The Launch That Almost Didn't Happen

woman scientist in lab coat measuring an ingredient onto a scale

I felt like we were finally on the home stretch!  Five years after beginning the journey to formulate a new facial sunscreen (yes five years - it has been intense y'all!) I had found a chemist who created a formula that remarkably improved on our previous one with more bells and whistles, finally nailed down our packaging, which going to be beautiful and had found a manufacturer to work with - it was all coming together!!!  When I tell you that this SPF has dominated my life for the last year an a half it's an understatement.  The FDA considers sunscreen a drug so you have to save up your pennies to pay for a LOT of testing.  And you have to actually pass those tests.  But it was happening!!  Then I got this email from our manufacturer:

"Due to the cost of the raw materials, we will have to increase the minimum order quantity on this formula by an additional 50%."  My heart dropped.  Our original order had been a big stretch for us in the first place, there was literally no way we could afford to add the tens of thousands of dollars it would take to increase it by 50%. 

redheaded woman with her head in her hands

My mind began to spiral and the loudest voice in my head was saying "you're not going to be able to launch this product - you've sunk a ton of money into it - formulating, testing, you've bought the packaging and now you can't do anything to get it into the hands of your customers.  It has all been for nothing."  

Just find another manufacturer, right?  Easy!  Except it wasn't.  Most manufacturers want a minimum of 25,000 pieces for a run of a drug because it's a lot of work on their end with the FDA too - smaller orders aren't worth it.  And 25,000 pieces is more than we can currently sell.  After months of research we had found a wonderful manufacturer who was willing to work with us and our MOQ (minimum order quantity), which was under 25,000 pieces.  But then, because we use organic ingredients and one of the highest quality zincs on the market, our raw material cost was too high for them at that lower quantity and they had to up it.  

yellow road sign that says "dead end"

Like I said - I spiraled.  And felt defeated, overwhelmed, naive for thinking I could make this work - every "what were you thinking?" thought came out of the woodwork.  And it sounds Pollyanna-y but this sunscreen is SO BEAUTIFUL and I was really sad at the thought that no one would be able to try it - no one!  Ugh.  

A day passed and a thought came from the back of my mind.  Our chemist had mentioned another manufacturer in passing months before but for some reason it never made it to our research list.  I asked her to call them.  Long story short - they said yes.  THEY SAID YES!!  They tried the product and were willing to do our quantities because they believed in the formula the way we did.  "This is best sunscreen I've ever used" the woman in their regulatory department shared - YES!!!

white bottle of erin's faces peptide protection spf 30 in bed of pink stock flowers

We have continued to have some bumps in the road but in just a couple of weeks time we get to launch it and share our Peptide Protection SPF 30 with you - I'm so grateful!  I feel like a little piece of me goes into every product we make but this sunscreen has an even bigger piece.  I'm so excited for you to try it and I hope that you love it as much as our team and I do!!  


20 comments


  • Erin's Faces

    Ileana – great question! We don’t find that it does leave a white cast but you can try a sample if you want to make sure.
    Ginger – thank you! And ahh! The original is still lovely and this one will be here when you’re finished :)
    Leslie – thank you so much! I think you’ll love the new one!
    Geraldine – yes, that little thing that someone said months ago can totally be the answer, can’t it? I’m grateful when I actually remember them! Thank you so much for your support!
    Marina – it was the definition of a demonstration literally in every step – thank you for noting that :) – I hope you love it!
    Ruth – thank you so much for that support – it means so much to me! And I think this one will work well for you too – if you’re not sure please do get a sample and try that to make sure it will be okay with your skin. xo
    Tricia – Thank you! A lot of people had that question so I wrote a blogpost about it :) – https://erinsfaces.com/blogs/news/why-we-changed-our-sunscreen – hopefully that will answer your questions
    Bets – thank you my love :) – so excited for you to try it too!
    Mary – yay! this is PERFECT for you!! I’m excited for you to try it too – thank you!
    Fae – Thank you so much! It’s out now :) xoxo


  • Erin's Faces

    Tracey – yes!! Thank you so much! I hope you love it :)
    Elizabeth – thank you so much for that incredible support – I really appreciate it!
    Ann – ha! that’s very kind – thank you so much xoxo
    Deana – oh that’s so nice! I think you’re going to love the new one! In terms of replacing the serum, you def want to keep doing serum at least at night, and I like to use my serum underneath to get extra doses of those rejuvenating properties but it’s totally personal preference. I think, since you shared you’re dry it’s probably best to keep a serum under the SPF. And I think the new manufacturer will absolutely be better than the original – we just found out the original closed!!! Crazy pants!
    Sutter – thank you so much!!
    Kari – thank you my love – grateful for you xo
    Carolyn – Thank you!!
    Ann – thank you so much!


  • Fae Cargill Cohen

    I am inspired by this story of perseverance!
    When does it launch? I’ve been locked out of my social media (lost phone) and need to place an order for other things and have been waiting for “word” on this new product!!!


  • Mary

    I have had facial skin cancers, live in Florida and am VERY careful about what I put on my sensitive face for protection. I am VERY excited to try the new product!


  • Bets

    So grateful you put so much time and energy into curating the perfect product! Can’t wait to try it!!


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