Cosmetic Makers vs Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories
Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories (ACRL) is a women-owned, family-operated contract manufacturer in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, founded in 1983, making hair, skin, body, oral care and OTC products. Cosmetic Makers is built for beauty brands that want formulation, production, software and fulfillment from one place.


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areas where Cosmetic Makers offers something a beauty brand needs that Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories does not list on its website.
Where Cosmetic Makers leads
- Stock formulas to private label
- Makeup
- Quality control software
- Live inventory and shipping-cost app
- Marketplace integration
- Packaging sourcing
- Fulfillment warehouse
- Order fulfillment
- Retail track record
A manufacturer run on software.
Cosmetic Makers runs production, quality and fulfillment on software, so you see your product, your stock and your shipping costs as they happen.
Quality control enhanced by CM+
Every product is checked before it ships, with quality control enhanced by CM+.
Every lot tracked
Raw materials are quarantined and tested, and every lot is tracked from ingredient to shipped order.
Live inventory app
Watch your inventory and shipping costs in real time, across every channel you sell on.
Marketplace integrations
Connected to TikTok Shop and Amazon as an official partner of both, so orders flow straight to fulfillment.
Looking for a Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories alternative?
Choose Cosmetic Makers if you
- are launching or growing a skincare, body care, haircare or deodorant brand
- want to start from one of 3,000+ proven stock formulas, or have one built for you
- sell on TikTok Shop or Amazon and want fulfillment under the same roof
- want live inventory and shipping costs in one app
Choose Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories if you
- need OTC products such as sunscreen, acne treatment or antifungal cream
- want oral care such as toothpaste or mouthwash
- need medical device products; it says its facility is 510(k) registered
Side by side.
Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories details are from its own website and public sources, checked November 2026. "Not listed publicly" means we could not find it, not that they lack it.
| Feature | Cosmetic Makers | Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories |
|---|---|---|
| Company | ||
| Founded | 10 years in manufacturing | 1983, by Kitty Hunter |
| Headquarters | Hollywood, Florida | 20550 Prairie St., Chatsworth (Los Angeles), California |
| Business model | Contract manufacturer for beauty and personal care brands | Contract manufacturing, custom product development and turnkey services; 100% women-owned, family-operated |
| Markets | Skincare, body care, haircare, sun care, deodorants | Indie start-ups to global brands |
| Expertise | ||
| Stock formulas to private label | Cosmetic Makers leads: 3,000+, ready for your label or to customize | Not listed publicly |
| Custom formulation | Yes, $1,800 per SKU, samples in 8 to 14 weeks | Yes, custom formulas and tech transfer of client formulas; fee not listed |
| Specialties | Hot pour, aluminum-free, non-OTC deodorants | OTC products (acne, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, antifungal); oral care; vegan and clean formulas |
| Makeup | Cosmetic Makers leads: Through our official partner, Lady Burd | Not listed publicly |
| Technology and testing | ||
| Product formats | Creams, lotions, serums, gels, oils, washes, shampoos, balms and sticks in bottles, tubes, jars and pouches | Creams, lotions, gels, serums, masks, shampoos, body washes, deodorants, toothpaste, mouthwash |
| Testing | Stability, microbiological, packaging compatibility and efficacy; clinical testing through a partner lab | In-house micro, stability and compatibility testing |
| Registrations and certifications | FDA-registered, state-licensed, cGMP facility | FDA-registered, GMP-compliant; OTC manufacturing; says it is a 510(k) registered medical device facility |
| Software and technology | ||
| Quality control software | Cosmetic Makers leads: Quality control enhanced by CM+; every lot tracked | Not listed publicly |
| Live inventory and shipping-cost app | Cosmetic Makers leads: Yes, real time, across every channel you sell on | Not listed publicly |
| Marketplace integration | Cosmetic Makers leads: Official TikTok Shop and Amazon partner; orders flow straight to fulfillment | Not listed publicly |
| Infrastructure | ||
| Manufacturing sites | 1, in Hollywood, Florida | One facility in Chatsworth, California |
| Production lines | 10, for bottles, tubes, jars and pouches | Automated filling lines; number not listed on its site |
| Packaging sourcing | Cosmetic Makers leads: 1,000+ packaging suppliers and an office in China | Component sourcing as part of turnkey service; no office in China listed |
| Fulfillment warehouse | Cosmetic Makers leads: 50,000 sq ft, in the same facility | Not listed publicly |
| Services for brands | ||
| Order fulfillment | Cosmetic Makers leads: Pick, pack and ship; orders in by 2pm EST ship the same day | Not listed publicly |
| Retail track record | Cosmetic Makers leads: Products sold at Target, Sephora, CVS, Ulta and Whole Foods | Not listed publicly |
| Minimum order | 5,000 units per product | 5,000 to 10,000 units for custom formulation projects, depending on product |
| Production lead time | 8 to 12 weeks after sample approval | Typically 6 to 10 weeks for custom projects |
Questions brands ask.
Which is better for a new skincare brand?
For most new skincare, body care, haircare and deodorant brands, Cosmetic Makers is the closer fit: you can start from one of 3,000+ stock formulas, and formulation, production, testing and fulfillment happen in one building, tracked in software you can see.
When is Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories the better choice?
ACRL fits brands that need custom OTC products, oral care or medical device formulas made in Los Angeles, with typical lead times of 6 to 10 weeks for custom projects.
Do both companies offer fulfillment?
Cosmetic Makers runs a 50,000 sq ft fulfillment warehouse in the same facility, connected to TikTok Shop and Amazon, with same-day shipping for orders in by 2pm EST. ACRL lists shipping as part of its turnkey service, but we could not find fulfillment services on its website.
More comparisons.
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Sources
- ACRL homepage, acrl.com
- ACRL: Who We Are, acrl.com/pages/who-we-are
- ACRL: Our Services, acrl.com/pages/our-services
- ACRL: Capabilities, acrl.com/pages/our-capabilities
- ACRL: Process, acrl.com/pages/process
- ACRL: Contact and FAQ, acrl.com/pages/contact
Published by Cosmetic Makers. See an error about Advanced Cosmetic Research Laboratories? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.
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