Is Your Cosmetic Packaging’s Undermining Your Brand?

Let’s be real—labeling rules can feel overwhelming. But mess up these basics, and you’ll waste time, money, or even hurt your brand. Here’s what to watch for—explained in plain terms, no jargon:

Use INCI Labels Instead of “Everyday Names”

You might call it “Coconut Oil” or “Rose Extract” when talking to customers. But for labels, you need to use the official INCI names.

Don’t write: Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Rose Extract

Do write: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

It’s not just a rule—this is how shoppers (and regulators) know exactly what’s in your product. No guesswork, no confusion.

Sort Ingredients by Weight, Not Preference

Ingredients aren’t just a list—they need to be sorted by weight. Heaviest first, lightest last. Once an ingredient is less than 1% of the formula, you can mix up the order (but you still have to list it).

Mistake: Listing ingredients alphabetically or because they sound “fancy” (looking at you, “organic this” or “botanical that” leading the list when they’re just a tiny add-in).

Fix: Stick to weight order. It’s simple, it’s legal, and it builds trust with customers who care about what’s actually in your product.

Display Net Weight/Volume Prominently

Ever picked up a product and had to hunt for how much is inside? Annoying, right? Regulators think so too.

Mistake: Sticking “50ml / 1.7fl oz” on the back, side, or bottom of the pouch.

Fix: Put it front and center—on the main part of the packaging everyone sees first. And include both metric (ml/g) and U.S. units (fl oz/oz) so shoppers worldwide know what they’re getting.

Don’t Hide Preservatives to Sound “Clean”

We get it—“no preservatives” sounds great. But if your product needs preservatives to stay safe (most do), hiding them is a big no-no.

Mistake: Leaving out preservatives from the label to market as “clean” (spoiler: regulators will catch it, and shoppers will lose trust).

Fix: List them clearly. For example: “Preservatives: Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate” Being honest about preservatives shows you care about safety—not just marketing hype.

Include Your Company Information Clearly

Imagine a customer has a question (or a problem) with your product. Where do they go? If your label doesn’t say, you’re in trouble.

Mistake: Skipping your brand name and physical address (P.O. boxes don’t count for most regulators).

Fix: Print it clearly: “Distributed by [Your Brand Name], [Street Address], [City, State, ZIP/Postal Code], [Country]” It’s not just a rule—it’s how you stay accountable. Plus, it makes your brand look legitimate (because you are).