What Is Considered a Cosmetic? Your Quick Guide

Ever wonder if your daily moisturizer, lip balm or even a scented hand wash counts as a cosmetic? The short answer is yes—if its main purpose is to clean, protect, or change the appearance of your body, it’s a cosmetic. That sounds simple, but the line gets blurry when products claim both skin‑care and beauty benefits.

Legal definition and UK rules

In the UK (and the wider EU), the Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 defines a cosmetic as any substance or mixture intended for solely cleaning, perfuming, changing the appearance, protecting, or keeping the body in good condition. The key words are "solely" and "intended for". If a product’s primary aim is therapeutic—like treating acne, eczema or reducing wrinkles—it falls under medicine, not a cosmetic.

Manufacturers must provide a product information file, list ingredients using INCI names, and ensure safety assessments before placing the product on the market. Look for the EU CE marking or the UK’s UKCA symbol on packaging; they show the product complies with the cosmetic rules.

Common products that count as cosmetics

Here’s a quick rundown of everyday items that meet the definition:

• Makeup: foundation, lipstick, mascara, eye shadow.
• Skincare (non‑therapeutic): moisturizers, serums, toners, sunscreen (when labeled for protection, not sunburn treatment).
• Hair care: shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes, styling gels.
• Body care: body washes, deodorants, hand creams, foot lotions.
• Fragrances: perfume, body sprays, scented soaps.

If a product advertises "clinical" results or claims to cure a condition, it likely needs medicinal licensing. For example, a cream that says "reduces eczema flare‑ups" would need to be registered as a medicine.

One gray area is “cosmeceuticals” – skin‑care products that contain active ingredients like retinol or peptides. As long as the label frames them as beautifying rather than treating, they stay in the cosmetic bucket. The language on the packaging is the deciding factor.

Another tip: check the ingredient list. Ingredients reserved for medicines (e.g., hydrocortisone, benzoyl peroxide) usually signal a therapeutic product, not a pure cosmetic.

In short, if the product’s job is to make you look or feel better without claiming to heal, it’s a cosmetic. Knowing the difference helps you shop smarter, stay safe, and avoid breaking the law with homemade mixes.

Next time you reach for a new product, glance at the label, read the claims, and ask yourself: is this about appearance or treatment? If it’s the former, you’re looking at a cosmetic—and that’s exactly what the regulation intends you to use.