What are beauty products?

Beauty products and personal care products are used to clean, beautify, make more attractive and change the appearance of the human body.

Cosmetics and items for personal care, ranging from antiperspirants, fragrances, makeup and shampoos to soaps, sunscreen and toothpastes, play an important role in our lives at all stages.

Oral care, skin care, sun care, hair care, ornamental cosmetics, body care and fragrances are the seven categories of cosmetics and personal care items. Additional examples can be found in the chart below.

Cosmetics have been used for thousands of years, and the vast majority of Europe's 500 million customers use them every day to protect their health, improve their well-being and increase their self-esteem. Learn more about the benefits of cosmetics and personal care items.

Some cosmetics and personal care items are expected to have close to 100 percent market penetration in the EU. The use of deodorant is almost universal in the UK, with 94 percent of women and 87 percent of men using deodorant, while liquid shampoo is used by 98 percent of adult women and 94 percent of adult men in France.

There are differences in the frequency with which cosmetic items are used in different countries, between persons of different genders and ages, and between cosmetic products. The image below shows an example of statistics for some of the most commonly used cosmetic items.

Cosmetics are primarily overseen by the European Union (EU) Cosmetics Regulation, which guarantees their safety. Read Understanding the Cosmetics Regulation for more information.

Our company works hard to provide information, as consumer confidence in the goods they use is based on their knowledge of cosmetics and their contents. The Cosmetics Regulation establishes labeling requirements to ensure that customers have access to the information they seek.

We provide information to consumers through various channels, including marketing and communications, in addition to labeling. Learn how we provide consumer information.

Each cosmetic and personal care product sold in Europe is completely safe to use. We can say this with confidence because all manufacturers put safety first. In addition, European Union legislation requires that all new products undergo a scientific safety assessment before they are released for sale. Read more about the precautions we take to ensure your safety.