly fabulous; but I cannot even bring myself to try them as she always looks grubby.

NicA617 · February 2016

I'd be more likely to buy from a farmers market or craft fair than FB... i've got SO many friends selling stuff on FB now, i just hide them all. that said, i'm loyal to my skin care products.

jtmh2012 · February 2016

NicA617 said:

I'd be more likely to buy from a farmers market or craft fair than FB... i've got SO many friends selling stuff on FB now, i just hide them all. that said, i'm loyal to my skin care products.

I haven't quite started hiding people, but I feel the same way. A lot of my feed is now people selling Scentsy, Rodan and Fields, etc. Like FB has business pages for a reason. Go create one.

NicA617 · February 2016

@jtmh2012 -- R+F might be the best product on the planet but i'll never buy it. they post 5+ times a day about how much money they make, before & afters pics, the remodeled kitchen they could only afford selling R+F (um... your husband is a surgeon, but ok) & my favorite: "virtual cocktail parties" to learn how i can join their team. If you invite me to a cocktail party, there better be ACTUAL cocktails. i just can't.

And in case anyone here sells it, i'm not knocking the product, i just don't like the way my friends sell it.

julieanne912 · February 2016

NicA617 said:

@jtmh2012 -- R+F might be the best product on the planet but i'll never buy it. they post 5+ times a day about how much money they make, before & afters pics, the remodeled kitchen they could only afford selling R+F (um... your husband is a surgeon, but ok) & my favorite: "virtual cocktail parties" to learn how i can join their team. If you invite me to a cocktail party, there better be ACTUAL cocktails. i just can't.

And in case anyone here sells it, i'm not knocking the product, i just don't like the way my friends sell it.

YES. I've got a girl I knew from college who sells it, and her R&F posts are annoying, but what's the most annoying is all the comments on them, from other R&F Stepford Wives saying stuff like "Wow, what an amazing deal" or "These products really are amazing!". It's so creepy.

brij2006 · February 2016

jtmh2012 said:

NicA617 said:

I'd be more likely to buy from a farmers market or craft fair than FB... i've got SO many friends selling stuff on FB now, i just hide them all. that said, i'm loyal to my skin care products.

I haven't quite started hiding people, but I feel the same way. A lot of my feed is now people selling Scentsy, Rodan and Fields, etc. Like FB has business pages for a reason. Go create one.

This stuff just makes me sad. I sell Tastefully Simple and do so successfully without constantly posting about it all day long. Those people give direct sales company the bad rep and it is very disappointing.

My beef is with the magical skinny wraps or shake to drink to instantly lose weight. I lost 55 pounds by diet and exercise, so seeing those "magical weight loss" just irk me.

Xstatic3333 · February 2016

brij2006 said:

jtmh2012 said:

NicA617 said:

I'd be more likely to buy from a farmers market or craft fair than FB... i've got SO many friends selling stuff on FB now, i just hide them all. that said, i'm loyal to my skin care products.

I haven't quite started hiding people, but I feel the same way. A lot of my feed is now people selling Scentsy, Rodan and Fields, etc. Like FB has business pages for a reason. Go create one.

This stuff just makes me sad. I sell Tastefully Simple and do so successfully without constantly posting about it all day long. Those people give direct sales company the bad rep and it is very disappointing.

My beef is with the magical skinny wraps or shake to drink to instantly lose weight. I lost 55 pounds by diet and exercise, so seeing those "magical weight loss" just irk me.

Agreed. My old Zumba instructor is always posting about wraps on Facebook and it bums me out. She of all people should know that exercise is the way to go!

JoanE2012 · February 2016

julieanne912 said:

NicA617 said:

@jtmh2012 -- R+F might be the best product on the planet but i'll never buy it. they post 5+ times a day about how much money they make, before & afters pics, the remodeled kitchen they could only afford selling R+F (um... your husband is a surgeon, but ok) & my favorite: "virtual cocktail parties" to learn how i can join their team. If you invite me to a cocktail party, there better be ACTUAL cocktails. i just can't.

And in case anyone here sells it, i'm not knocking the product, i just don't like the way my friends sell it.

YES. I've got a girl I knew from college who sells it, and her R&F posts are annoying, but what's the most annoying is all the comments on them, from other R&F Stepford Wives saying stuff like "Wow, what an amazing deal" or "These products really are amazing!". It's so creepy.

YES!

blondie42107 · February 2016

There's a couple that makes and sells various products at a local farmers market. They do laundry detergent (powder), spray cleaners, salves, deodorant, lotions, etc. I actually bought a 4oz jar of hemp lotion for $8? It was worth every penny! They grow most of the ingredients they use, if not they purchase from local sources and focus on organic if possible. I remember a few vendors at the farmers market being very honest that it was too expensive to get the certified organic label so they just tell the buyers their farming practices, etc and let them make their own decision.

I just looked, they sell a sugar scrub - 4oz jar for $5.

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