Cosmetic products are popular, quick-selling items in department stores and boutiques across the country. American consumers use lipstick, concealer, blush, bronzer, mascara, eye shadow, primer and various lotions and sprays every day. When someone is purchasing a cosmetic product, they expect a safe, high-quality, attractive item. These are the qualities a consumer will keep an eye out for when shopping for cosmetic products for personal use or as a gift.

Regulation of Cosmetic Products

The United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is responsible for regulating the labeling and sale of cosmetic and personal products available on the market. All cosmetic products must be appropriately labeled according to the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as well as the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. Both of these regulations exist to prevent products from being labeled inaccurately or in a way that may be misleading to consumers.

Adhering to these regulations is especially important when manufacturing cosmetic products because these items are generally for personal use, and without the most efficient Product Lifecycle Management tool, that you can get from somewhere like CBX, you won’t be able to complete a full quality and compliance check of the product before it gets shipped to suppliers. If they are not labeled correctly, consumers could experience allergic reactions, or could unintentionally use a product that they didn’t want to purchase. For example, consumers who are very concerned with animal welfare will likely want to buy products that haven’t been tested on animals. This should be clearly labeled on the product so that consumers can make an informed choice when choosing cosmetic products.

Cosmetic Product Label Design

In addition to being compliant with federal and state safety regulations, cosmetic product labels should be aesthetically pleasing and help to market your product to a wide range of consumers. There are many different styles that can be used in designing labels for a cosmetic product, from simple, transparent label designs, to intricate, colorful labels. The best choice sometimes depends upon the type of product you are marketing. For example, lipsticks tend to be smaller than blush palettes, so a label for a lipstick tube will probably have less space, and need to contain less wording so that it all fits on the label. A larger product, such as a bottle of lotion or a palette, will have lots of space on the label, so adding a graphic in addition to lettering may be appropriate. Some other things to keep in mind:

• Use color wisely. If you are labeling blue eye shadows, using green or yellow lettering on the label could be misleading or confusing for the customer. You may want to pick a contrasting color, but make sure the consumer knows what the product is by a simple glance at the label because that’s how most consumers shop.
• Make sure to note anything that makes your product special. There are thousands of options of cosmetic products for customers to choose from, so your label should make your product stand out and really draw the customer’s eye. For example, if your product is made from all natural or all local ingredients, that’s a unique selling point that should appear on the label. If your product is not tested on animals, that appeals to a certain market, and that information should be featured in an easy-to-spot place on your product.
• Keep it appealing. Complying with FDA regulations does not mean that your labels have to be boring or unattractive. Cosmetic products are a very personal choice for most consumers, and selecting a brand can take a lot of research and testing. Making your labels appealing, through interesting use of color, symmetry, or placement can increase the chances that a customer will choose your product from the many displayed on the shelves of department stores.

Designing and Producing Your Labels

At Blue Ribbon Tag and Label Corporation, we have decades of experience in producing beautiful, durable labels for a variety of products. Our team is trained in creating labels with appealing and creative designs for all types of labels, including those for cosmetic products. From design to printing, Blue Ribbon Tag and Label can help you to create and produce the most attractive label possible. Our mission is to create labels that last through multiple uses of the product, that appeal to consumers, and that give your product an edge in competing with the other brands at the store. To begin your label design, call us today at 954-922-9292, or visit our website to get a quote.