Jar, What Is Inside You?… or How to Consciously Buy Cosmetics
The cosmetics industry is one of the most dynamically developing markets in recent years. Companies outdo each other in creating new colors, finishes, formulations, technologies and packaging to meet the needs of customers and rapidly changing trends. Greater availability and constantly growing range of products have turned us into very conscious consumers – we carefully read product labels, paying particular attention to ingredients, origin and safety.
But how can we be sure that a purchased product has passed the relevant tests? What legal acts regulate the safe trading of such products within the European Union? What should we pay attention to while shopping? We will try to answer these questions in the this post.
Before a cosmetic will be available on store shelves
According to the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 1223/2009/EC of November 30, 2009, each cosmetic product authorized for marketing in the European Union must meet a number of requirements concerning the quality of raw materials, scope of laboratory tests and conditions under which it was manufactured. In the case of this industry, the ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practices standard applies. It sets out a number of rules for each manufacturer, including staff training, hygiene of the premises, plant equipment, purity of raw materials, quality control, as well as, appropriate conduct of audits and documentation.
Silcare as a Polish producer, who manufactures its goods on the territory of the European Union, is also ISO 22716 certified. We were certified by an independent certification body, which is an objective proof that our products meet all industry standard guidelines. Therefore, we have the right to place the ISO 22716 symbol on the labels of our products. You can read more about the certificate HERe.
Laboratory control
In order for a manufacturer to market private label cosmetics, they must obtain a cosmetic product safety assessment report from a safety assessor – a specialist working for an independent laboratory that is not affiliated with the manufacturer. To obtain the report, the manufacturer sends for examination a number of cosmetic samples, which are then tested to determine if:
- composition is in accordance with applicable laws
- preservative system is efficient
- physical, chemical and microbiological quality standards are met
- formula is compatible with container
- formula is safe for the skin
- purity level is met
Only after receiving the report, it is possible to register a cosmetic on the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) – an official portal that collects information on products marketed within the EU.
Silcare brand’s cosmetics undergo all required tests, thanks to which our customers can be sure that the purchased products are non-toxic, free of contaminants and manufactured from legal, verified raw materials. In one word – safety.
Read the labels
An average consumer, who stands at a drugstore shelf stand or browses products online, does not necessarily have the time and possibility to find and check all safety reports and certificates. So, what should we examine first to be sure that a product is legal, original and safe? Of course its label.
According to the applicable law, every cosmetic product available on the market must bear on its container and packaging the following, indelible, easily legible and visible information:
- trade name of a cosmetic product;
- name and surname or registered company’s name and the address of the responsible person (in our case it is: Producent/Producer: Silcare sp. z o.o. sp. k., Kostrzyńska 1, 66-400 Gorzów Wlkp., POLSKA/POLAND);
- nominal content at the time of packaging, given by weight or by volume;
- date of minimum durability;
- particular precautionary information;
- batch number of manufacture;
- function of a cosmetic product;
- list of ingredients.
Furthermore, all Silcare cosmetic packaging bear directions for use of a given product.
If for practical reasons it is not possible to place all required information on the label in accordance with the described method, there is a possibility to place a list of ingredients, particular precautionary information and directions for use on an enclosed leaflet, label, tape, tag or card.
The above guidelines are worth remembering because knowing how should a label consistent with the law look like, we can avoid buying a counterfeit and potentially dangerous product.
We hope that this post will help you make conscious and smart choices. Remember that during shopping, it is always the best to use verified and reliable sources that we trust. Silcare cosmetics are products from a Polish manufacturer with over 15 years of experience in manufacturing, which are created from the start to the end at our premises in Gorzów Wielkopolski. We are constantly working to improve our technologies and formulas in order to offer you products that are not only safe but also effective and satisfying.
