Cosmetics & Personal Care | Monthly bulletin | April 2026
New: Innovative Analytics for Allergenic Fragrances
According to Annex III of Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, allergenic fragrance substances must be declared on product packaging if defined threshold values are exceeded. This applies to both rinse-off products (e.g. shampoos, shower gels) and leave-on products (e.g. creams, lotions), as well as numerous other consumer-relevant applications such as cleaning agents, room fragrances, candles, or homecare products.
Eurofins C&PC has established a method for quantifying allergens that fully covers the expanded list of fragrances. This list includes all 52 individual substances governed by the Cosmetics Regulation that will require declaration as of July 31st, 2026. The determination is performed with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1 ppm. This method offers you the highest level of accuracy - both for toxicological assessment as part of a safety evaluation and for verifying compliance with NGO requirements.
Starting April 2026, we introduce a new semi‑quantitative analytical method for determining declarable allergenic fragrance substances. With this expanded and cost‑efficient analytical approach, we verify your product declarations within the market environment and support you in meeting all regulatory requirements.
Our new analytical method provides standardised and reproducible assessments within the current legal framework for cosmetic and market-ready products. It is based on an advanced in-house GC–MS/MS method that enables robust and selective detection of allergenic fragrance substances in a wide range of matrices. The high selectivity of tandem mass spectrometry allows even complex samples to be reliably analysed and ensures that all substances relevant for declaration are specifically captured. This means the result of this semi-qualitative method provides you, as a retailer or supplier, with information on whether a given value is above or below a regulatory threshold value.
To further support manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers in meeting these analytical and regulatory expectations, Eurofins C&PC now offers a practical and reliable framework for assessing allergenic fragrance substances in cosmetic products.
Key benefits for your products:
- Reliable assessment of declaration requirements
- Regulatory compliance in line with current EU guidelines
- Solid decision-making basis for product development and quality assurance
- Standardised, practice-oriented analytics from the Eurofins network of companies
- Suitable for evaluating market-ready products
- Fast and clear assessment of whether labelling is required
With these enhanced analytical solutions, Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care continues to support the industry in delivering safe, compliant, and transparent products, helping you to anticipate regulatory changes and maintain consumer confidence.
Cotton traceability for cosmetics: Ensuring transparency and compliance with Origin ID™
As cotton becomes increasingly present in cosmetic products and accessories, from cotton‑based sheet masks to mascara brushes made with natural cotton fibres, the ability to verify its origin is becoming essential. Regulatory expectations are rising, and brands must now demonstrate full transparency across their supply chains to support responsible sourcing claims and avoid compliance risks. In this context, cotton origin verification is emerging as a key requirement for cosmetic manufacturers, private‑label producers, and suppliers of beauty accessories.
Origin ID™, developed by Eurofins Sustainability Services, provides a scientifically robust solution to verify the geographical origin of cotton used in consumer products. Powered by stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA), this method compares cotton samples against a comprehensive and continuously updated global reference database. The approach is recognised by authorities as a reliable tool to support traceability requirements and validate origin claims, even for highly transformed materials such as impregnated sheet mask substrates or cotton fibres integrated into mascara applicators.
The Origin ID™ programme benefits from the Eurofins network’s long‑standing expertise in isotopic analysis, originally established with the patented SNIF‑NMR™ technology. This scientific foundation enables the delivery of accurate, reproducible results within fifteen working days. Testing is performed across the Eurofins network’s global laboratories, ensuring consistent quality and scalability for both ad hoc and high‑volume testing needs.
The service includes the full workflow from sample collection to reporting, offering an end‑to‑end solution for brands seeking to strengthen their supply chain transparency.
For the cosmetics industry, this capability is particularly valuable. Cotton pads, wipes, tissue masks, mascara brushes, and other beauty accessories must meet growing expectations for traceability and responsible sourcing. Origin ID™ provides the analytical evidence needed to substantiate these claims and respond to retailer audits or regulatory scrutiny.
As global regulations evolve, cotton traceability is becoming a strategic priority. Origin ID™ helps brands stay ahead of emerging requirements by offering a proactive, science‑based verification approach that supports compliance and enhances brand responsibility. By demonstrating transparency and control over cotton sourcing, cosmetic companies can reinforce consumer trust and strengthen the credibility of their sustainability commitments.
Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care supports the cosmetics industry with comprehensive analytical and regulatory expertise. Through Origin ID™, our teams help you verify the origin of cotton used in your products and accessories, ensuring that your claims are backed by robust scientific evidence and that your supply chain meets the highest standards of transparency.
Proving the “winged” effect: A new mascara assessment by Eurofins C&PC
The “Winged” effect has now established itself as one of the key selling points in the mascara market. Lashes that sweep outwards, creating a look that is visually larger and more intense: this trend appeals to both consumers and brands alike, thanks to a result that is immediately visible and now measurable.
At Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care, we are expanding our expertise with a new assessment specifically designed to evaluate the “Winged” effect. Thanks to our high-precision image analysis protocol, we are now able to objectively quantify this make-up effect, going beyond mere visual perception.
This scientific approach enables the measurement of eyelash lengthening and eye-opening effects, thereby providing reliable and reproducible evidence to support your product claims, R&D initiatives or marketing communications.
Beyond the “Winged” effect, Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care offers a wide range of instrumental and clinical methods to objectively validate numerous other mascara claims: lengthening, volume, curl, definition and staying power. Our comprehensive expertise supports you at every stage of the scientific validation of your products.
What’s next?
Trade shows
China Beauty Expo - 12-14 May
Shanghai - N6F02
Suppliers’ Day - 19-20 May
New York - Stand 461
Hair demonstration | May 19th
Free headshot | May 20th
PLMA - 19-20 May
Amsterdam - Stand D03, hall 10
EuroSun 2026 - 27-28 May
Basel, Switzerland
Conference: Bridging the Gap: The Reality of Adopting ISO 23675 and ISO 23698 in the Photobiology Lab
