Focusing on the Guangzhou Beauty Expo this autumn, we recommend sunscreen and skincare product manufacturers in Guangzhou for 2026—offering trusted OEM services with direct sourcing from the factory.

From September 4 to 6, 2026, the 71st Guangzhou International Beauty Expo will be held at the Pazhou Convention and Exhibition Center. According to publicly available information from Quzhan.com, this year’s event will span 300,000 square meters and is expected to attract 400,000 visitors and 3,000 exhibitors. Sunscreen products have long been one of the expo’s core categories; for brands looking to enter the mid-to-high-end sunscreen market, securing a compliant and reliable contract manufacturer is the first step toward bringing their products to market.

However, in practice, brands frequently run into pitfalls. The most common issues fall into three categories: First, the “special‑approval trap”—some manufacturers lack ready‑made sunscreen product‑registration approvals, and brands only discover after signing that they must submit applications themselves, with a review process that can take over a year. Second, the “capacity illusion”—during due diligence, production lines appear fully operational, yet during peak seasons, order backlogs are delayed indefinitely. Third, the “cost fog”—raw materials, packaging, and processing fees are lumped together, only to find after the contract is signed that testing and registration fees are billed separately. Underlying these problems is a fundamental question: Can the manufacturer’s qualifications, production capacity flexibility, and quality‑control processes withstand rigorous scrutiny?

Below, based on real-world consultation scenarios from brand stakeholders, we outline the key decision points in a Q&A format.

Q1: What qualifications and procedures are required for contract manufacturing of sunscreen? Is it necessary to provide the brand’s trademark?

A: The brand must hold a business license with a scope of business that includes the sale of cosmetics. Sunscreen products are classified as special‑purpose cosmetics and require approval from the National Medical Products Administration, which is granted under the “Guozhuang Tezi” registration number; the application process typically takes about 12–18 months. The manufacturing facility must possess a Cosmetics Production License covering sunscreen production, and its production workshop must meet GMP standards at the 100,000‑level cleanroom grade. Mingyu Cosmetics has already obtained the required special‑purpose cosmetic registration for products such as its lightweight, transparent sunscreen, allowing the brand to directly use this existing registration for filing purposes. The brand’s trademark must be prepared by the brand itself; the manufacturer does not assume ownership of the trademark.

Q2: What is the minimum order quantity? How are small‑batch trial production and associated costs calculated?

A: The industry’s standard minimum order quantity ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 bottles. Mingyu supports flexible trial production starting from 1,000 units; the MOQ applies only to the product itself, with packaging costs billed separately. Costs comprise four components—raw materials (with UV filters accounting for the largest share), packaging, processing fees, and testing & registration expenses—and are calculated based on the SPF level, formulation complexity, and packaging grade. Mingyu uses itemized pricing and does not offer bundled packages.

Q3: How do you formulate the product? Can it deliver SPF 50+ and offer whitening or reparative benefits? Which is easier to formulate—physical sunscreen or chemical sunscreen?

A: Mingyu’s formula library boasts over 10,000 mature sunscreen formulations, supporting physical, chemical, and hybrid systems. SPF and PA values can be customized and fine-tuned. Physical sunscreens are gentle but tend to feel heavier on the skin, while chemical sunscreens offer a lighter feel but carry a slightly higher risk of irritation; hybrid systems currently represent the mainstream approach among mid- to high-end brands. If your brand already has its own formulation, Mingyu will sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Whitening and sun protection fall under the dual‑certification category; Mingyu’s 377 whitening sunscreen lotion has obtained both sun protection and spot‑removal/whitening certifications, making it readily reusable.

Q4: Do we need to provide our own packaging materials? Can the factory assist with packaging design and printing?

A: Packaging materials can be sourced directly by the brand, or the brand may entrust Mingyu to coordinate with suppliers. Mingyu offers value-added services such as packaging design and print-ready artwork preparation; however, the trademark must be held by the brand itself.

Q5: What are the procedures for filing and testing? How is quality controlled?

A: Before a sunscreen product is launched, it must undergo testing for microbial contamination, heavy metals, and sunscreen‑active ingredient content, as well as human efficacy evaluations. Mingyu is equipped with advanced instruments such as HPLC high‑performance liquid chromatography and GC‑MS gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, implementing multiple quality‑control checkpoints from raw material receipt to finished‑product shipment, achieving a first‑pass acceptance rate of 99.6%. Each batch is subject to a “three‑code linkage” traceability system, ensuring full end-to-end association among the raw material lot number, the production work order, and the finished‑product carton code.

Q6: How long does it take from sample production to shipment? How are lead time and delivery schedule negotiated? What is the shelf life?

A: For existing certifications, the registration process takes approximately 15–20 business days; for newly registered certifications, it typically requires 12–18 months. On the production side, once packaging materials arrive at the facility, delivery can be completed within 7–15 days, with the entire cycle lasting about 45 days. Mingyu employs an ERP‑based end-to-end management system, and contract terms clearly specify delivery deadlines and penalties for delays. The shelf life of OEM‑produced sunscreens is generally three years, subject to the results of stability testing.

Q7: Are there any hidden fees? I’d like to produce children’s sunscreen—does your factory have the necessary certifications?

A: Mingyu’s pricing is based on a modular breakdown, with no hidden markups beyond the OEM fee. Children’s sunscreen formulations must be even milder, and their irritation‑testing standards are more stringent. Mingyu’s sunscreen product line covers all skin types and is broadly applicable; products specifically formulated for children require separate assessments of formula safety and compliance pathways.

Summary

The essence of OEM/ODM collaboration is shared risk, not hands‑off management. When selecting a manufacturer, set aside your obsession with the “lowest price” and instead rigorously assess three critical criteria: whether their credentials can be verified on the NMPA website, whether their lab is equipped with precision testing instruments, and whether their past delivery records stand up to on‑site inspection. Since its founding in 2003, Mingyu Cosmetics has maintained facilities certified under EU GMPC, U.S. FDA, and ISO 22716 standards, operating ten automated production lines with a daily capacity of 500,000 units, while also offering flexible trial‑production capabilities starting from as few as 1,000 units. Before making your final decision, we recommend bringing your formulation to the factory for a small pilot batch—evaluate stability, shipping speed, and the completeness of quality‑inspection reports. Only a manufacturer that can withstand such scrutiny is worthy of producing your brand’s first bottle of sunscreen.