Derma Talks
Derma Talks is where skincare founders, brand builders, and beauty entrepreneurs get real about what it takes to build a successful skincare brand. Hosted by Derma Essentials Lab, each episode breaks down the business of beauty—from product formulation and packaging to branding, scaling, and distribution. Whether you’re creating your first serum or managing a growing private label line, Derma Talks gives you the insider knowledge, strategies, and manufacturing perspective that turn ideas into profitable brands. These are the real conversations behind skincare success.
Derma Talks
How to Protect Your Formula When Working with Manufacturers
In this episode we dive deep into what it takes to protect the heart of your product — your formula — when you’re working with contract manufacturers or third-party labs. We’ll cover legal safeguards (NDAs, exclusive agreements, IP choices), operational controls (audit manufacturing partners, source ingredient oversight, confidentiality zones), strategic best practices (what you can realistically protect in skincare, what you should accept, how to position for risk), and how this plays into your brand’s long-term value. Whether you’re building your own unique formula for De Soap Boutique or scaling with multiple SKUs, this conversation gives you actionable steps for safeguarding your formulation, maintaining control, and avoiding the pitfalls many founders don’t spot until it’s too late.