Labelling beauty products

Label Requirements

The European Union and UK government established a specific list of all the elements needed in your label. They need to be visible somewhere – either on the label on the packaging or near the selling place of the product. They should be clearly legible

These are:

• Indication of the Product – A simple statement that says what’s in your product. It needs to also state what the product does if it’s not clear from the product name.
• Batch number - this could be a number or reference but it needs to link back to when the product was made.
• The company name and address – you should be responsible for your own product and the consumer should be able to contact your company easily.
• The Country of Origin – Where the product is made
• The Nominal Net - the quantity that you put in the packaging expressed in grams or millimetres.
• The Ingredients – a list of all the ingredients present in your product. This is described by the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) as; specific, useful for allergies and the same across Europe. You can also add the simple name and then specify the scientific one. They must be listed in the order of percentage that makes up the product.
• Warnings – any precautionary advice on the usage of the product such as instructions.
• A minimum durability – This refers to how much they can last in general (if the durability is less than 30 months), or how much they can last once the items are opened and remain in good condition (if the general durability is more than 30 months)

Symbols on the labels

Most of the above requirements can be expressed through specific symbols that you should include in your label. The symbols are provided by regulations and they include:

• Reference to enclosed or attached information
• the period after opening and
• the ‘date of minimum durability

There are other symbols you can add to your products if they meet the requirements, such as:

• Recyclable Components
• Vegan friendly
• Cruelty Free

Further Information

Where are the regulations for cosmetic labels?

The regulations for cosmetic labels are set out in Article 19 of the EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 which applies in the UK.

Information about the ingredients that make it mandatory to label a product with Warning Statements and Precautions is shown in Annexes III to VI of the Regulation. Substances prohibited in Cosmetic products are listed in Annex II.