Top Categories of Cosmetic Products with the Most Alerts – Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons!
Top Categories of Cosmetic Products with the Most Alerts – Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons!
As part of the campaign “Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons!”, InfoCons works to inform and educate consumers about the risks associated with the use of non-compliant cosmetic products identified in the European Alerts found in the InfoCons App, by promoting accurate information that is scientifically grounded and supported by the expertise of specialists in the field.
Cosmetic products are part of every consumer’s daily routine, but not all of them are safe. The study was carried out over a period of 5 years, namely from 01.01.2021 to the present, and 5,035 cosmetic products were identified. The alerts identified are available in the Alerts section of the InfoCons App.
Number of registered cosmetic-product alerts
Over the period analysed, 5,035 alerts for cosmetic products were identified. The cosmetic products studied were grouped into 18 broad categories, according to their type and intended use – from perfumes and hair products to oral-hygiene products or products intended for children.
Breakdown of the 5,035 alerts across the 18 categories of cosmetic products.
Distribution of cosmetic products by category
The categories of cosmetic products that were the subject of the alerts are:
- 3% – Perfumes and scented waters
- 7% – Hair care
- 8% – Body care
- 2% – Shower and bath products
- 0% – Deodorants and antiperspirants
- 5% – Nail care and decoration
- 3% – Face and skin care
- 9% – Soaps and hand hygiene
- 1% – Hair dyes and colourants
- 7% – Shaving and aftershave
- 4% – Cosmetic sets and kits
- 1% – Sun protection and tanning
- 4% – Make-up and decorative products
- 9% – Skin-lightening / whitening products
- 5% – Wet wipes
- 5% – Other / unclassified products
- 5% – Oral hygiene and teeth whitening
- 3% – Baby and children’s products
The table below shows the number of alerts and the share of each category in the total analysed:
| Product category | No. of alerts | Share |
| Perfumes and scented waters | 1,977 | 39.3% |
| Hair care | 537 | 10.7% |
| Body care | 445 | 8.8% |
| Shower and bath products | 363 | 7.2% |
| Deodorants and antiperspirants | 302 | 6.0% |
| Nail care and decoration | 276 | 5.5% |
| Face and skin care | 219 | 4.3% |
| Soaps and hand hygiene | 195 | 3.9% |
| Hair dyes and colourants | 156 | 3.1% |
| Shaving and aftershave | 134 | 2.7% |
| Cosmetic sets and kits | 122 | 2.4% |
| Sun protection and tanning | 107 | 2.1% |
| Make-up and decorative products | 72 | 1.4% |
| Skin-lightening / whitening products | 43 | 0.9% |
| Wet wipes | 26 | 0.5% |
| Other / unclassified products | 24 | 0.5% |
| Oral hygiene and teeth whitening | 23 | 0.5% |
| Baby and children’s products | 14 | 0.3% |
| TOTAL | 5,035 | 100% |
Share of the main categories in the total number of alerts for cosmetic products.
InfoCons recommendations
To reduce the risk of buying and using non-compliant or counterfeit cosmetic products, InfoCons recommends that consumers:
- Consult the Alerts section of the InfoCons App before buying or using a cosmetic product – there you will find the products flagged in the European alert system.
- Check the full label before purchase: the name and address of the manufacturer or importer in the European Union, the list of ingredients, the expiry date and the barcode.
- Be cautious when shopping online: unusually low prices, packaging without information in Romanian and unknown sellers are warning signs of non-compliant or counterfeit products.
- Pay particular attention to the categories with the most alerts – perfumes and scented waters, hair products and body products – where the likelihood of encountering a non-compliant product is higher.
- Avoid skin-lightening or whitening products of unclear origin: although they appear rarely in alerts, they may contain banned or dangerous substances such as mercury, hydroquinone or corticosteroids.
- Do not use products with an unusual smell, colour or texture, and stop using them immediately at the first signs of irritation or an allergic reaction.
- Keep the packaging and proof of purchase – they are useful in the event of a complaint or a market recall.
Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection Department – Cosmetic Product Alerts