Cosmetics quality labels: how to find your way ?

Ecocert, France label, Organic Cosmetics, Cruelty Free & Vegan—it's sometimes difficult to know what these cosmetic labels mean. However, when you order your cosmetic products, they will be your guarantee of quality. Proud to be holders of these cosmetic quality labels, TdeM has prepared an overview of these main cosmetic quality labels to help you navigate them.

Ecocert

Synonymous with quality and also involving very strict specifications, Ecocert is a certification and control body approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Its label certifies cosmetic products according to two criteria:

• The use of ingredients derived from renewable resources and processed in an environmentally friendly manner. This excludes GMOs, parabens, silicones, PEGs, synthetic dyes, etc.
• The integration into the composition of the product of a minimum threshold of natural ingredients from organic farming.

Cruelty-Free: Cruelty-Free & Vegan

Initiated by the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) association, the Cruelty Free label for products reflects a commitment against animal abuse. Thus, a brand that markets products under the Cruelty Free label markets products without animal cruelty. This applies to all manufacturing processes, testing, and, of course, ingredients.

However, it is important to distinguish between a Cruelty-free product and a Cruelty-free & Vegan product, which does not contain any animal-derived substances such as honey or wax. This is why PETA created two labels that often go hand in hand: the Cruelty Free label and the Cruelty Free & Vegan label, like the one TdeM has.

Cosmebio Cosmetic Charter

Created in 2002 by the French association Cosmébio in 2002, the Cosmébio Cosmetics Charter logo is synonymous with the development of products in compliance with three commitments:

• Respect for manufacturing techniques for natural and organic cosmetics
• Respect for people, nature and animals
• The use of responsible and transparent communication throughout the entire product life cycle.

Thus, according to this Cosmebio charter, the composition of cosmetic products must comply with the following defined criteria and include:

• 95% minimum organic ingredients on all plant ingredients
• 95% minimum of ingredients of natural origin throughout the product
• 10% minimum organic ingredient on the total product

Cosmos

With standards similar to those of Ecocert, the Cosmos label's criteria are a little more specific. Indeed, they are stricter in terms of eco-responsibility and container recycling. In fact, this label prohibits GMOs, nanomaterials, and certain forms of manufacturing. Furthermore, it gives rise to two certifications:

• Cosmos Organic: 20% of the total product must be organic and 95% must be sourced from organic farming or organic wild harvesting. It also means that certain vegetable oils and alcohols must always be organic.
• Cosmos Natural: More flexible, this certification does not impose a minimum percentage for organic ingredients. However, 95% of the ingredients must be natural.