Some Harsh Truths - Why we need to follow the regulations!

I’ve been called a jobsworth a lot the past year.

Whilst my videos are seen as a helpful resource by many, there is another group of people who see my videos as annoying, bringing attention to things they can’t be bothered with or don’t want to do.

Don’t shoot the messenger is a phrase that comes to mind.

So, in this blog I’m going to briefly chat about why we should care about following the regulations for our industry whether we agree with them or not.

It’s widely known that the EU and UK have some of the strictest cosmetic regulations out there.  All focused on customer safety and trust.   

Whilst the barrier to entry is high because of the learning curve and associated costs, the regulations we have here should give you peace of mind about the products you are buying. Ingredients are heavily regulated in terms of usage and the rates the we use them.  Allergens are identified and need declaring and we must follow strict rules regarding claims. 

All of this means that when you go to a store in the UK or Europe, you can buying confidently so long as you check the ingredients on the bottle aren’t something you are personally allergic to.

This means ignoring influencer myths… honestly, why most people would rather believe what a Tik Tok influencer says rather than a cosmetic chemist says is beyond me.  Do qualifications and studying mean nothing now?

So, why do following these regulations matter?  What does it matter whether I have a clean workspace?  Why do I need to have a PIF and get a CPSR?  Why can’t I claim things about my product? 

In short, because not following them erodes trust and gives the industry a bad name and will likely eventually lead to even tougher rules.

Here’s my take on it.

I work with many small skincare businesses on a daily basis.  One of the services I offer is a website audit and another is a compliance package.  With these services I will be honest with you and if I see potential issues I will point them out and advise on how to re-word something or become compliant.  Many don’t like this, many don’t listen, and some get angry.  Yep… angry.

Humans in general, don’t like being told they are wrong or that they need to do something they don’t want to do.

Let’s get one things straight, I don’t like admin and regulations either!  Funny eh? Considering that is 99% of my job now.  However, I do like helping others and that is why I made that my main focus, and to help protect the industry I love.

By more and more small businesses not following regulations, we’ll end up in a situation where small businesses are scrutinised more.  We risk further regulations, bigger punishments if rules aren’t followed and worst of all, we’ll erode customer trust. 

Small businesses will end up with a reputation of being unhygienic, unsafe and untrustworthy and none of us want that.

The biggest issue I see with small skincare brands is claims.  I did a video on this on my channel so PLEASE go watch it.  It all comes from official sources after a lot of research and digging for information because let’s face it this whole issue would be easier if the people making the regulations made them clear and easy to find!

Cosmetic claims are highly regulated.  If you make claims that you can’t backup with proper proof, you risk a fine, products being taken off the market or even your business being shut down. 

You may think, it’s fine, they’ll never come after my small business, or that you have proof via customer images, but sadly you’re wrong.

I’ve seen so many small businesses use customer review images in their marketing.  They say it cures eczema, it made their hair grow, it reduced their rosacea.  That’s great if your customer found that, you obviously have a great product, but then spend the money to have it claims tested.  Back those reviews up with proof.  If you don’t and you use them on your website, on marketing materials and market stall banners, you are illegally claiming your product does something that cannot be proven. This also changes the category from cosmetic to medical which is then subject to different regulations with much harsher fines and punishments.

I am well aware I go on about claims, but I do it to try and spare you the penalties if you continue.

All it will take is an inspector to come across your stall at a market, in a shopping centre or even your social media or online store, or even trading standards visiting your premises.  If you can’t demonstrate good manufacturing practice, produce a CPSR, PIF, correct labels, a portal entry and  prove any claims you’ve made, you will likely find yourself in trouble.

The more small businesses caught out for not following the regulations, the more likely it is they will get stricter or even result in us not being allowed to operate from home. 

So please, make an effort to comply for your own businesses sake, for the sake of customers trusting in small brands, and for the sake of our industry as a whole.

And if you struggle to get your head around what you need to do, I have many videos on my YouTube Channel to help you, plus digital and services packages on my website.

Regulations are an expensive pain in the backside, BUT we need them.