Regulations and Certifications in the beauty Industry

Cosmetics is a billion dollar industry. Like all enduring industries, the top business players are innovative, forward-thinking, and visionary. Their patrons are loyal, supportive and generous with their spending. With such high mutual interest on both the side of supplier and consumer, it is unsurprising then that stakeholders in the beauty industry endeavor to produce sustainable, safe and cruelty-free products.

Brands across the world have to meet different regulatory standards and best practices in order to get their product on the market. To maintain consumer commitment, global brands and even beauty practitioners themselves have to meet particular standards.

In Asia, which accounts for a large proportion of the beauty market, different countries have implemented different regulatory beauty standards that have to be met. For instance, in Malaysia, customers have the benefit of purchasing Halal cosmetics, which are skin and body care products that do not use materials/ingredients banned in the Muslim society. In addition to standard cosmetic regulations, halal cosmetics are subjected to additional regulatory procedures such as the Manual Procedure for Malaysia Halal Certification (MPPHM) and Halal Management System (MHMS) standards. These additional certifications act as somewhat of a guarantee to the customer that the product they receive is indeed Halal and as a guarantee to regulators that suppliers are producing the kinds of products they claim to produce.

Recently, there were positive developments in the drive for cruelty-free cosmetics and the industry as a whole. France became the first country in the European Union to be able to export its “ordinary” cosmetics to China without testing them on animals. This means a lot more countries will be able to access this thriving Asian market without having to first have their products re-tested in Chinese laboratories.

In the United States, beauty standards are equally exacting, not just on suppliers, but practitioners take their craft seriously as well. Because of the global pandemic, some beauty professionals went as far as obtaining an online Barbicide COVID-19 certification related to best practices in disinfecting work spaces. In Alabama, they proudly display the certification as a representation of their commitment to their customers, especially since, as Jordan Bell, a barber at Razors Barber & Style Lounge in Hoover says

“It lets them know that we’re taking extra steps because it’s not mandatory, it’s not required.”

Providers of technical beauty services also recognize the importance of certification and sometimes offer certification themselves. For instance, Avant Permanent Cosmetics in Atlanta offers microblading and other cosmetic procedures, but it also offers a microblading training and certification course. This type of set-up is not uncommon because performing beauty procedures is a technical skill and students have the opportunity of learning on the job, observing and being in direct contact with actual customers from the start of their training.

The beauty industry is poised to expand and remain productive. Stakeholders are environmentally conscious and stick to best practices, and beauty practitioners are skilled, trained professionals. It is no wonder that the industry continues to thrive.