CTPA and Cosmetics Europe launch ingredients decoder app for consumers

01-Dec-2023 - Last updated on 01-Dec-2023 at 08:26 GMT

The new app offers consumers a way to instantly find scientifically verified information on cosmetic ingredients

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) and Cosmetics Europe have launched the COSMILE Europe app to give consumers instant, scientifically supported information on the ingredients in their cosmetics and personal care products.

The free app, which is available on Google Play and Apple Store, provides information on almost 30,000 cosmetic ingredients and offers European and British beauty and personal care consumers a more convenient way to access the COSMILE Europe database of ingredients, which launched in February this year.

According to Director-General at the CTPA, Dr Emma Meredith, the app “provides access to reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on cosmetic ingredients in a transparent and accessible way, giving consumers confidence in the essential products they use every day”.

It's currently available in eight languages – Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian and Spanish – and is designed to help people understand why certain ingredients are used in their cosmetic products and which properties they have.

The CTPA said the move is part of an ongoing drive for transparency and scientific educational initiatives from the cosmetics industry.

After downloading the app on their phone, users can search for ingredient information by either scanning a product label’s ingredients list, or by manually searching for information on an individual ingredient. This makes it ideal for allergy sufferers or those who wish to avoid certain ingredients for religious or personal reasons.

The app also features an ‘Insights’ section that answers frequently asked questions on cosmetic ingredients and provides information on how UK and EU cosmetics legislation ensures cosmetics and personal care products are safe for use.

Director General at Cosmetics Europe, John Chave, said of the new launch: “As an industry we are committed to providing information on the ingredients in our cosmetic products in a simple and easily accessible way. Now with the COSMILE Europe app, with its new ways of searching and tracking ingredients, accessing this information has never been easier. We hope this tool will contribute to helping European citizens choose their cosmetic products.”