A straightforward anhydrous formula (balm, stick, oil serum) can reach a stable prototype in 4–8 weeks. Water-containing emulsions requiring preservative challenge testing and accelerated stability studies typically take 3–6 months before they're production-ready. OTC drug claims (SPF, acne, anti-dandruff) add regulatory review time. The AJ Cosmo Labs iOS app lets you track milestones and sample shipments so timelines stay visible across the full development cycle.
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