Due to strict EU regulations, cosmetics and skincare manufacturers of various shaving and beard brands must comply with numerous requirements regarding shaving soaps, aftershave products, and skincare products. One of the legal requirements is to provide the correct information on the packaging of the shaving cream jar or the aftershave balm tube. It is mandatory to properly inform the consumer or user about the contents of the product. How exactly should you interpret the label on the back of the item? In this blog, we explain what this information means.
This concerns shaving products and beard care, such as pre-shave oil or cream, shaving soap, shaving cream, after shave, after shave balm, cologne, moisturizer, mustache wax, beard oil, beard balm, shampoo, bath soap, deodorant, and toothpaste.
The label of shaving products and beard care
All ingredients of care products must be listed on the label. The components are listed in descending order of concentration if they have a concentration of more than 1%. The components present in the highest concentration are listed first. Ingredients with a concentration of less than 1% are listed after the ingredients with a concentration of more than 1%.
In the case of shaving soap or shaving cream, water, stearic acid, potassium hydroxide, and various (animal or plant-based) oils and fats are always listed first. In an alcohol-containing after shave or cologne, alcohol is at the top of the list. In a shaving soap or shaving cream, usually - there are exceptions - less than 1% fragrance is added. Therefore, the various fragrance components are listed at the end. Common fragrance oils include benzyl benzoate, eugenol, coumarin, limonene, and citral. An after shave balm contains a lot of water, glycerine, and various nourishing and soothing oils. A beard oil naturally contains mainly various oils, such as sunflower oil, almond oil, and argan oil. Oils, fats, and beeswax are commonly found in beard balms.
Ingredients must be listed uniformly on the product. The official (English) INCI names (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients) are used. This way, you know exactly what is inside. Super handy. If you are allergic to a certain ingredient, you can precisely see whether it is present or not.
Some common INCI names found in, for example, shaving soap and beard oil:
- aqua
- glycerine
- stearic acid
- cocos nucifera oil
- potassium hydroxide
- prunus amygdalus duclis oil
- simmondsia chinensis-seed oil
- rosmarinus officinalis
- mentha piperita
- lavendula angustifolia
- fragrance: linalool, geraniol, limonene
By law, the label of skincare products must include:
- product name
- the function of the product (what it does);
- name and address of the manufacturer/importer;
- content in milliliters (ml) or grams (g);
- how to use it, any warnings and storage advice;
- country of origin if the product is manufactured outside the EU;
- batch or code number;
- minimum shelf life date or indication of how long the product can be used after opening;
- ingredients.
What is the shelf life?
Actually, most shaving and beard products have a very long shelf life. Of course, not unlimited. If you use a shaving soap or shaving cream with a shaving brush and water, moisture will always remain in the jar. This may cause the shaving product to work slightly less well after frequent use. Or the scent of the beard oil becomes less strong after several years of use. An after shave or perfume based on alcohol also remains good for a very long time. The scent may diminish slightly after a few years. You can imagine that an unused creamy soft shaving cream becomes a bit harder after a few years. But even this shaving cream will still produce a good shaving foam after years.
By means of the "open jar" symbol, manufacturers indicate how long the product remains usable after opening. Based on various long-term and costly laboratory tests, it is determined how long the quality of the product remains optimal. If it says 12M or 30M, it means the item is usable for 12 months or 30 months respectively after opening. Producers are required to use this symbol to indicate shelf life.
Below are some tips for optimal shelf life:
- hygiene is of course very important during shaving or caring for your skin and beard;
- remove excess water from the shaving soap or shaving cream;
- lather shaving cream in a separate shaving bowl instead of in the shaving cream jar;
- thoroughly clean your shaving brush after use and hang the shaving brush in a holder;
- wash your hands before applying the after shave balm or beard oil;
- close the cream jar tightly;
- store your cologne or perfume in a dark place.
