Cosmetic Products
The basics
Cosmetics and personal care products have a variety of roles. These include cleaning the body, changing its appearance and promoting attractiveness. Cosmetics and personal care products play an essential role in in all stages of our life.
They include:
- antiperspirants
- fragrances
- make-up and shampoos
- soaps
- sunscreens
- toothpastes
There are seven categories of cosmetics and personal care products:
- oral care
- skin care
- sun care
- hair care
- decorative cosmetics
- body care
- perfumes
decorative cosmetics • body care • perfumes
People have been using cosmetics for thousands of years. Today, most of Europe’s 500 million consumers use cosmetics and personal care products every day. They do so to protect their health, enhance their well-being and boost their self-esteem.
Many cosmetic and personal care products are used by almost all the EU’s population. In the UK 94% of women and 87% of men use deodorants, while in France 98% of women and 94% of men use shampoo. Despite this, there are differences in how often different products are used, with variations across countries, genders and ages.
Cosmetics are carefully regulated to make sure they are safe. The main piece of legislation governing them is the European Union’s Cosmetics Regulation.
To learn more, read Understanding the Cosmetics Regulation.
Consumers need good-quality information about cosmetics and their ingredients so they can have confidence in them. The Cosmetics Regulation sets out clear labelling requirements to provide consumers with the information they need. Beyond labelling, the industry provides consumers with information through marketing and communications.
Learn how we inform the consumer.
Every cosmetic and personal care product on the market in Europe is safe to use. Safety is the primary concern of all manufacturers. European Union legislation means all new products must undergo an expert scientific safety assessment before they are launched for sale.
Learn about the activity we undertake to ensure safety.
How we make your products
Research and development (R&D)
Innovation is at the core of what the cosmetics industry does. We carry out research and development to understand every aspect of our customers’ needs and develop the products they want. R&D looks at factors such as:
- consumer behaviour and beauty aspirations
- the biology of skin and hair
- developing new and innovative technologies
- sustainable development
Carrying out research means we can select and develop the ingredients that are most respectful of human health and the environment. It enables us to create or reformulate products that reflect the ever-changing expectations of our customers.
Innovation in our industry is a long-term process. It can take over five years of research and formulation to create a new product. Innovation is an ongoing process, and every year 25% of cosmetic products are either improved or completely new. As an innovator, the cosmetics industry has thousands of EU patents associated with its products. In 2009 10% of all patents in the EU were for cosmetics and personal care products.
Choosing ingredients
The ingredients that can be used in cosmetics and personal care products are defined by the EU Cosmetics Regulation. It also defines substances that can only be used in specified circumstances, along with lists of approved ingredients such as colouring agents, preservatives and UV filters.
Myths about cosmetic products and their ingredients
There are some common myths about ingredients used in cosmetic products. Many are spread online. One completely unfounded myth is that lipsticks contain lead. This is entirely baseless, and the Cosmetics Regulation specifically bans the use of lead in cosmetics. Every single cosmetics product undergoes a comprehensive assessment before going on sale to make sure it is safe.
Another myth is that sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS, also known as sodium laureth sulfate or SLES) can cause irritation or even cancer. SLS is a surfactant which enables a liquid to foam. it is used in many cosmetic products because of its cleansing and emulsifying properties. Like all ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products, SLS has been extensively tested and its safety has never been in doubt. It has undergone careful review at European Commission level via its scientific advisory committee, SCCS (the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety). Safety is central to the cosmetics industry and is enshrined at the heart of the Cosmetics Regulation.
Assessing for safety
Consumer safety is the number one priority underpinning the manufacture and sale of cosmetics in Europe. Responsibility for product safety lies first and foremost with manufacturers.
Before placing a product on the market, companies must meet a range of obligations under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. These include:
- carrying out a safety assessment, the results of which must be made available for inspection
- providing product information
- complying with ingredient and labelling rules
Safety assessments take into account a product’s ingredients, their chemical structure and the level of exposure. The assessment must pay particular attention to where the product will be applied (for instance on the eyes, mouth or scalp) and which population group is expected to use it.
Cosmetic products for children under three have to undergo an even more rigorous safety assessment.
Cosmetic products for children under three have to undergo an even more rigorous safety assessment. This takes additional factors into account, such as a young child’s higher skin surface area to body weight ratio.
The person who carries out the safety assessment must have appropriate qualifications and experience. They also need to hold a recognised diploma in pharmacy, toxicology, dermatology, medicine or a similar discipline.
Preserving cosmetics and personal care products
Some cosmetic products contain preservatives, which are added to prolong their life and maximise their benefits. Preservatives ensure that products are safe to use during their intended lifespan. For example, they may provide protection from contamination by microorganisms, which are naturally present in the air, water and on our skin. Cosmetic products that become contaminated with bacteria and yeasts can cause irritations or infections. Without preservatives, many cosmetics would have to be kept cool, and would spoil in the same way as perishable food.
Most cosmetics need preservatives, including those made from natural ingredients such as jojoba, fruit pulp and plant extracts. Some have an open jar symbol on the label showing how many months they will last once they are open. Most will remain stable and free from contamination for many years, providing they are unopened. Some products, like perfumes, deodorants and hair sprays with high alcohol content, don’t need preservatives. For others, preservatives play an important and beneficial role.
There are strict rules about which preservatives can be added to cosmetics, with an approved list included in the Cosmetics Regulation. These have undergone stringent scientific tests before being approved for use, including a review by the SCCS.
Allergies to preservatives are rare, but a very small number of people can have an allergic reaction to certain ones. The ingredients in cosmetic products are labelled in accordance with EU legislation, and the same labelling system is used throughout the EU and in many countries around the world. This means people with a known allergy can check the ingredients list to ensure the product doesn’t contain anything they are allergic to.
The European Commission has produced an infographic explaining the importance of preservatives for cosmetic products.
Alternatives to animal testing (AAT)
Cosmetics Europe and its members have been at the forefront of developing alternatives to animal testing worldwide. Even before animal testing was prohibited, many of our members were already taking significant steps to eliminate it – my addition. The status of animal testing in the EU is as follows:
- Animal testing of cosmetic products is banned
- Animal testing of cosmetic ingredients is banned
- Selling cosmetic products tested on animals is banned
- Selling cosmetic products containing ingredients tested on animals for the purpose of complying with the Cosmetic Products Regulation is banned
Our industry’s best scientists have been dedicated to supporting the development, validation and approval of alternative testing methods for more than 20 years. Read more about our AAT activities