Two documents printed on one box, written by people who never met
How to read a pack in the order that yields information, what INCI ordering does and does not tell you, what the dates and codes are for, and how to tell a bargain from a product you cannot assess.
How to read a cosmetic label properly, in order
A cosmetic pack carries two documents at once: one written to sell and one written to comply. A method for reading the second, in the order that actually tells you something.
8 minWhat INCI ordering does and does not tell you
The ingredient list is the only compositional information on a cosmetic pack. The ordering rule, the one per cent threshold, and the four things people wrongly read into it.
8 minPeriod after opening, batch codes and dates: the small print that matters
The open jar symbol, the durability date and the batch code do three different jobs. What each one is for, how long products actually last, and why the batch code is the one to photograph.
7 minThe grey market, and why a discounted product may not be what it says
Parallel imports, diverted stock, unauthorised sellers and counterfeits are four different things sold in the same places. How to tell them apart, and what you lose in each case.
9 minFront of pack versus back of pack: two documents, one box
One side of a carton is written by marketing under advertising rules. The other is written by regulatory under labelling rules. Reading them as one document is the mistake.
8 minThis article contains no commercial links. No affiliate links, no sponsored placements and no paid mentions appear anywhere on this site. No brand, manufacturer, retailer or agency is named in our editorial, and no company that pays us can appear in it. Published by Northbank Media.
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