The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cosmetic labeling guidelines are an important consideration for anyone interested in starting a spa product business.

When you’ve perfected your product and are ready to sell it to a larger customer base than your friends or family, you need to take special care to follow these guidelines to prevent a disruption in your business.

The following is a general overview of information that needs to go into your spa product label, for lotions, creams, and scrubs. It’s highly recommended that you also check local and state guidelines for manufacturing your products and necessary labeling requirements.

You should also investigate the regulations provided directly from the FDA to ensure you’re always in compliance. Lotions applied to the skin are grouped under the cosmetics classification. Other products that fall into this category include:

• Creams
• Perfumes
• Shampoos
• Facial scrubs
• Shampoos and conditioners

The specific products that you make should be researched carefully regardless of their category to ensure you’re always following regulations.

Labeling Tips for Your Spa Products

The following is a basic list of spa product label requirements:

Product Identification

Prominently displayed on your front label is the name of your product that highlights what it is, such as Mr. Smith’s hand cream or Debbie’s Dry Skin Lotion.

This information should be written in a large font and easy for buyers to see right away.

Ingredients List

Labeling requirements dictate that all ingredients you use in your product be listed in order. List the highest volume amount ingredient first, followed by volume amounts in descending order.

You use fluid measurements, fluid ounces and milliliters, for liquid products to indicate volume rather than weight on the front of the product.

For special ingredients that are considered trade secrets, ingredients do not need to be listed individually to protect proprietary company information, including certain fragrances.

Contact Information

For customer convenience, you also need to clearly state the name and location of your business as the product’s creator on your label.

The address must include the street address, city name, state, and zip code. You can also add your website or other business information for easy reference.

Accurate Claims

It’s important that your products don’t falsely claim to do things they can’t do. If you plan to label your spa products as organic, cruelty-free, or hypoallergenic, there are additional steps you may need to take with the FDA to confirm the accuracy of your statement.

All claims must be truthful and not misleading. If you designate a product that can treat or prevent certain disease, the classification of your product may evolve into a drug. In this situation, you must then follow the strict guidelines for labeling drugs appropriately.

Expiration Requirements

Providing an expiration date on your spa products is not yet a requirement of the FDA for lotions, creams, or other personal care products.

However, as a reputable business owner, it’s important that you provide your customers with a safe product. Selling spoiled products can significantly damage your own reputation and make it difficult for customers to trust you.

The Creative Side of Label-Making

While all of these details are important to keep you on the right side of the law, it’s also important that your label’s appearance represents the style and mission of your company.

The first step to creating a professional-looking label is hiring a graphic designer that’s familiar with label laws if you’re not creatively-inclined. By combining their talents with your ideas, you can craft a label that shows customers a little about your products and company at a glance.

Additionally, a professional label designer familiar with regulations can ensure you meet the necessary requirements when your products go to market.

Finding the Right Container

Besides high-quality labels, you also need suitable storage containers to house your spa products and protect them from the environment. BottleStore.com offers a variety of bottle shapes and sizes to accommodate your manufacturing needs and be a perfect compliment to your professional label.

Ask one of our container experts about your options for spa product containers. We offer a great selection to meet your budget and your manufacturing needs.

https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/Claims/ucm2005200.htm

https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/default.htm

https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/ucm414211.htm

https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/how-to-label-lotion/