Cosmetovigilance

Manufacturers of cosmetic products want their consumers to enjoy using their products.  However, companies need to know if someone has a reaction to their product.  This is because the law requires companies to record and investigate unwanted reactions, which are called 'undesirable effects' under the law, and any reactions which meet specific seriousness criteria set out in the cosmetics safety law must be reported to the UK authorities.  This process of monitoring reactions after a product is sold is called 'Cosmetovigilance'.

The company will ask you to provide information about yourself, the product and the circumstances of the reaction. Those details will be kept confidential in accordance with relevant data protection legislation.

The company may ask you to return the product. If they do, this is normal and will enable it to identify the specific product batch to make sure the complaint can be investigated fully.  

It’s completely understandable to feel concerned if you experience a reaction to a cosmetic product, but this doesn’t mean the product itself is unsafe. All cosmetic products on the UK market must pass strict safety assessments before they can be sold, and they are designed to be safe for the vast majority of people. However, just like some individuals can be allergic to foods that most people eat without any problems, a small number of people may react to certain cosmetic ingredients even though they are widely used and thoroughly evaluated. This is simply a reflection of our individual biology, not a sign that the product is harmful.

For further information about what to do if you experience an unwanted reaction to a product, please see our advice guide here.