Cosmetics & Skin/Hair Care

Please use the checklist below to help ensure that your products are compliant with Amazon’s policies.

Cosmetics are products that are usually rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed onto the body for cleansing, beautifying, or changing the appearance of the body. The cosmetics category includes products like skin creams, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, temporary tattoos, eye and facial makeup, shampoos, hair colors, toothpastes, and deodorants.

Compliance Checklist

Packaging

1. Cosmetics must be sealed in the original manufacturer’s packaging
2. Cosmetics must be new and unused
3. Cosmetics must clearly display identifying codes placed on the packaging by the manufacturer or distributor, such as matrix codes, lot numbers, or serial numbers

Labeling and Product Detail Pages

1. Cosmetics labels and detail pages must be labeled in English with the following information:
   
   1. The name of the product
   2. The purpose or use of the product (e.g. cleansing the body, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, moisturizing the skin)
   3. The amount of content of the cosmetic, in terms of weight, measure, count or a combination (e.g. 30 oz, 5 mL, 10 pills, 5 lbs)
   4. The ingredient list
   5. The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor (this is not required on detail pages)
   6. Any necessary label warnings
2. Cosmetic labels and detail pages must not:
   
   1. State that the products cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease in humans, unless that statement is approved by the FDA and the product is properly labeled as both a cosmetic and a drug
   2. State that the cosmetics are “FDA approved” if they are not FDA approved
   3. Use the FDA logo
   4. State “tester,” “not for retail sale,” or “not intended for resale” as such items may not be sold on Amazon

For more information, see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's resources Summary of Labeling Requirements Cosmetics Labeling Claims, and Is It Really 'FDA Approved?', and Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?).

Products and Ingredients

1. Cosmetics must not be named in an FDA recall or safety alert (for more information, see: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts)
2. Cosmetics must not contain prohibited ingredients (for more information, see: Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients)
3. Cosmetics must be safe for use and must not be a product that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined presents an unreasonable risk of injury or illness, such as:
   
   1. Products that contain methylene glycol, which, when heated, release formaldehyde into the air (for more information, see: Hair-Smoothing Products That Release Formaldehyde When Heated)
   2. Eyelash and eyebrow permanent dye (for more information, see: Use Eye Cosmetics Safely)
   3. Eye makeup containing Kohl, Kajal, Al-Kahal, or Surma (for more information, see Use Eye Cosmetics Safely)
   4. Skin creams containing mercury (for more information, see: Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products)
   5. Henna products designed or marketed for body-decorating or any other variation of direct skin application (for more information, see: Cosmetics Safety Q&A: Tattoos and Permanent Makeup)
4. Cosmetics must not require a prescription or a medical professional's supervision or direction for their use
5. Cosmetics must not contain controlled substances, such as:
   
   1. Anything listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV or V of the Controlled Substances Act (for more information, see: Schedules of Controlled Substances)
   2. "List I" chemicals or their derivatives as designated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (for more information, see: List I and List II Chemicals)
6. Cosmetics must not contain plastic microbeads (for more information, see: The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs)
7. In order to be sold into California and New York, antiperspirants, deodorants, and hairsprays must not contain toxic air contaminants (for more information, see California Air Resources Board Consumer Products Enforcement and New York Department of Environmental Conservation)
8. Cosmetics must comply with Amazon policies, including:
   
   1. Cosmetics that contain ingredients derived from sharks, whales, dolphins, or porpoises are prohibited from sale
   2. Cosmetics that contain more than 12% hydrogen peroxide are prohibited from sale
   3. Cosmetics that contain acetone, such as nail polish remover, cannot be sold in volumes more than 16 oz in total
   4. InStyler rotating irons are prohibited from sale
   5. Claire’s brand cosmetics are prohibited from sale

Known prohibited products

Amazon specifically prohibits the following cosmetic products. These products are prohibited because they do not meet the checklist requirements. This list does not include all cosmetic products prohibited by Amazon.

• Corrective and cosmetic contact lenses
• Latisse
• Obagi Nu-Derm Sunfader
• Obagi Nu-Derm Clear
• Obagi Nu-Derm Blender
• Obagi Elastiderm Decolletage Skin Lightening Complex
• Obagi C-Therapy Nightcream
• Obagi RX System Clarifying Serum
• Products that contain minoxidil in excess of 5%
• Bithionol
• Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution
• Chloroform
• Halogenated salicylanilides
• Methylene chloride
• Vinyl chloride in aerosol products
• Zirconium-containing complexes in aerosol products
• Synthol, Synthrol, or Swethol posing oil
• Trichloroacetic Acid

Additional useful resources

• LegitScript has a searchable database that may help when determining if a cosmetic includes a prohibited ingredient: https://www.legitscript.com/

Related Amazon help pages

• Restricted Products: Animals & Animal Products
• Restricted Products: Dietary Supplements
• Restricted Products: Food & Beverage
• Restricted Products: Drugs & Drug Paraphernalia
• Restricted Products: Medical Devices & Accessories
• Listing Restrictions
• Prohibited Product Claims
• Restricted Products
• General Listing Restrictions

Last updated 9/15/2020