Legal definition of Cosmetic Products
A cosmetic product is defined under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as any substance or mixture intended to come into contact with the external parts of the human body.
These include the skin, hair, nails, lips, external genital organs.
The primary purpose of a cosmetic product is to clean, perfume, modify the appearance, maintain the condition of the skin or hair, protect external body surfaces or correct body odours.
Unlike medicinal products, cosmetic products do not claim to treat or cure medical conditions. Their role is to support hygiene, care and aesthetic enhancement while ensuring consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
Examples of cosmetic products
Cosmetic products cover a very wide range of formulations used in everyday personal care and beauty routines.
- Skin creams, emulsions, lotions, gels and cosmetic oils
- Face masks and beauty masks
- Liquid, cream or powder foundations
- Make-up powders and body hygiene powders
- Toilet soaps and deodorant soaps
- Perfumes, eaux de toilette and colognes
- Bath and shower products such as foams, oils, gels and salts
- Depilatory products
- Deodorants and antiperspirants
- Hair colouring products
- Hair straightening, curling or styling products
- Hair cleansing products including shampoos and hair lotions
- Hair care products such as masks, conditioners and oils
- Styling products including sprays, lacquers and glosses
- Shaving products such as creams, foams and lotions
- Make-up and make-up remover products
- Lip care and lip make-up products
- Nail care and nail make-up products
- External intimate hygiene products
- Sun protection products and self-tanning products
- Skin tone enhancing products
- Anti-ageing cosmetic products
Main categories of Cosmetic Products
To better understand the diversity of cosmetic formulations, products are generally classified into several major categories.
Hygiene products: These products are designed to cleanse and maintain body hygiene. Examples include shower gels, cleansing gels, deodorants and shaving foams.
Skincare products: Skincare products are formulated to maintain the condition and appearance of the skin. This category includes moisturising creams, serums, lotions and protective skincare products.
Sun care products: Sun protection products help protect the skin during sun exposure. This category includes sunscreens, after-sun products and self-tanning formulations.
Make-up products: Make-up cosmetics enhance facial features and appearance. These include foundations, lipsticks, mascaras, powders and nail polishes.
Perfumes and fragranced products: Perfumes and fragranced cosmetic products are designed to provide a pleasant scent and sensory experience as part of daily beauty routines.
Hair care products: Hair cosmetics include shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments, styling products and hair colouring formulations.
Categories of ingredients used in Cosmetic Formulation
Cosmetic formulations combine several types of ingredients in order to achieve specific texture, stability and performance characteristics.
Ingredients of natural origin: These ingredients originate from plant, mineral or animal sources and are used with minimal processing. Botanical extracts, plant oils and mineral ingredients are typical examples.
Processed natural ingredients: These ingredients are derived from natural raw materials but undergo controlled chemical processing to improve their stability, performance or compatibility within cosmetic formulations.
Synthetic ingredients: Synthetic ingredients are created through laboratory processes. They are often designed to reproduce specific cosmetic functions such as texture, preservation or sensory properties.
Natural cosmetic claims
In the cosmetics industry, a product may be described as natural only when a very high percentage of its ingredients are derived from natural sources.
In most standards and certification systems, this threshold generally begins around 95 percent natural origin ingredients.
Cosmetic regulatory compliance and safety
Ensuring regulatory compliance is essential for all cosmetic products placed on the European market.
Compliance includes
- ingredient safety assessment
- regulatory documentation and product information files
- cosmetic product notification in the European CPNP portal
- label compliance with EU cosmetic regulations
Laboratoire Orescience regulatory expertise
Laboratoire Orescience supports brands and entrepreneurs throughout the cosmetic development process.
Our quality and regulatory affairs experts assist clients with:
- cosmetic formulation development
- regulatory compliance
- safety documentation
- market launch preparation
Private Label Cosmetic Manufacturing
Laboratoire Orescience develops and manufactures cosmetic products under private label and via custom formulation services. Our expertise spans skincare and haircare categories, including face and body care, anti-ageing skincare, hydrating formulations, blemish-prone skin care and professional haircare solutions for local and export markets.
From laboratory development to industrial production, our teams ensure full industrial control, regulatory compliance with European cosmetic standards and consistent batch reproducibility aligned with the requirements of target markets.
→ Discover our private label cosmetic manufacturing services.
