Sometimes the labels on cosmetics can be jam-packed with
confusing information with unbearably long words, but what actually needs to be
on cosmetic and beauty products labels? The following labelling essentials
cover many of the fundamentals for labelling cosmetic products.
The cosmetics industry works hard to provide information
because knowledge about cosmetics and their ingredients underpins consumer
confidence in the products they use.
There are three items that need on the front panel of any product that is sold to consumers:
There are three items that need on the front panel of any product that is sold to consumers:
Name
The brand name or product name
Identity
What is the product? (Soap, face cream, bubble bath, etc)
Net Quantity of Contents
How much actual product is there? In both US (oz, pounds, pints, etc) AND metric (ml, grams, liters, kilos)
The brand name or product name
Identity
What is the product? (Soap, face cream, bubble bath, etc)
Net Quantity of Contents
How much actual product is there? In both US (oz, pounds, pints, etc) AND metric (ml, grams, liters, kilos)
In Europe, cosmetic container labels must list all
ingredients in the product formulation using identical terms across the whole of
the EU. These terms are based on the International Nomenclature for Cosmetics
Ingredients (INCI) along with descriptions of certain substances specified in
the Directive.
The Directive also requires other information to be included on product labels:
The Directive also requires other information to be included on product labels:
1)
Name and address of the manufacturer, importer
or distributor
2)
Nominal content < by weight or volume
3)
Precautions to be observed in use
4)
Date of minimum durability, or Period After
Opening (PAO) for products lasting more than 30 months
5)
Function of the product (unless it is clear from
the presentation)
6)
Goods identification reference (e.g. a batch
number / manufacturing code)
Special requirements apply to small or unusually shaped
products that are difficult to label. The Directive states that precautions to
be observed in use and the list of ingredients can be printed on ‘an enclosed
leaflet, label, tape or card’. For example, the container and outer packaging
of a small or unusually shaped product might display a symbol showing a hand
pointing at a book to indicate that information is contained in a leaflet.
Ingredients should be listed in descending order of predominance (based on their percentage, by weight, in the product).
Blended ingredients used in the product (such as pre-made
bases or preservatives) must have their component ingredients listed in the
ingredient declaration based on the percentage of use in the entire formula.
