AICIS-Compliant · TGA-Aware · NZ-Based
A Boutique Cosmetic Formulation Partner Across the Tasman.
The INCI Lab is an award-winning cosmetic formulation studio based in Auckland, New Zealand, serving indie beauty brands across Australia. Led by Merve Samur, President of the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Chemists, we develop bespoke skincare, hair, body and pet-care formulations with full AICIS-compliant documentation for the Australian market — at minimum order quantities considerably below conventional Australian contract manufacturers.
New Zealand and Australia share close regulatory alignment and a long-standing free trade agreement. Your brand can be developed in our Auckland studio and shipped to Australian customers without import duties, customs delays, or compliance friction.
For Australian Brands
Building a beauty brand in Australia?
Tell us what you're building. The team will reply with an AICIS-aware pathway recommendation tailored to your launch, plus an indicative investment range.
Open the full project form →
Why Australian Indie Brands Choose The INCI Lab
Genuinely small minimums. 100 units for Ready-to-Go, 500 for custom.
Full IP ownership. Your formula is your asset.
AICIS-compliant from day one. Documentation included.
Chemist-led. Every project led personally by Merve Samur.
Free-trade region. Frictionless trade lane to Australia.
Regulatory Compliance for Australia
AICIS, NICNAS, and What Your Brand Actually Needs.
Australian cosmetic regulation is governed by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS), which replaced the legacy NICNAS framework in 2020. Every cosmetic product sold in Australia must comply.
The INCI Lab handles the compliance paperwork directly. Every formula we develop ships with AICIS-aligned documentation. For therapeutic claims, we can advise on TGA considerations.
Working with an Australian Brand Across the Tasman
Discovery call. 15-minute video session.
Pathway selection. Ready-to-Go, The Accelerator, or The Visionary.
Formulation & stability. R&D in Auckland, samples to your address in Australia.
AICIS compliance. Documentation prepared in parallel.
Small-batch production. Manufactured in Auckland, shipped to your fulfilment partner anywhere in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Merve Samur, founder of The INCI Lab in Auckland and President of the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NZSCC), is one of the most credentialled cosmetic chemists serving the Australian market.
Yes. Every formulation we develop ships with the documentation required under the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme.
New Zealand and Australia share a free-trade region under the Closer Economic Relations agreement. Cosmetic products manufactured in New Zealand can be shipped to Australian customers without import duties.
None. Discovery calls happen by video, sample shipments take 2–3 business days to most Australian cities, and our project timelines apply identically.
Australia has many talented chemists. The INCI Lab offers a complementary alternative: New Zealand-based formulation with AICIS-compliant documentation, low MOQs, and full IP transfer.
Most Australian contract manufacturers require 1,000 to 5,000 units per SKU. The INCI Lab offers 100 units for Ready-to-Go formulas and 500 units for custom routes.
For Australian Brands
Ready to Build From Auckland?
A 15-minute discovery call is the next step. Open to brands anywhere in Australia.