How to Start a Natural Skin Care Business in the UK [7 Steps]

Starting a natural skin care business in the UK is a brilliant opportunity to combine creativity with purpose and meet growing demand for clean, conscious beauty.

This guide is for aspiring founders of all kinds — DIY formulators, entrepreneurs with a vision and a budget, or side-hustlers looking to turn their passion into profit. 

You’ll learn how to carve out your niche, comply with UK regulations, develop your products, and launch with impact.

Let’s start!

Step 1: Research and define your niche

Every successful skin care brand starts with a deep understanding of its market — and a sharp point of view. You can't be all things to all people, especially in a crowded space like natural beauty. 

Your first job? Find your space in the industry and get to know your customers better than they know themselves.

🔸 Why this matters:

Without a niche, your brand risks blending into the background. Consumers are overwhelmed by choice, and what they’re looking for is a brand that speaks directly to their needs and values. 

Whether it’s eco-conscious Gen Z buyers, adults with eczema-prone skin, or luxury-minded minimalists, you need to know who you’re serving.

🔸 How to do it:

🔸 Your goal:

Write a one-sentence mission statement that sums up your niche and purpose. For example:

“We create zero-waste, sensitive-skin-friendly skincare products inspired by traditional British botanicals.”

Step 2: Develop your brand

Your brand is the way people feel when they see your packaging or scroll through your Instagram. It’s your values, your tone of voice, and your visual identity rolled into one.

🔸 Why this matters:

Consumers align with brands that reflect their lifestyle and beliefs. This is especially true in the natural skincare space, where values like sustainability, ethics, and transparency matter deeply.

🔸 How to do it:

1. Choose a business name that reflects your essence:

2. Define your mission and values:

3. Design your visual identity:

4. Develop your tone of voice:

5. Tell your story authentically:

6. Register and protect your brand:

7. Create brand guidelines:

🔸 Pro tip from ANNA

Want a stress-free way to register your company and set up your business account? 

ANNA’s Company Registration service lets you register an LTD for free (with our Enhanced or Total support plan), and instantly gives you access to a business account that integrates with Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, and more — perfect if you plan to sell your skincare line online. 

Plus, we’ll help with taxes, provide a virtual office address, and even file your confirmation statements. 

It’s a game-changer for small skincare brands who want to start strong and stay compliant.

Step 3: Formulate and test your products

Now it’s time to turn your concept into an actual product. Whether you’re formulating in-house or working with a manufacturer, you’ll need to develop skin-safe, stable, and effective products that deliver what they promise — and comply with UK law.

🔸 Why this matters:

Formulating skincare is both an art and a science. The wrong pH balance or preservative system can cause irritation or spoilage. 

And with increasing consumer scrutiny over ingredients, every formula must meet high standards of safety, efficacy, and transparency. In short: beautiful branding is nothing without a product that works.

🔸 Your formulation options:

1. DIY formulation:

2. Private label manufacturer:

3. Custom manufacturer (Contract manufacturing):

Key considerations during formulation:

🔸  Testing requirements:

All cosmetic products in the UK must undergo mandatory testing. These include:

Additional tests to consider:

➕ Bonus tips:

Real-World Example:

A brand like UpCircle started by upcycling coffee grounds into scrubs — simple, oil-based formulas that didn’t require advanced preservation systems. This let them launch quickly while maintaining natural integrity and full compliance.

Step 4: Ensure regulatory compliance

This step might not be the most glamorous, but it’s arguably the most important. The UK Cosmetics Regulation ensures that all cosmetic products sold in the UK are safe, properly labeled, and documented.

What you need to comply with:

1. Responsible Person (RP): Every product must have a designated UK-based RP. You can take on the role yourself or hire a third party.

2. Product Information File (PIF): A file that includes your CPSR, product description, manufacturing method, claims substantiation, and more. It must be stored for at least 10 years.

3. UKCPNP Notification: Submit your product details on the UK Cosmetic Products Notification Portal before launch.

4. Correct Labeling: Must include:

Don’t cut corners here. Non-compliance can lead to your products being removed from the market or, worse, legal consequences.

Step 5: Build your online and retail presence

Once you have a product and a compliant business, it’s time to make it available to customers.

🔸 Build your website:

🔸List on other platforms:

🔸 Retail and pop-up sales:

Don’t forget: High-quality photos, consistent branding, and clear product messaging can make or break your success online.

Step 6: Create a marketing strategy that feels human

You don’t need a six-figure marketing budget to grow a skincare brand. What you do need is connection, consistency, and creativity.

🔸 Define your brand voice:

🔸 Build your strategy:

1. Social media:

2. Influencer outreach:

3. Email marketing:

4. SEO and Blogging:

Step 7: Launch and gather feedback

🔸 Before you launch:

🔸 Launch ideas:

🔸 After launch:

Remember: Treat your first 3 to 6 months as a trial period. Listen, learn, and iterate.

Conclusion

Launching a natural skin care business in the UK is more than setting up shop — it’s your chance to contribute to a more thoughtful, sustainable beauty industry. 

You don’t have to do it all alone — and you don’t need to figure out everything from scratch. The journey from idea to fully compliant, beautifully packaged product may be challenging, but it’s 100% doable with the right support systems in place.

✅ Want to simplify the setup and focus on growing your brand? 

Let ANNA take care of the heavy lifting: from registering your company and opening a business account to integrating your sales platforms and automating your taxes. 

You’ll be fully HMRC-compliant from day one — and free to focus on what you do best: creating skin care that makes a difference.

👇 Sign up with ANNA and take the admin out of your business.