The DGCCRF points out that the labeling of cosmetic products meets regulatory requirements with the aim of protecting the consumer and providing them with fair and transparent information. It encourages consumers to read product labels completely. What are the regulations in force?
Labeling your cosmetic products
They must be written in easily visible and readable characters, in an indelible manner and be written in French (they may also appear in another language).
minimum durability date, mandatory if durability is less than 30 months: indicated after the words “Use preferably before…” or after an hourglass, this is the date before which it is preferable to use the product;
period (or duration of use) after opening, mandatory if durability exceeds 30 months: mentioned with the symbol representing an opened jar with a number of months or years, it indicates how long after opening the product can be used in complete security;
Example of fictitious labeling of a shampoo
Thus the ingredients are always named the same way, in Latin (for products derived from plants) or in English (for chemical substances);
As a result, in general, the first 3 or 4 ingredients on the list constitute more than 80% of the product. Below 1%, ingredients may be listed out of order;
Perfuming compositions, in order to preserve manufacturing secrets, are mentioned by the terms “PARFUM” or “AROMA”. However, the main odorous allergens must be mentioned.
What does an ingredient called “CI” followed by a number mean ?
This symbol can be used if the same product is marketed with several color shades. All dyes used in the range are mentioned in the list.
Why can we read [nano] after certain ingredients?
These ingredients are present in the form of nanomaterials, within the meaning of the European cosmetics regulation. When it comes to colorings, preservatives or sun filters, the ingredients in the form of nanomaterials must be subject to specific authorization and an assessment which will have judged
In order not to be misleading for the consumer, the use of aloe vera gel or juice reconstituted from powder must explicitly mention at the beginning of the labeling the addition of reconstitution water.
Claims are all the information that may appear on product labeling and any communication relating to this product: advertising, flyers, radio or audiovisual communications, websites, etc. Any claim may be used freely in compliance with regulations: a specific European regulation on claims made on cosmetics (Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of November 30, 2009) defines the criteria that any claim must meet in order to be used.
The other compounds mainly serve to form the texture of the product and its emollient effect on the skin, as well as to ensure its stability. They can be of natural or synthetic origin depending on technical possibilities or the manufacturer’s choice of raw material.
There are many claims on cosmetic products and detecting those that are relevant or, conversely, potentially misleading will help you choose your products with full knowledge of the facts.
You may be misled if you read this claim because substances with an endocrine disrupting effect have not yet been defined, and moreover, there is currently no test to verify the complete absence of this effect.
There are different parabens, those which present a risk have been banned. Including them in a claim is misleading and denigrating to other products in this family. The same goes for phthalates.
Checking this list carefully is the safest way to inform yourself about the product you want to buy and spot the ingredients you want to avoid. This is particularly important if you suffer from allergies, as the main allergens must be labeled.
Logos or labels in favor of animals can only appear if specific actions have been carried out in addition to the simple fact of not carrying out tests on animals
Claiming the absence of a prohibited substance is also prohibited: “without corticosteroids”, “without hydroquinone” must not appear on the products because none must contain them. For substances which you do not know whether they are authorized or not, and which you wish to avoid, it is always possible and preferable to check their absence by consulting the list of ingredients.
What claims are permitted?
In general, claims that provide useful information that is not easily detectable through the list of ingredients. This is the case of the absence of certain groups of ingredients that you do not find among the Latin or English names and that you may prefer to avoid due to specific health problems (allergies, skin sensitized by treatments, accidents or surgical interventions), your lifestyle or beliefs, or because you wish to benefit from technological innovations or products with particular qualities.
