Glossary · Business & Sourcing
What Is Lead Time?
Lead time in cosmetics manufacturing is the elapsed time from order confirmation to goods ready for shipment, covering raw material procurement, production, quality control and packaging. For our standard liquid, cream and gel route it runs 10–15 days, with longer production runs for powders, sticks and sheet masks.
Why it matters when you source
Lead time, not unit price, is what a launch date actually depends on. Confirm it against your channel calendar — marketplace dates, retail POs, seasonal windows — and remember it excludes shipping time, which for sea freight adds weeks on its own.
Continue reading
Related terms
Sourcing a Product in This Category?
Send your product brief — quotation and formula recommendations within 24 hours.
Get a Free Quote