If you’ve ever looked at two skincare products from different brands and thought, “These feel… kind of the same,” you’re not imagining it.
In the skincare world, there’s a very real difference between white-label products and custom-formulated skincare and it impacts everything from ingredient quality to how your skin responds long term.
As a dermal therapist who formulates every product in the Fresh Face Skin range alongside a formulator, from scratch, this is something I’m deeply passionate about. It’s a big part of why I started this skincare range, to provide naturally sourced, high-quality skincare that avoids toxins and synthetic ingredients and, most importantly, delivers real skin change.
I want to take you behind the scenes and explain the real difference, and why I’ve chosen the slower, more intentional path for every single formula we produce.
What Is White Labelling?
White labelling is the “ready-made skincare” option. A manufacturer creates a generic formula and any brand can buy it, add their own packaging, pick a scent, and launch quickly.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with white label, but here’s the truth:
- The brand didn’t create the formula
- The ingredients weren’t chosen with a specific philosophy in mind
- The same product can appear under many different brand names
- Concentrations, ingredient quality and preservative systems are pre-determined
It’s fast, convenient and cost-effective, but it’s not personalised, researched, or crafted with long-term skin health in mind.
What Does Custom Formulated Mean?
This is where Fresh Face Skin sits, and why our products feel different.
Custom formulation means the product starts with an intention, not a template.
For me, that intention is always: “How can we support skin barrier repair, reduce inflammation and create long-term skin change?”
From there, every ingredient is chosen intentionally:
- High-quality, clinically backed actives
- Raw materials with real data
- Barrier-supportive delivery systems
- Mindful pH levels
- Ingredients that work synergistically
- Gentle, natural preservation
- No synthetic fragrances or hidden toxins
- No fillers or unnecessary irritants
- The correct percentage of each key ingredient, clinically tested for real skin change
I work closely with my formulator, who updates me on the newest raw ingredients released globally, the ones with real science behind them, not just trends. Together, we build formulas from the ground up, trial after trial, on real skin, until the product performs exactly as it needs to. The result? Real skin results.
This process takes years from start to finish, but the outcome is a formula that’s unique, intentional and genuinely effective.
Why I Chose to Formulate Everything From Scratch
After more than 13 years treating real skin, I knew one thing for sure: a formula can either support the skin’s biology… or completely overwhelm it.
I’ve seen clients react to synthetic fragrance, harsh preservatives, drying alcohols, filler ingredients, things that simply don’t need to be there.
So when building the Fresh Face Skin range, I wanted full control:
- Over every ingredient
- Over every percentage
- Over the quality of the raw materials
- Over the synergy between ingredients
- Over the preservatives used
- Over the long-term impact on the skin barrier
This is why every product in our range uses a 100% natural mushroom-derived preservative instead of the synthetic options found in most mass-produced formulas.
It’s also why Fresh Face Skin products contain no synthetic fragrance or unnecessary synthetics two of the most common triggers for irritation, acne, redness and perioral dermatitis.
For me, custom formulation isn’t about having “exclusive” products — it’s about creating skincare that respects the skin and delivers long-term change, not quick fixes.
What This Means for Your Skin
The biggest difference you’ll feel is in the results.
Custom formulation gives you:
- Better ingredient purity — because nothing is chosen for cost efficiency, only for performance.
- Better active concentration — actives can be increased safely and intentionally for real skin change.
- Better absorption — ingredients are paired with delivery systems that actually work.
- Better microbiome support — no synthetic fragrance, no harsh preservatives.
- Better long-term skin health — formulas support the skin’s natural function instead of constantly overstimulating it.
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Better consistency across your routine — every formula complements the rest of the range, minimising irritation and ingredient conflict.
This is why Fresh Face Skin clients consistently tell me their skin feels calmer, clearer, more hydrated and more resilient.
Because it’s not a “one-size-fits-all” product in a pretty bottle.
It’s a skincare system built intentionally, from scratch, with real skin in mind, simple or layered, depending on what your skin needs.
A Final Note
In a world where anyone can launch a skincare line in a matter of weeks, I want Fresh Face Skin to remain something different, something deeply considered.
Custom formulation is slower. It’s more expensive. It requires intense research, testing and patience.
But it allows me to create formulas that truly respect your skin’s biology… and that is something I will never compromise on.
Thank you for being part of this community and trusting me with your skin. It’s such an honour to support your journey, inside and out.
Amelia
