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Understanding the Symbols on the Packaging of Your Cosmetic Products

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Have you ever wondered what the symbols on the packaging of cosmetic products actually mean? This post will explain what they mean and why they're important for you to know.


Period after Opening (PAO)

What it looks like: A jar with floating lid with a number and letter 'M'

What it means: The open jar symbol tells you how long the product will stay good after it's been opened. The number inside the jar indicates the specific number of months.

"Best Before the End of" Date 

What it looks like: Little hour glass

What it means: Product lifespan is less than 30 months and will have a "best before" date. The EU requires either the PAO or BBE . The US only requires expiration dates on OTC products like sunscreen.

The "e" Mark or Estimated Sign

What it looks like: Small lowercase "e"

What it means: Symbol required by the EU for products for products produced or sold in Europe. If you see this symbol, it means the amount of product listed on the label is estimated to be as accurate as possible. If the bottle says 75mL, the manufacturer certifies that there is 75mL in the bottle (within a margin for error).

Reference to Enclosed or Attached Information

What it looks like: A hand pointing at a book

What it means: This symbol denotes that additional important information is available with the product. It is often used when there is no enough space on the packaging to show all required information. The symbol is mandatory if the supplied leaflet/label/tape/tag/card contains compulsory information taht does not fit on the package.

Recycling Arrows Triangle

What it looks like: Triangle made of three arrows

What it means: The symbol indicates that the symbol is recyclable. Some variations of this symbol provides information about the container. If the container is made from recycled materials, it will have a symbol inside a solid circle. If the triangle symbol is inside a circle and has a percentage inside the symbol or next to it, it indicates that the container is made from a percentage of recycled material. If there's a number inside the triangle and letter below, this tells the particular resin used in making the container's plastic to help the recycling process.

Flammable

What it looks like: Flame

What it means: This one is pretty obvious, it means that the product is flammable and should not come in contact with flames.

Green Dot

What it looks like: Two arrows like yin and yang

What it means: This symbol is used in Europe to show that the manufacturer pays a recovery and recycling organization to oversee ecologically responsible management of their packaging waste.

Leaping Bunny

What it looks like: Bunny leaping through a circle with two stars

What it means: The symbol is an internationally recognized logo that signifies that the manufacturer does not perform any animal testing and conforms to the standards set by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics' (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program.


Sources: 

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