Working with certified products: the optimal satisfaction guarantee

Which cosmetic products will you choose to renew your skincare this summer?

Have you thought about the start of the school year and your changes in suppliers ?

How to choose cosmetic products that will appeal to your customers, while preserving the ethical health of your institute?

Lots of questions, few answers and all the fatigue of the year on our feet: we definitely need a vacation!

But before you take your vacation in the sun or in the fresh mountain air, you have choices to make. And these choices will determine how well the coming year goes in your beauty salon or spa.

So, do you know how you are going to choose your cosmetic products ? Not yet ?

Don't worry: we've given you something to think about.

This line of thought is essential in choosing care. This is the organic cosmetic label and certifications .

Guarantees of quality and respect for the environment, cosmetic labels and certifications allow you to choose your care carefully for the year to come.

Today, we are focusing on cosmetic certification: what is it? How it works ? And above all: why take it into account when you choose your skincare products?

Green Spa explains everything to you.

Cosmetic certification: how does it work?

Unlike cosmetic labels, certification is regulated by law. The latter sets very precise standards, and compliance with the standards is monitored by independent certifying bodies.

They then check the quality of the products , their composition , the production process, etc. Everything concerning the product is scrutinized to find out whether it deserves cosmetic certification or not.

Cosmetic certification allows suppliers to prove to their customers ( beauty institutes and spas ) that they respect ecological, eco-responsible or simply respect for the skin commitments .

The advantage of certifications is that they follow strictly defined regulations and are awarded by 100% independent organizations : it's impossible to cheat!

But how does the awarding of cosmetic certification take place?

How does certification work in the world of cosmetics?

To grant or not a cosmetic certification, the brand must make a request to the certifying body. Each organization depends on a particular certification.

Then, the certifying body checks the products concerned by the request . This involves checking the composition, manufacturing process and production of organic and natural cosmetics. And all this, in different ways!

If certification can be granted, it will be affixed to the cosmetic product using a simple representative logo . The cosmetic certification is then valid for 1 year: then, the supplier must resubmit an inspection request to the certifying body.

Verification to grant cosmetic certifications

Certification bodies must verify products and their composition in different ways. Moreover, it is the particular rigor of this control process that guarantees the quality of certifications in the cosmetic world.

In the premises of the certifier

The first verification is carried out within the premises of the certifier.

For this step, the supplying brand must provide detailed sheets for all the products, summarizing the dosages, suppliers , raw materials , etc. Everything that makes up the product must be explained in supporting documents.

The certifier can then check the formula in order to analyze the composition , the label and the possible omission of mandatory information, the materials used for packaging, etc. This first analysis is based on the product itself, as it is. sold to final customers.

In cosmetics production premises

The second phase takes place directly on site , in the laboratory which designs the products in question.

It makes it possible to analyze the veracity of the information verified in the previous step, but also to control the manufacturing processes. From cleaning to design, storage and outright creation of the product, the entire process must meet the concerns of the requested certification.

Closing the certification process

Once these two phases are completed, the inspection body sends its report containing all the information directly to the certification manager.

If the latter validates, certification is granted.

Otherwise, it is a pure and simple refusal. You'll have to try your luck again!

The different certifications

Just like organic and natural labels , certifications for cosmetics each correspond to priorities and concerns.

We have taken a look at the most common and most requested certifications to help you see things more clearly. Indeed, depending on the personality of your institute and what you want to bring to your customers, you may prefer one cosmetic certification rather than another.

It all depends on your corporate image and the one you want to convey!

Cosmebio

Cosmébio is a certifying body which follows a very precise charter concerning organic and natural cosmetics.

The objective of this certification is, in particular, respect for people and the environment. There are three defined commitments:

• Respect for natural and organic cosmetics : natural ingredients and non-animal sources, organic ingredients, non-polluting, recycled packaging, etc.
• Respect for man and nature
• Responsible communication with end customers

All these criteria are taken into account to define whether the brand deserves Cosmébio certification or not.

Ecocert

Ecocert is also a certification body which concerns ecological cosmetics and organic cosmetics.

In the same way ( but according to different guidelines ), this certification guarantees environmentally friendly products:

• At least 95% plant ingredients from organic farming
• At least 10% of the total ingredients from organic farming

It is a certification that bans GMOs, silicone, synthetic perfumes, materials of animal origin, etc. Anything that can be considered harmful to health and the planet. It is a particularly popular certification, but also hard to obtain: it follows very precise and demanding specifications . A real guarantee of quality for cosmetics !

One Voice

One Voice is an association that fights against violence against animals , and for the future of the planet.

It is a certification divided into two different logos:

• Orange : ingredients from organic farming, environmentally friendly processes and a ban on animal testing and products of animal origin
• Blue : identical requirements, except for organic ingredients

Quality France

Quality France is a particularly strict French certification body , which aims to ensure the quality of cosmetics on the French market.

This certification concerns in particular the composition of cosmetics as well as their packaging :

• At least 95% plant ingredients from organic farming
• At least 10% of total ingredients from organic farming
• Biodegradable or recyclable packaging

It also bans GMOs, synthetic perfumes, ingredients of animal origin, silicones, parabens, etc.

Cosmetic certification as a selection criterion

As a beauty salon or spa, you have a heavy responsibility: that of choosing the products that you offer in cabin treatments , but also for resale .

We're not going to lie: the financial well-being of your institute depends a lot on these choices.

So when reviewing your supplier catalog for the coming year, take the time to choose wisely. For example, you can base yourself on concrete data such as cosmetic certification.

A guarantee of quality for organic and natural products, cosmetic certification allows you to know exactly what you have in front of you. Each certification has specific implications and defends its own values.

It's up to you to make the right choices based on your priorities!

This is a question that can also influence the choice of your organic cosmetics suppliers . As well as other criteria, such as:

• Labels, the Holy Grail for choosing professional cosmetic products

• How to recognize a certified cosmetic product?