Health and beauty labels designed to stand out

In the UK, the legal requirements for ingredient disclosure on beauty product labels are governed by the EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, which continues to apply post-Brexit. Some of the key requirements include:

• Ingredients List
• INCI Names
• Specific Ingredients Information
• Allergens
• Nanomaterials
• Language
• Font Size and Readability

It is important to note these regulations are subject to change and companies operating in this space should regularly check for any updates in the legal requirements.

If the product contains any of the 26 allergens that are commonly known to cause allergies, they must be listed if their concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products (like lotion) and 0.01% in rinse-off products (like shampoo).

Labelling for organic or natural beauty products in the UK, while still governed by the general cosmetics regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, involves additional considerations to emphasise their organic or natural status including (but not limited to):

Certification Labels:
Unlike general cosmetic products, organic or natural beauty products often feature certification labels from recognized bodies like COSMOS (COSMetic Organic and natural Standard), Soil Association, or ECOCERT. These certifications ensure that the product meets specific standards for organic or natural ingredients. The presence of such a certification logo is a key differentiator on the label.

Percentage of Organic Ingredients:
Products labelled as organic usually need to specify the percentage of organic ingredients contained. For instance, a label might state "made with 95% organic ingredients." This percentage is often a requirement of the certification body.

Use of the Terms "Organic" and "Natural":
The terms "organic" and "natural" are regulated in terms of cosmetics. Products can only be labelled as such if they meet the criteria set by the certification bodies. Misuse of these terms can lead to legal issues.