A Jar’s Journey: The Beauty Supply Chain and Why Freshly Made Skincare Matters

What’s the real story behind your moisturizer? From production lines to store shelves, its journey is an epic tale of travel, temperature changes, and logistical feats—a true odyssey before it lands in your hands. To demystify this process, we consulted supply chain expert Sean Shannon. With over 25 years of experience at major companies like Kraft Foods and Elizabeth Arden, Shannon guided us through the lifecycle of a single skincare jar. Here’s the roadmap. Buckle up, because this journey reveals why freshly made skincare is truly transformative.

Tick Tock: From Production to Store

	1. Production The journey starts at the production line, where skincare products are manufactured in batches, often producing a four-week supply (4 WOS) for each SKU per month.
	2. Company Warehouse Once produced, products typically sit in the company’s warehouse for an average of six weeks. This buffer allows for inventory management and ensures supply continuity.
	3. Pick, Pack, and Ship to Retailer Shipping from the company’s warehouse to a retailer can take one to two weeks, adding yet another pit stop in the moisturizer's grand tour. Factors like shipping method (full truckload vs. less-than-truckload) and distance influence this timeline.
	4. Retailer’s Warehouse At the retailer’s warehouse, products rest for an additional two weeks on average before being distributed to stores.
	5. Shipment to Retail Store Moving products from the retailer’s warehouse to individual stores adds another week to the process.
	6. Retail Store Shelf Finally, products sit on store shelves for approximately five weeks before being purchased.
	7. Customer Purchases On average, it takes 16 weeks for a skincare product to move from production to a customer’s hands.

The Hidden Cost of Time

Taking Stock: This four-month journey is more than just a timeline—it’s a gauntlet for product integrity. Shannon highlights that multiple handoffs, exposure to fluctuating temperatures, and extended storage times can degrade products. “Are retailers rotating their stock?” Shannon asks. “Or are older batches left on shelves while stores try to sell through inventory?” These concerns emphasize the need for fresher, more reliable skincare options.

The Shelf Life Struggle

When it comes to stocking fresh formulas, the struggle is real for consumers and entrepreneurs alike. Megan Cox, founder of Amalie Beauty, learned this lesson when launching her natural lash enhancer, Wink. With a shelf life of 12 months, Cox faced logistical hurdles. “I can’t allow distributors to overstock if I don’t think they can sell fast enough,” she shares. In one instance, Cox replaced 2,000 units for free to ensure product quality, a costly but necessary decision to protect her brand’s reputation.

Similarly, Liz Whitman, founder of Exponent Beauty, discovered a troubling fact during her research: “The average best-selling skincare products lose half of their active ingredient concentration within eight weeks of opening.” This revelation prompted her to rethink the traditional skincare model. Time to stop the spinning.

Rethinking Fresh Skincare

At Exponent Beauty, we set out to solve the freshness dilemma by eliminating unnecessary steps in the distribution process. With guidance from product strategist Nancy Leung, who has over 18 years of experience with brands like Bare Escentuals and Perricone MD, we developed a revolutionary solution: made-in-the-moment skincare.

Exponent Activated Skincare: A Fresh Skincare Innovation

Exponent isn’t just skincare—it’s a ritual, a revolution, and a reimagining of what beauty can be. Combining a powder complex of active ingredients with a hyaluronic acid serum, consumers create fresh formulas on demand. Here’s how it works:

• Fresh Clinical Concentrations: Active ingredients are preserved in powder form to prevent degradation, ensuring peak performance in every dose.
• Personalized Regimen: Mix different Active Powders with the Universal Hyaluronic Acid Serum for day or night use.
• Quick and Easy Mixing: With a simple Twist/Pump/Mix or Stamp/Pump ritual, the precision-dosed packaging lets consumers make their skincare in under 10 seconds.
• Sustainability: The refillable precision-dosed dispenser reduces waste, supporting eco-friendly practices.

Revolutionizing Skincare

Exponent Beauty is setting a new standard for freshness and efficacy. “This is special,” says Leung. “You’re making this for yourself.” We’re not just creating a product; we’re empowering consumers to leave the outdated supply chain behind and take control of their skincare the way it was meant to be crafted-- fresh for peak potency and efficacy.

Brightening Boost Vitamin C Power Serum

Activated Serum

Treats sunspots, discoloration and dullness

Added! Add to cart Out of stock Adding....

---

Firming Filter CoQ10 Power Serum

Activated Serum

Tightens, brightens and reduces fine lines

Added! Add to cart Out of stock Adding....

---