A cosmetic label has to sell the product, survive a bathroom shelf full of oils and water, and carry a long list of legal information in a very small space. When the product is exported, each destination adds its own rules. A missing responsible person address or the wrong ingredient naming can stop a shipment at the distributor's door.
This guide covers the label elements regulators and retailers check most often in the UK, the EU, the US, Canada and the Gulf. It is written for skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics and personal care brands, and for the contract manufacturers who supply them.
Short answer: most export markets expect the product name and function, an ingredient list using INCI names in descending order, net content, a batch number, a durability indication such as the PAO open-jar symbol or a best-before date, precautions for use, and the name and address of the responsible person or company in that market. The US, Canada and Gulf states add their own requirements on top.
Key takeaways
- Use INCI ingredient names and list them in descending order of concentration.
- For the UK and EU, the label must show a responsible person based in that market.
- Use the PAO symbol for products with a durability over 30 months, otherwise a best-before date.
- Small packs can carry full information on an outer carton, leaflet or tag where the rules allow.
The core elements most markets share
| Element | What to print |
|---|---|
| Product name and function | What the product is and what it does, if not obvious from the name |
| Ingredients | INCI names in descending order of weight, with ingredients under 1 percent in any order |
| Net content | Weight or volume in metric units, with US customary units added for the US |
| Durability | PAO symbol such as "12M" or a best-before date, depending on shelf life |
| Batch number | A code that links the pack to its production record |
| Precautions | Warnings such as "avoid contact with eyes" where required |
| Responsible person or company | Name and address in the destination market |
| Country of origin | Required for imported products in several markets, for example "Made in India" |
UK and EU: responsible person and allergen details
In the EU, the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 sets the label requirements. The UK applies its own equivalent rules after Brexit. In both, the label must show the name and address of a responsible person established in that market. A manufacturer in India cannot be the responsible person for products sold in the EU or Great Britain. Your importer, distributor or a specialist service usually takes on this role.
Certain fragrance allergens must be listed by name when they exceed set thresholds in leave-on or rinse-off products. The EU has extended the list of fragrance allergens that need labelling, with transition periods running into the late 2020s, so check the current deadline for your product category with your responsible person.
PAO symbol or best-before date?
Products with a minimum durability of more than 30 months use the period-after-opening symbol, an open jar with a number of months such as 6M, 12M or 24M. Products that last 30 months or less need a "best used before the end of" date. Leave an uncoated window for the date or batch code so your coder can print it cleanly.
United States: MoCRA and FDA labelling
The US Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) brought the biggest change to US cosmetic rules in decades. Among other things, labels must now include contact information through which consumers can report adverse events, such as a domestic address, a domestic phone number or an electronic contact. The FDA also sets rules for ingredient declaration, net quantity in both metric and US customary units, and the minimum type size for mandatory text.
If your product makes drug claims, such as sun protection or anti-dandruff, it may be regulated as an over-the-counter drug in the US with a Drug Facts panel. Confirm the classification with your US importer before designing the label.
Canada: bilingual labels and ingredient rules
Canada requires most mandatory cosmetic label information in both English and French, ingredient lists using INCI names and disclosure of certain fragrance allergens. Our guide to bilingual English and French labels for Canada explains how to fit both languages on a small pack.
UAE and GCC: registration and Arabic content
Cosmetics and personal care products sold in the Gulf usually need product registration with the relevant authority, for example through Dubai Municipality's Montaji system in Dubai or the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in Saudi Arabia. Arabic text is commonly required for key information. See our guide to UAE and GCC product label requirements for the details distributors check.
Exporting cosmetics or personal care?
Send us your artwork and target markets. We will print compliant, premium-looking labels with crisp small text, oil and water resistance and space for batch and date coding.
Fitting it all on a small pack
Lipsticks, serums and travel sizes rarely have room for everything. Most markets allow some information to appear on the outer carton, a leaflet or an attached tag when the container is too small, and the PAO symbol or a hand-in-book symbol then points the user to it. Plan this early, because it changes both the label and the carton.
- Prioritise legibility: very small type on a curved, glossy surface becomes unreadable. Test a printed proof on the actual container.
- Use high contrast: pale gold text on white looks elegant on screen and fails in a shop.
- Protect the print: lamination or varnish keeps text readable after contact with oils and creams.
- Reserve coding space: batch numbers and dates are often added on the filling line.
Materials that suit cosmetic packaging
| Container | Recommended label build |
|---|---|
| Squeezable tubes | Conformable PE film so the label flexes without wrinkling |
| PET and glass bottles | Clear or white BOPP for a no-label look or a bold printed panel |
| Jars | BOPP with lamination for oil and moisture resistance |
| Premium cartons and bottles | Foil, embossing, soft-touch or raised UV finishes |
For design ideas that sell on shelf, read our skincare label design guide. For premium effects, see how we produced high-build raised UV labels for a personal care brand.
How Sai Impression supports cosmetic brands
Sai Impression prints cosmetic and personal care labels in Chennai for brands in India and over 25 export markets. We print fine text and INCI lists cleanly, match brand colours to Pantone references and offer foil, embossing, raised UV and lamination on film and paper stocks. Variable data printing adds batch codes and serial numbers in the same run, as in our case study on variable barcodes and batch coding for cosmetic labels.
Frequently asked questions
What is an INCI name?
INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. It is the standard naming system used on cosmetic ingredient lists in the EU, UK, Canada and many other markets, so consumers and regulators see consistent names across brands.
What does the PAO symbol mean?
The period-after-opening symbol shows an open jar with a number of months, such as 12M. It tells consumers how long the product stays good after opening and is used for products with a durability of more than 30 months.
Can an Indian manufacturer be the responsible person for the UK or EU?
No. The responsible person must be established in the market where the product is sold. Exporters usually appoint their importer, distributor or a specialist responsible person service, whose name and address then appear on the label.
Do cosmetic labels need to be in Arabic for the UAE?
Arabic is commonly required for key information on products sold in the UAE and wider GCC, and products often need registration before sale. Your distributor will confirm the exact requirements for your product category.
Which label finish resists creams and oils best?
A film facestock such as BOPP with a protective lamination gives the best resistance to oils, creams and water. UV varnish offers good protection at lower cost for less demanding products.
Launch your next export market with confidence
Share your SKUs, pack sizes and destination markets. We will recommend materials and finishes, and quote within 24 hours.
Sources and further reading: European Commission: cosmetics, US FDA: MoCRA, Health Canada: cosmetic safety. Confirm final label content with your responsible person or importer in each market.
