Don’t let cosmetic regulations be your roadblock!

Roadblock breaker #1: Know cosmetic regulations well or involve someone who does

The BEST way to turn a roadblock into a hurdle, and then to overcome the hurdle, is to know cosmetic regulations thoroughly. You should never approach a regulatory roadblock (or hurdle) trying to get around cosmetic regulations – you should instead know cosmetic regulations so well that you know what it takes to overcome them. Sometimes it may be a change to wording, a change to the amount or type of a cosmetic ingredient, or approaching the cosmetic product under a different regulatory classification to make it compliant. Your regulatory personnel should know the nuances of the cosmetic regulations so they can give you positive ideas on what can be done, rather than always telling you what can’t. Have a brainstorming session to reshape a concept to fit the mould of compliance if required – and if you don’t know that mould well, involve someone who does or learn it yourself!

Roadblock breaker #2: Be prepared to think outside the square and investigate cosmetic development options

Innovative ideas by their very virtue will push the boundaries of cosmetic regulations – if a product is innovative, it is different to how other products have been created, marketed or otherwise been ‘fit’ into the current cosmetic regulatory systems. Cosmetic regulations aren’t created to unnecessarily squash innovative ideas – they may just need to be approached from a different angle. Make sure your Cosmetic Regulatory Department is prepared to investigate options and recheck the cosmetic regulations they think they already know – any sentence of text read from a different perspective can yield a different interpretation, and this can be very true when interpreting cosmetic regulations! While you need to work with someone who knows the cosmetic regulations well, you also need to work with someone who is prepared to re-read sentences from a different perspective – a stick in the mud approach doesn’t work with innovative ideas!

Roadblock breaker #3: Allocate a suitable cosmetic Regulatory and R&D budget

You can’t have innovation without Regulatory checks and suitable R&D. Start with a small ‘initial investigations’ budget to cover off on Roadblock breakers #1 and #2, then be prepared to invest a suitable amount to ensure proper cosmetic development and full regulatory approvals if you want that innovation to come to fruition. Typically, cosmetic regulatory and R&D investment should be 5 – 10% of the wholesale sales of a product over a 3 year period once launched; for therapeutic goods you should be allowing a regulatory and R&D investment of 10 – 15% of 3 year sales. Innovation needs good regulatory and R&D – budget for this sort of investment and you will be investing in creating true innovation.

Roadblock breaker #4: Be prepared to comply with cosmetic regulations

Now for the bad news: sometimes a cosmetic product concept just can’t happen while complying with the cosmetic regulations – but it may start the thinking to create something truly wonderful that can! If you have followed Roadblock breakers #1 and #2, and were prepared to invest as per Roadblock breaker #3, you are doing what it takes to be innovative AND compliant. Work with your Regulatory and Brainstorming team and your next great innovation WILL be just around the corner. Don’t waste time or resources on concepts that can’t happen – focus on those that CAN!

Wondering what regulations are in place for the cosmetics industry and cosmetic products? Who oversees cosmetic claims, cosmetic safety and cosmetic ingredient compliance in different regions around the world? Watch our YouTube video to learn cosmetic regulation.