EXPERTISE
COSMETIC PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT & BEAUTY BRAND
CONSULTING IN ITALY
From first idea to market-ready product, I help beauty founders and brands develop cosmetics in Italy, combining product strategy, formulation expertise and access to the right manufacturing partners.
Whether you're starting from an idea or refining an existing concept, I help you turn it into a product that is distinctive, feasible and ready for market.
NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?
YOUR PARTNER BETWEEN YOUR IDEA AND THE ITALIAN COSMETIC INDUSTRY.
Developing a cosmetic product involves far more than finding a manufacturer.
Formula, positioning, claims, packaging, production requirements, costs and timelines all influence one another, and decisions made early can determine whether a product works commercially as well as creatively.
I help founders and beauty brands navigate these decisions and connect their vision with the right expertise within the Italian cosmetic industry.
One point of contact, from the initial concept to a product that is ready to move into production.
WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A PRODUCT
FROM CONCEPT
TO LAUNCH.
BRAND STRATEGY & POSITIONING
/ 01Define where your product belongs, who it is for and what makes it worth choosing, before development begins.
PRODUCT CONCEPT & RANGE DEVELOPMENT
/ 02Turn your initial idea into a clear product concept, defining formats, benefits, sensorial direction and range architecture.
ITALIAN LABORATORY & MANUFACTURER SOURCING
/ 03Identify the Italian laboratories and manufacturing partners best suited to your product, quantities, positioning and ambitions.
FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT
/ 04Translate the product concept into a strong formulation brief and guide development through samples, feedback and refinement.
PACKAGING STRATEGY & DESIGN
/ 05Define packaging requirements and coordinate the choices that connect aesthetics, functionality, compatibility and production.
SUPPLIER & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION
/ 06Keep laboratories, packaging suppliers and other partners aligned throughout development, reducing friction and unnecessary delays.
WHO I WORK WITH
FOR PEOPLE BUILDING
SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
INTERNATIONAL FOUNDERS
You have a beauty idea and want to develop it in Italy, but need someone who understands the local industry, suppliers and way of working.
ESTABLISHED BEAUTY BRANDS
You already have a brand and need support developing a new product, category or range with the right Italian partners.
COSMETIC INDUSTRY PARTNERS
You need strategic product expertise, concept development or an external perspective to support a specific beauty project.
DEVELOPED IN ITALY
DEVELOPING YOUR BEAUTY
BRAND IN ITALY.
Italy is home to one of the world's most sophisticated cosmetic manufacturing ecosystems, with deep expertise across formulation, makeup, skincare, packaging and industrial production. But access alone isn't enough.
Working successfully with Italian manufacturers requires knowing who does what well, how to approach them and how to translate a brand idea into a brief that works at production level. I help you access that expertise with a clear strategy and the right partners around your project.
PRODUCT CATEGORIES
WHAT I CAN HELP
YOU DEVELOP.
SKINCARE
Face and body care, treatments, masks, cleansers and sensorial skincare concepts.
MAKEUP
Face, eye and lip products, from everyday essentials to distinctive textures and formats.
HAIRCARE
Cleansing, conditioning, treatments, styling and scalp-focused products.
BODYCARE
Body treatments and daily-care products designed around performance and sensoriality.
FRAGRANCE
Fragrance-led concepts and scented products developed as part of a wider brand universe.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL
Hybrid products that combine categories, benefits or formats to create a more distinctive proposition.
ABOUT
HI, I'M MICHELA.
I work at the intersection of beauty brands and the Italian cosmetic industry.
My role is to turn ideas into products that can actually be developed, connecting creative vision with formulation, manufacturing, packaging and the practical decisions behind a successful launch.
Over the years, I've built experience across beauty product development and a network of laboratories, manufacturers and specialist partners in Italy.
That means I can look at a project from both sides: what makes sense for the brand and what needs to happen behind the scenes to make it real.
I work closely with each client, bringing structure to the process while protecting what makes the original idea distinctive.
SELECTED PROJECTS
BRAND AND PACKAGING
PROJECTS
FONTANA CONTARINI
Cosmetic packaging design and artwork: primary and secondary pack for eyeshadow palettes.
THE GIRLZZ
Concept project: logo design, brand identity and coordinated applications.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you help me find a cosmetic manufacturer in Italy?
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Yes. I shortlist third-party laboratories and manufacturers based on your product type, volumes, category and budget, prepare the brief they need, and help you evaluate their proposals on comparable terms.
I have an idea for a beauty brand. Where do we start?
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We start with positioning: who the brand is for, what need it addresses and where it can realistically sit on the market. Those decisions define the initial range and the technical brief we share with the laboratory.
How long does it take to develop a cosmetic product?
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In many cases between 6 and 12 months, depending on the product and the level of customisation. Formulation, samples, testing, packaging selection, production and regulatory documentation all affect the timeline. Compliance steps, including the European CPNP notification, must be completed before the product goes on sale.
How much does it cost to develop a cosmetic line?
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Cost depends on the minimum order quantities of the laboratories involved, whether formulas are standard or custom, the number of references and the complexity of the packaging. I help you build a realistic picture before you commit.
Do you work with international clients?
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Yes. I work with founders and companies outside Italy who want to develop their product with Italian laboratories and suppliers, and I act as their single point of reference throughout the process. Work is done remotely, with on-site presence in Italy where the project needs it.
Can you also design the packaging and the brand identity?
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Yes. Brand identity, packaging strategy, primary and secondary pack design, artwork and print-ready files are part of what I do, so the product and the way it presents itself are developed together.
Which product categories do you cover?
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Skincare, haircare, bodycare and personal care products, as well as complete cosmetic lines and the packaging systems around them.
Can you join a project that has already started?
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Yes. Some projects come to me with a formula, a supplier or an identity already in place. In that case we review what exists, identify what is missing or inconsistent, and continue from there.
Get in touch
Let's develop your
beauty project.
Tell me what you have in mind: an idea, a product already in development or a range you want to rethink. I will tell you how I would approach it and what the next steps look like.