Selfnamed vs. Blanka: Which Private Label Partner Is Best For You

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    So you want to create a beauty brand? 

    Chances are, you've spent some time investigating and Googling, “Where do I make my own skincare?” or “Private label skincare manufacturers.” And if you’re here, you’ve probably run into two big names: Selfnamed and Blanka. Maybe you already know one (or both), but you’re still wondering: “Which one is the right partner for me?”

    Selecting your private-label manufacturer is a serious decision. And there are plenty of factors to consider, starting from how easy the platform is to use to the quality of products. Whoever you choose, you’re trusting them with your brand, reputation, and name. That’s why we’re happy that you’re here. You’re comparing, testing, and investigating, all to make sure you find the right manufacturer for your beauty brand.

    So in this article, we’re putting Selfnamed and Blanka face-to-face, and we’ll walk you through:

    1. How you get started on each platform (incl. the user experience)

    2. Product offering and customization options

    3. Fulfillment, dropshipping, and logistics

    4. Costs, margins, and risk

    5. Which kind of brand each platform is best suited for

    By the end, you should have a clear picture. Not because we’re telling you which is better, but because you’ll know which is better for you.

    So, let’s get serious and let’s get started.


    An obvious note: yes, this is Selfnamed writing this. (Hey! How’s it going?) 😃 Of course, that means we know our own platform inside and out. We know our strengths, our selling points, the really good bits. However, our core value is transparency in everything we do and write about. And we’re writing this so you can make a fully informed choice. Don’t just pick what sounds good, but what actually works for you. Plain and simple: We’re rooting for you!


    Why compare Selfnamed vs. Blanka?

    But why Selfnamed vs. Blanka? Because Selfnamed and Blanka represent two very compelling but different approaches to launching a beauty brand:

    • Selfnamed is built on 19 years of skincare manufacturing experience. We’re not another startup pretending to make beauty; we’re deeply rooted in organic cosmetics and know what it takes to make clean, compliant, high-quality products. 

    • Blanka is a fast-growing private-label-as-a-service platform, focused on makeup products. Their promise is simple: you can launch a brand in under an hour, for low upfront cost. 

    Each brings big value, but for different kinds of creators. Whether you lean toward expertise and customization (Selfnamed), or pure speed and lean startup model (Blanka), understanding the trade-offs is key.

    Selfnamed vs. Blanka: Getting Started

    Blanka 

    Blanka positions itself as an ultra-fast way to launch a beauty brand. You can sign up, browse products, upload your logo, and mock up your packaging quickly. Their promise is simplicity: fast onboarding, minimal friction, low commitment.

    When signing up, Blanka offers to fill out a quick survey to define who you are and where you come from. Filling this out is quick and easy.

    After that, you’re taken to your dashboard, where everything seems easy to navigate. You can see the onboarding steps needed to complete before your store is ready to sell. Helpful pop-ups guide you through each step, making the whole process extra easy.

    Overall, starting with Blanka felt super easy. The pop-up guide helped to set up my account fast. It’s clear that Blanka offers a straightforward interface geared toward beginners.

    Selfnamed

    Selfnamed is built for creators who want speed and substance. You sign up, explore a curated range of clean beauty products, and immediately start designing your packaging and brand.

    As you start the signup process, you’re asked for your brand’s name and your website or social media handle. This helps Selfnamed understand what you’re building and provide a more tailored experience as you go. 

    Similar to Blanka, Selfnamed offers a quick survey to fill out to better understand your needs and interests. This was also quick and easy. 

    After that, you’re taken to your dashboard and, well, hello there, you’re greeted with a 20% discount on your first order. Nothing like a little discount to kickstart your brand.

    Then, similar to Blanka, you see the onboarding steps you need to take to start selling. You need to connect your account to your store, select the product samples to test them out, and create your first design. 

    TL;DR

    • If you want the fastest possible “get me a branded product in 20 minutes,” Blanka leans that way.

    • If you want fast plus professional manufacturing foundations, Selfnamed is built for that.

    2. Selfnamed vs. Blanka: Product Offering & Customization

    When it comes to product offering and customization, that’s where the experience really starts to differ. Blanka keeps things easy and quick, with a makeup-focused catalog and simple branding options. Selfnamed offers a skincare, hair care, and body care focused product range and tailored packaging customization, letting you experiment with labels, boxes, and overall brand identity.

    Now, let’s dive into each product selection experience to see how it actually feels in practice.

    Blanka

    After signing with Blanka, you’re guided to explore the products. 

    What stands out right away is that makeup products appear first by default. What this tells me: they’re betting most beauty store owners are here for makeup.

    After selecting a product, you’re taken to a quick brand setup page where you’re asked to upload your logo. Since my logo didn’t have a transparent background, Blanka suggested a free online background remover to fix it. Simple, helpful, and very on-brand for a quick-start platform.

    The next step is choosing products and building your product line. 

    At this point, I could already see my logo mocked up on each item. On some products, it looked great; on others… not so much. 

    What seems to be missing here is the ability to customize your branding: changing colors, resizing the logo, or adding design elements to make it feel truly professional and unique. 

    Seeing my logo on the products was helpful, but the experience felt a bit basic for the lack of a better word.

    After selecting a product, I was guided to either order a sample or add it to my product line. I also noticed that bulk discounts are available, and without a paid Blanka membership, the price per product is higher.

    So in the end, Blanka gives you a fast, makeup-forward catalog and an easy setup flow that gets your products branded and ready to sell in no time. Just keep in mind that while everything is quick and beginner-friendly, the branding tools are pretty minimal. This is great if you want to launch fast, but limiting if you’re trying to create a truly tailored or design-forward beauty brand.

    Selfnamed

    Now, let’s go through the same flow with Selfnamed and spot the differences.

    After doing a basic account set-up, you’re already guided to order some samples to test out the products. 

    This is a nice step if you already know what products you’re interested in. For me, I wanted to browse around more first before making an order. 

    When opening the product page, it’s clear that skincare is the main focus. From an organic retinol-alternative serum to a brightening exfoliator to a kojic-acid face cream, the lineup leans heavily into active, ingredient-forward formulas. Overall, the catalog features 150+ products that include skincare, hair care, and even some makeup products. Important to note, all of the products are vegan-friendly and feature organic and/or natural ingredients, and most are Ecocert certified. 

    And on top of it, Selfnamed can truly brag about its curated collection boxes. Unlike many manufacturers (including Blanka), Selfnamed also offers ready-to-sell themed sets that brands can launch as complete collections. It’s a unique advantage that makes creating product drops, gift sets, or seasonal campaigns much easier.

    When clicking on a product you’re interested in, you’re directed to the product page that lays out the key benefits and a full product description. This makes it easy to understand exactly what you’re adding to your line.

    Also, there are no minimum order quantities, meaning you can order exactly what you need. No more, no less. And to help you run the numbers, there’s a built-in bulk and profit calculator that makes pricing and margins easy to figure out. 

    Once you pick a product, you’re taken straight to the design stage where you can add your branding and customize the look.

    For me, this was the fun part, and honestly, the moment where I saw the biggest difference between Selfnamed and Blanka so far in the whole store setup process.

    First, you can browse a variety of packaging styles. This step is especially useful if you’re still creating and building your brand’s visual identity.

    After selecting a style, you’re directed to the design studio, where you can truly let your creativity run wild. Here, you can customize everything from colors, fonts, and graphics to logos and product details for your label AND box design. Selfnamed style templates and intuitive editing tools make it easy to experiment with different designs and see exactly how your final product will look.

    TL;DR

    • Both platforms are easy to use and offer a great selection of products.

    • Selfnamed offers a wide range of skincare, haircare, and beauty products, plus full branding customization. The platform encourages creativity and long-term growth.

    • Blanka offers a quick-start catalog that’s makeup-forward and beginner-friendly, designed to get your first products live fast. Keep in mind, though, that without a paid Blanka membership, product prices are slightly higher, so joining the plan can save you money if you plan to order more.

    4. Selfnamed vs. Blanka: Fulfillment, Dropshipping & Logistics

    Fulfillment, dropshipping, and logistics are most certainly the key to running a smooth beauty business. Let’s break down how Selfnamed and Blanka handle fulfillment, dropshipping, and logistics.

    Blanka

    Blanka is designed as a beginner-friendly dropshipping platform. It lets creators sell products without handling inventory, making it easy to launch quickly. Production, however, is handled by external suppliers rather than in-house, which means less direct control over manufacturing.

    The first step is connecting your store. Blanka supports Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix, plus a Blanka API for VIP members who want a more advanced, custom integration. Setting up your store is straightforward: you just link it, and orders start flowing directly from Blanka to your customers.

    Next, in the Settings page, you can turn on Automatic Order Payments, which means that whenever a customer places an order, Blanka automatically begins fulfillment. Also, here you can choose your shipping method, which is either standard or expedited. 

    Now, standard usually means regular delivery times, while expedited gets products to your customers faster (and typically costs a bit more). I was able to find more information on the differences in shipping options on their FAQ page.

    If you prefer to order in bulk rather than dropship, Blanka makes that possible too. However, bulk orders aren’t immediately visible in the dashboard. Instead, you need to request access to Blanka’s wholesale catalog by filling out a form.

    In short, Blanka’s fulfillment and logistics are quite flexible but clearly optimized for dropshipping. You can start selling immediately through integrated stores, automate payments, and shipping.

    Selfnamed

    Selfnamed gives you flexibility with fulfillment: you can start with dropshipping to get your brand running immediately, or place bulk orders as your business grows. All products are fulfilled in Selfnamed’s own manufacturing facilities, giving you more control over quality, turnaround times, and branding opportunities.

    The first step is connecting your store. Selfnamed supports Shopify, WooCommerce, and Squarespace, making it easy to sync products and orders. 

    Once connected, you can track every order directly from your dashboard: see the status, order date, customer name, and more, all in one place.

    Selfnamed handles both dropshipping and wholesale orders. Dropshipping lets you sell without holding inventory, and all orders are fulfilled from Selfnamed’s own fulfillment centers in the US and Europe, giving you more control over quality and turnaround times. For bulk orders, you can order at any quantity (there are no MOQs, yay!) This is perfect for scaling as your brand grows.

    Same as Blanka, Selfnamed also automates billing for dropshipping orders. So when a customer buys, the system charges your stored payment method and begins fulfillment immediately. 

    And a behind-the-scenes thing we know: all products go through compliance and quality checks, so you know your branded items meet regulatory standards.

    TL;DR

    • Blanka: A beginner-friendly, dropshipping-first platform with external suppliers. It’s quick to launch with a simple setup. Bulk orders are available via wholesale request, and you need a membership to unlock discounts and extra features.

    • Selfnamed: A flexible fulfillment with in-house production. You can start with dropshipping or scale to bulk with no minimums, track orders easily, ship globally, and get more control over branding, packaging, and quality.

    5. Selfnamed vs. Blanka: Costs, Pricing & Margins

    Blanka

    Blanka works on a membership model, which basically means you pay a small monthly fee to get discounts and perks. There’s a free plan that lets you explore the catalog, but you don’t get product discounts or premium features. Paid plans include Essentials, Signature, and VIP. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time, and benefits last until the end of the current billing cycle if you cancel.

    Now the membership discounts directly impact your margins. The more you commit, the more you save – 5%, 10%, or 15% off products depending on your plan. 

    Of course, beyond the membership, you still pay for the products themselves, plus shipping. Besides that, Blanka makes it easy to start dropshipping with no minimum order quantities, just like Selfnamed. If you want to order in bulk, you’ll need to request access to their wholesale catalog, where they probably provide all the other details on pricing, minimums, and order processes. 

    Bottom line: Blanka offers a beginner-friendly way to get your beauty brand off the ground. But if you want to create something long-lasting and unique, you’ll definitely need to upgrade to one of their membership plans. 

    Selfnamed

    Now with Selfnamed, the picture is quite different. There are no monthly fees and no setup costs. You can sign up completely free and start exploring the platform without any commitment.

    You only pay for the products you actually sell. Selfnamed’s pricing model is more straightforward: you’re charged only for orders that are accepted, fulfilled, and shipped to you or directly to your customers. We think this keeps things transparent and fair, so you never pay for inventory you don’t need.

    Shipping costs do apply, of course, but Selfnamed works to secure competitive shipping rates so you can keep costs manageable while reaching your customers reliably.

    The overall approach is designed to be user-friendly and cost-efficient, letting you focus on creating a beautiful store, building your brand, and attracting customers. 

    TL;DR

    • Blanka: membership-based. You can start free or pay a monthly fee to get discounts (5–15%), priority processing, and some branded extras. No minimums for dropshipping, but bulk orders require requesting the wholesale catalog. Margins improve with higher-tier memberships and as you scale.

    • Selfnamed: free to start. You only pay for products that are fulfilled and shipped, with no monthly fees or setup costs. Shipping applies, but there are no minimums, and you can easily scale from dropshipping to bulk orders. 

    6. Who Each Platform Is Best For

    Blanka is ideal if you’re:

    • A beginner testing an idea without spending much upfront

    • Looking for instant brand mockups and simple dropshipping

    • Building a lightweight or trend-focused beauty line that doesn’t require complex customization

    Selfnamed is ideal if you’re:

    • Serious about building a long-term, premium beauty brand

    • Looking for a clean, organic-leaning product range

    • Wanting the flexibility to start with dropshipping and scale into bulk orders

    • Interested in the possibility of custom formulations down the line

    Comparison Table
    Category Selfnamed Blanka
    Fulfillment In-house fulfillment Partial / 3PL-assisted
    Product Range Clean, premium, organic-leaning Broad selection of general beauty products
    Customization Private label + optional custom formulations Private label only
    Fulfillment Model Dropshipping + wholesale Dropshipping + possible wholesale
    Upfront Cost No required subscription Subscription plans for full features
    Best For Long-term, certified clean beauty, scalable brands Fast onboarding and launch, makeup product focus

    Final Thoughts

    Want to quickly see how your logo looks on a wide range of products? Looking for a quick & easy onboarding that literally feels like seconds? Blanka delivers. 

    Want to create a custom packaging style that matches your brand? Looking for certified, clean, and effective skincare and haircare products you can easily get dropshipped or ordered in bulk?  Selfnamed’s your partner. 

    At the end of the day, both Selfnamed and Blanka are solid platforms, but they clearly serve different types of creators. 

    Blanka is great if you want a fast way to launch with instant brand mockups and a makeup-forward catalog. Membership tiers help improve margins and get you some nice perks. Just keep in mind that the platform is dropshipping-first and keeps customization simple.

    Selfnamed is built for those who are thinking long-term. With in-house fulfillment, a wide range of skincare and haircare products, and full branding and packaging customization, it’s ideal for creators who want more control over their brand identity. You can start with dropshipping and scale to bulk as your business grows, all without monthly fees or minimums.

    At the end of the day, you can read all about either platform. But what I truly recommend is testing both out if you’re still undecided. Just like I created free accounts on both, go ahead and do the same and experience everything for yourself. Test things out, order some samples, and create some packaging styles. And remember: We’re rooting for you! 

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