Launching your cosmetic or personal care brand is an exciting venture, but it also means that you’ll need to be familiar with requirements for cosmetic labels. The Food and Drug Administration sets standards for labels, which ensures that consumers can avoid allergens and other potential hazards.

Here’s what you should know about labeling your cosmetic and personal care brands.

Is your product actually a cosmetic—or something else?

If you’re selling cosmetics or personal care products, it’s important to determine whether it’s a cosmetic/personal care product or a drug. Products which are intended to treat or cure diseases are drugs, and have very specific pharmaceutical labeling requirements. This includes products like antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer and sunscreen.

What to include on your cosmetic product labels

The FDA regulates cosmetic labels. Each compliant cosmetic label includes two main parts: the principal display panel (PDP) and the information display panel. The PDP appears on the front of the container. Depending on the size and shape of your container, there are specific requirements for label size.

The PDP is what faces outward on the shelf. It should include your product and brand name, such as “Moisturizer Brand: daily moisturizer for normal skin.” In addition to the names, you must also include the net contents. Liquid contents are listed by volume, while semi-solid and solid products should list their net weight. The weight has to be listed in a font at least an eighth of an inch high in the bottom 30 percent of the panel. However, if the panel is less than five square inches, those size and placement requirements are waives.

The information display panel is meant to describe ingredients. First, you need to include the drug ingredient declaration. Ingredients must appear in descending order (start with the highest content ingredient) by International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient name, except for botanicals, until or unless you get to ingredients which make up one percent or less of the total product.

Furthermore, if you use blended ingredients, those components must be listed separately.

All of this information must be included in a font at least one-sixteenth of an inch on labels over 12 inches. On labels smaller than five square inches, the font must be one-thirty-second of an inch.

There are many other requirements based on the specific type of product you’re selling, from bath bombs to tanning products. You’ll need to research each product label requirement separately to ensure you’re complying with FDA regulations.

Finally, be sure to include the name and location of your business. This may include the manufacturer, packer or distributor.

Quadrel Labeling Systems simplifies cosmetic and personal care packaging

When you’re ready to launch a mainstream cosmetic or personal care brand, precise and eye-catching labeling is a must. Quadrel Labeling Systems provides dozens of labeling solutions for manufacturers and packagers. Reach out to our team to learn more about which labeling system is right for your brand’s needs.