Body Lotion Manufacturer Australia

Epilab is an Australian body lotion manufacturer specialising in custom, science-led formulation for indie and established beauty brands. Body lotion is a high-volume, everyday-use category, so the brands that win are the ones with a lotion that spreads and absorbs beautifully, and whose per-unit cost holds up as they scale. We’ve formulated 700+ products and manufacture for 100+ brand partners from our GMP-aligned Melbourne facility, in operation since 2011.

Body lotion formulation at Epilab

A body lotion is applied over a large surface area, several times a week, straight from a pump. Spreadability, absorption and emulsion stability at scale matter as much as the active story on the label.

Ingredients we formulate with. We build lotions on a stable oil-in-water emulsion: humectants (glycerin, aloe, panthenol), emollients (shea and cocoa butter, sunflower, jojoba and other plant oils), and occlusives tuned to the finish you want. Actives are matched to the claim: niacinamide for tone and barrier, urea and lactic acid or other AHAs for rough skin and keratosis pilaris, ceramides for barrier repair, colloidal oatmeal and bisabolol for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, and caffeine for firming and after-sun ranges.

Formats and textures. Lightweight fast-absorbing daily lotions, rich body creams, gel-lotions, firming and after-sun formulas. We fill them into 200 to 500 ml lotion and airless pumps, tubes, and sachets for sampling. The brief usually comes down to one thing: a lotion that rubs in fast over a large area without a sticky or greasy afterfeel.

The hard parts we solve. Emulsion stability across large production batches, viscosity tuned so the formula dispenses cleanly from your chosen pump, preservation for large-format packs that are opened daily, and fragrance loading that stays gentle over a big application area. We also engineer the formula for cost control at volume, so the economics still work when you scale from a pilot to retail runs.

What we offer for body lotion brands

Custom formulation from brief (our core service). A unique body lotion developed from your brief: active selection, texture, fragrance and sourcing built around your positioning, and you own the finished formula. Typically $5,000 to $9,000 per SKU, 8 to 16 weeks from approved brief to production-ready formula.

Minimum order quantity. 500 units per SKU to start, in pump bottles, tubes and airless packaging. Body lotion is where volume economics really kick in. Per-unit cost drops sharply at 3,000 to 10,000 units, and retail-scale runs (10,000 to 100,000+) are supported from the same facility.

Common body lotion formulation considerations

Body application means large surface area and frequent use, so cost-per-application, spreadability and fragrance sensitisation all matter more than in facial care. Pump functionality depends on getting viscosity right for the pack. Large, daily-opened bottles need a preservation system that holds up to repeated opening. Epilab balances these during development.

A typical body lotion brief

A founder wants a lightweight everyday body lotion with niacinamide and colloidal oatmeal, naturally fragranced, in a 300 ml pump retailing under $25, that absorbs fast enough to dress straight after. We translate that into a stable, quick-absorbing emulsion, a sensitive-skin-friendly active panel, and a 500-unit pilot that’s engineered to scale cleanly to 5,000 to 10,000 units.

Realistic body lotion costs

A single-SKU body lotion boutique launch in Australia typically lands between $25,000 and $50,000 all-in: custom formulation ($5k to $9k), stability and preservative-efficacy testing, packaging (usually 30 to 40% of the total), and a 500-unit pilot run. Because body lotion scales so well, the per-unit cost falls faster than most categories as volume grows. That suits retail and subscription models. Full line-by-line numbers are in our cost of cosmetic manufacturing guide.

Frequently asked body lotion manufacturing questions

What’s the minimum order quantity for a body lotion?

500 units per SKU to start; body lotion is well suited to scaling into 3,000 to 10,000+ unit runs.

Can you make a lightweight, fast-absorbing body lotion?

Yes. Quick absorption over a large area with no sticky afterfeel is the most common brief, and we build the emulsion around it.

Can you formulate for sensitive or eczema-prone skin?

Yes. Colloidal oatmeal, ceramide and low-sensitiser fragrance-free formulas are standard, and we can position for sensitive-skin claims.

Can you include actives like urea or AHAs for rough skin and KP?

Yes. Urea, lactic acid and other AHAs are formulated at effective, well-tolerated levels with the right pH and packaging.

What pack sizes can you fill?

Typically 200 to 500 ml pump and airless bottles and tubes, plus sachets for sampling. We match viscosity to the pump you choose.

Are body lotions made here Australian Made eligible?

Yes, formulated and manufactured at our Melbourne facility, meeting Australian Made & Owned criteria.

Start a body lotion project

Email info@epilab.com.au with your body lotion brief: target volume, fragrance and ingredient preferences, packaging direction, timeline, and any specific compliance or claim requirements. We respond within one business day.

For the full skincare overview see our Skincare Manufacturer Australia page, our cost transparency guide, our sibling body oil page, and Our Process.

Epilab. Australian body lotion manufacturer. Custom, science-led formulation in Melbourne since 2011.