The cosmetic certification: why it’s key in a market led by consumers seeking transparency

The average consumer is becoming ever more sophisticated: educated and environmentally-conscious, they are driving demand for clean, natural, and sustainable cosmetics. They want products that chime with their lifestyles and values, protecting their bodies, communities, and the planet. This is the reason why to certificate cosmetics:  it clearly communicates a message of corporate responsibility to conscious consumers. Here, we discuss this question in detail.

What is a cosmetic certification and what are the key ones today?

A cosmetic certification is a third-party verification given to cosmetic products or companies that meet certain standards. 

Depending on each certification, these standards can be related to areas such as the ingredients or production methods of the formulation; and its environmental and social impact. 

Cosmetic certifications are voluntary to obtain, with the aim to demonstrate that a company’s products are safe, ethical, and meet certain quality standards. 

On the other hand, certifications can be awarded by different types of organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies.

The following are among the key cosmetic certifications today, which are leading in terms of consumer preferences: 

• Cruelty-Free: a cosmetic certification indicating that the product has not been tested on animals.
• Vegan: this certification indicates that the product is free of animal-derived ingredients.
• Organic: a product awarded with an organic certification has been proven to contain organic ingredients and meet certain environmental and sustainability standards.
• Halal: obtaining a halal certification indicates that the product is compliant with Islamic dietary laws and, as such, does not contain any prohibited ingredients.
• Kosher: likewise, a Kosher certification means the product is compliant with Jewish dietary laws and, thus, doesn’t contain any prohibited ingredients.
• Fair Trade Certification: this certification verifies that the cosmetic product has been produced and traded according to environmental and fair labor standards.

Cosmetic certifications: The basic principle

Certifications in the cosmetic industry have arisen in order to meet both consumers’ and companies’ demands. On the one hand, national and international authorities and cosmetic regulations have proven to be slow in providing answers for the new natural trend and widening the natural cosmetics’ definition.

On the other hand, the lack of international standards or a clear-cut definition of what natural means might confuse customers: while each brand can develop its own standard and requirements, this only obstructs the consumers’ desire for a more transparent industry that’s accountable for their products’ environmental footprint.In view of this, we arrive at the primary reason for the rise of cosmetic certification. Third-party certifications have become the straight-forward mechanism for a cosmetic industry that is willing to reimagine its processes and consumers that are searching for brands that match their conscious lifestyles. With greater clarity surrounding ingredients and sourcing, both brands and consumers can actively work towards a more sustainable industry.

Why certificate cosmetics:  the key to building a positive brand image

In other words, these certifications build trust and brand-image for companies, as they provide a specific way to prove their natural cosmetics’ claims. Certification bodies establish if their criteria can be applied to a single product or a product line, or if it’s necessary for a whole brand to adhere to the certification’s practices. Apart from monitoring processes and ingredient claims, third-party certifications in natural cosmetics present an essential duty: to provide standardized definitions for new concepts.

Moreover, robust certification enables brands to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded field. Certainly, new product launches for organic or natural products have been increasing for some time now, and the claims are blurring into one. So when it comes to why obtain a cosmetic certification,, an important dimension is standing out from the crowd; with clear labeling, wooly ‘natural’ or ‘eco’ claims become a robust sustainability promise.

Provital’s commitment to transparency through cosmetic certifications

Provital understands the reason why to certificate cosmetics. This is because as the conscious consumer becomes an even more powerful market force, it is essential that beauty brands strive towards complete ingredient transparency. With the appropriate certifications, brands can communicate clearly that their products are natural, sustainable, and socially responsible. Meanwhile, consumers can be confident this claim is trustworthy and industry-standard.

In turn, Provital active ingredients hold various eco, natural, and ethical credentials. These include: 

• COSMOS organic: this cosmetic certification guarantees cosmetics have been developed with organic and natural ingredients. Over 33,800 products in 71 countries around the world carry this cosmetic certification, which focuses on raw materials and verifies they have been produced to the highest feasible sustainability practices. 
• Ecovadis: this tool provides a common platform to help companies guarantee the sustainability of their practices, as well as a universal scorecard, benchmarks and performance improvement tools.
• Halal
• 100% ISO 16128 compliant: an international standard to calculate natural, natural origin, organic and organic origin indexes that apply to the ingredient categories within cosmetic formulations, based on the ingredient characterization.
• Membership of the Union for Ethical Biotrade: the UEBT has defined a standard for business practices that respect people and biodiversity. This relates to different processes, including the way ingredients from biodiversity are grown, collected, researched, processed and commercialized.  As such, it generates a holistic perspective from which to look at cosmetic certifications and the impact of cosmetics. The aspects considered by this organization include biodiversity conservation and restoration, cultivation and wild collection practices, human and workers’ rights and community well being and local development

These labels and standards clearly communicate our commitment to creating a more sustainable beauty industry that supports the care of our skin and the planet. With proper certification, we help our clients cultivate a positive, trustworthy brand image and demonstrate their commitment to a better beauty and personal care industry.

Frequently asked questions about cosmetic certifications

What is the ISO certification for beauty products?

While ISO has several standards related to cosmetic products, the most relevant one is ISO 22716:2007, which is a standard for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for cosmetics.

This standard focuses on providing guidelines for the production, control, storage, and shipment of cosmetic products, covering raw materials, production processes, equipment used, the personnel involved and the product’s packaging. 

What is Ecocert certification?

Ecocert is an independent third-party certification body founded in 1991 that provides certifications in the field of organic and natural products.While it can cover other types of product, they also include those in the cosmetics and personal care segment. 

To obtain an Ecocert certification, a product must: 

• Contain a minimum percentage of natural or organic ingredients
• Avoid particular synthetic and petrochemical ingredients
• Include environmentally friendly packaging and production methods
• Comply with social responsibility and fair labor practices

How much does the Ecocert certification cost?

There isn’t a general fee, as the cost of an Ecocert certification varies depending on the type of product to be certified, the size of the company, and the location of the manufacturing facility. These costs will include an application fee, an annual certification fee, and the cost of the required testing or inspections.