Cosmetics glossary

Advising consumers

The language of labels

Basics:Cosmetics glossary

Green Dot

Logo indicating that the manufacturer of the product on which it is affixed contributes financially to the collection, sorting and recycling of its packaging.

IFRA

Founded in Geneva in 1973, IFRA is the International Fragrance Association, the official international body representing the fragrance industry. Its main goal is to ensure the safety of fragrance raw materials for health and the environment through a dedicated scientific program.

CMR

An acronym for substances that are Carcinogenic, Mutagenic (inducing permanent changes in the number and/or structure of the body’s genetic material) or toxic to Reproduction (e.g. by causing malformations of the sexual organs or impairing sperm quality).

Cosmetic Product

What is a cosmetic product? We all have the feeling that we know this… but we can also make mistakes sometimes! And the question is not insignificant, since the status of a product determines the regulations, and the obligations, that apply to it. In Europe, a cosmetic product is governed by Regulation 1223/2009, and it is in this text that its definition must be sought.

EthicAdvisor

This logo, awarded by the private company EthicAdvisor, aims to distinguish ethical products in three dimensions: the health, the social and the planet.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

The ‘veganism’ trend is increasingly more integrated to our lifestyles. Food, textile, and cosmetics are among the industries concerned, and more and ...

Monday, September 25, 2017

French label for ecological and organic cosmetics, controlled by the Professional Association of Ecological and Organic Cosmetics.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

NOAEL (No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level) is a safety value used by toxicology offices to guarantee the safety of products before they are placed on th...

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Cosmetics increasingly boast about having ‘isotonic’ formulas. This complex term is often misunderstood by the general public: it refers to a cosmetic...

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Microbeads are among the cosmetic ingredients used to formulate many products. If they used to be on a roll thanks to their exfoliating properties and...

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Ecocert, a French control and certification body allocates its logo to natural and organic cosmetic products, after verifying their compliance with it...

Monday, August 29, 2016

Cosmetics risks and hazards

We often hear about the risks associated with the use of cosmetics or the hazards they represent. And yet, the two notions are quite different and sho...

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

This term has been more and more commonly used for a while on cosmetics labels, in particular in anti-aging product sales leaflets. The concept may se...

Saturday, April 2, 2016

To-be-labelled allergens

Subscribers only

26 aromatic compounds and fragrance substances, found in particular in essential oils, must be included in the list of ingredients as soon as they are...

Friday, March 4, 2016

An antioxidant inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Origine France Garantie

Created in 2011, the 'Origine France Garantie' label guarantees consumers that the products bearing the logo were made in France.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Triman logo system was enforced on January 1, 2015, as a result of the French ‘Grenelle Environnement’ initiative. It helps consumers identify the...