A label is an essential feature of a cosmetic product as it serves multiple functions:

Preservatives are used in cosmetic products to ensure their safety during their lifetime. As many cosmetics contain water, once exposed to the environment, they become prone to the growth of microorganisms. Furthermore, every time a consumer interacts with the product, it gets introduced to a new population of microorganisms directly from the air or skin.

Microbial contamination leads to product spoilage. It destroys the intrinsic properties of the product, thereby creating a health risk to the consumer. Hence, preservatives are extremely important in cosmetic products.

As public awareness of environmental issues is increasing rapidly, many cosmetic companies are engaging their focus on natural and environment-friendly emulsifiers and chemicals to be used in their products. The advantages of ‘green’ beauty products go beyond fashion. Newer research approaches have outlined the amount of toxicity in conventional cosmetics. However, it has been observed that the natural cosmetic business is growing at a steady pace.

Heavy metals are ubiquitously present in the environment surrounding us. Heavy metals containing ingredients such as thimerosal (mercury) and lead acetate were used as cosmetic ingredients in the past. They were also used as reaction catalysts during chemical synthesis and for manufacturing industrial equipment, containers or closures.

Health Canada regulates cosmetics sold in Canada. Manufacturers selling cosmetic products in Canada must ensure that their product labels comply with the labeling requirements. Cosmetic labeling includes various information, but one of the most important parts of the labeling is ingredient listing, which informs the customers about product composition.

Writing a compliant ingredient list is not an easy task, so it is essential to understand the requirements on how to write it. Here are the prerequisites cosmetic manufacturers must adhere to market their products in Canada.

Labeling is a vital aspect when it comes to marketing the cosmetic products as it helps consumers understand accurate details of the product. In Canada, cosmetics and personal care products are regulated by Health Canada (HC). Cosmetic labeling is regulated by the Food and Drugs Act, the Cosmetic Regulations, and the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act and Regulations.

It is mandatory to display the following details on a cosmetic label in Canada:

Sunscreen is an important component of an effective sun protection regime. They must be safe, effective, and of good quality. For this reason, the TGA regulates sunscreens as therapeutic goods in Australia under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. The Australian Regulatory Guidelines for Sunscreens (ARGS) describe the Regulatory requirements and standards for sunscreens and their ingredients. As per the ARGS, sunscreens regulated under the Act are referred to as therapeutic sunscreens.

Sunscreens that fall under therapeutic goods are classified into:

To ensure that cosmetics align with the latest quality and safety standards, markets across the globe have stringent Regulatory requirements. In markets such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, India, Saudi Arabia, etc., appointing a Legal Representative/Responsible Person (RP)/ Local Agent/License Holder is mandatory for local compliance. Due to the economic and operational constraints, establishing own subsidiaries in each country may not be feasible for all cosmetic manufacturers. Hence, manufacturers must appoint a Responsible Person for a seamless market entry.

Hair colorants are classified as cosmetic products by the European Commission (EC) and are regulated under the regulation (EC) No: 1223/2009. Hair colorants contain a mixture of substances called hair dyes that are used to change the color of hair or to restore the original hair color. They are classified into the following three (03) categories based on their color fastness:

Thanks to the rapid development of vaccines and quick vaccinations in major parts of the world, there seem positive developments in all the business sectors towards the growth. However, the threat is persisting in terms of new waves and new variants of COVID. Let us hope we soon get over this and see the brighter side of the business. Even in these darkest times of humankind, few business sectors like Life Sciences are recording good business growth and taking quick strides forward.