Thanks to strict EU regulations, cosmetics and skincare manufacturers of various shaving and beard brands must meet various requirements regarding shaving soaps, aftershave products, and skincare products. One of the legal requirements is that the correct information is provided 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.
It concerns shaving products and beard care, such as pre-shave oil or cream, shaving soap, shaving cream, aftershave, aftershave 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 ingredients present in the highest concentration are listed first. Ingredients with a concentration of less than 1% are listed at the end after those 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 vegetable) oils and fats are always listed first. In an alcohol-containing aftershave or cologne, alcohol is at the top of the list. In shaving soap or shaving cream, less than 1% fragrance substances are usually added - there are exceptions. Therefore, the various fragrance components are listed at the end of the enumeration. Common fragrance oils include benzyl benzoate, eugenol, coumarin, limonene, and citral. An aftershave balm contains a lot of water, glycerin, and various nourishing and calming oils. A beard oil primarily contains 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 in it. Super handy. If you are allergic to a certain ingredient, you can see exactly whether it is included or not.
Some common INCI names in, for example, shaving soap and beard oil:
- aqua
- glycerin
- stearic acid
- cocos nucifera oil
- potassium hydroxide
- prunus amygdalus dulcis oil
- simmondsia chinensis-seed oil
- rosmarinus officinalis
- mentha piperita
- lavendula angustifolia
- fragrance: linalool, geraniol, limonene
According to the law, the label of skincare products must include:
- product name
- the function of the product (what does it do);
- 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;
- date of minimum durability or indicate how long the product can still 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 indefinitely. If you use a shaving soap or cream with a shaving brush and water, there will always be moisture left in the jar. This may cause the shaving product to work slightly less effectively after frequent use. Or the scent of the beard oil may become less strong after a few years of use. An aftershave or perfume based on alcohol also lasts a very long time. The scent may diminish slightly after a few years. You can imagine that an unused creamy soft shaving cream may become a little harder after a few years. But even this shaving cream will still produce excellent 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 states 12M or 30M, it means that the item is usable for 12 months or 30 months after opening, respectively. Producers are required to use this symbol to indicate the 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 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 it up in a holder;
- wash your hands before applying the aftershave balm or beard oil;
- securely close the jar of cream;
- store your cologne or perfume in a dark place.
