Regulation of Cosmetic Product – SS2 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note (Third Term)

Regulation of cosmetic products means the rules and government bodies that keep unsafe or poor-quality products out of the market. In Nigeria, NAFDAC checks health and safety, while SON checks quality. Beauticians must read labels, store products properly, carry out patch tests and report serious reactions.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• State why cosmetic products need to be regulated.
• Explain the roles of NAFDAC and SON in Nigeria.
• List the information that a legal and safe cosmetic label must show.
• Describe how a beautician should store, test and report cosmetic products.

Why do we need regulation of cosmetic products?

Imagine if anyone could just mix chemicals in their backyard and sell them as “Skin Glowing Cream.” Without rules, people could use dangerous acids or lead that would destroy a person’s skin forever.

• The protection: Regulation keeps the “bad” products out of the market.
• The trust: When a customer sees a registration number on a bottle, they feel safe. This trust helps your business grow.
• The law: Selling unregistered cosmetic products is a crime in Nigeria. As a professional, you must always stay on the right side of the law.

Which bodies regulate cosmetic products in Nigeria?

NAFDAC: the watchdog

NAFDAC stands for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. It is the main body in charge of cosmetics in Nigeria.

• What they do: They check the ingredients in a product before it is allowed to be sold. They also inspect the factories where products are made to ensure they are clean.
• The NAFDAC number: This is the “ID card” of a product. If a cream does not have a NAFDAC number printed on the pack, it has not been tested and could be dangerous.
• Prohibited ingredients: NAFDAC keeps a list of “Banned Substances.” For example, high levels of hydroquinone or mercury are banned because they can cause kidney damage and skin cancer.

SON: the quality keeper

SON stands for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. While NAFDAC focuses on health and safety, SON focuses on quality.

• SONCAP/MANCAP: These are certificates given to products that meet the “Nigerian Industrial Standard.”
• Uniformity: SON ensures that if you buy a “500ml” bottle of shampoo, it actually contains 500ml. They also make sure the packaging is strong enough so that it does not break and spill.
• The NIS mark: When you see the NIS mark on a beauty product, it means the quality has been verified by the government.

What information must a cosmetic label show?

As a beautician, you must be a “label reader.” A legal and safe cosmetic product must have specific information written on its container.

1. Product name: What is it? (for example, “Moisturising Body Lotion”).
2. Ingredient list: This must be written in “INCI” names (international names). Ingredients are listed from the highest amount to the lowest.
3. Manufacturer’s address: You must know where it was made. Beware of products with only a “PO Box.”
4. Batch number and dates: The Manufacturing Date (Mfg) and the Expiry Date (Exp). Using expired products can cause serious skin infections.
5. Directions and cautions: For example, “Keep out of reach of children” or “Do not use on broken skin.”

What is your responsibility as a professional?

You are the final link between the product and the client. Even if a product is registered, you must handle it safely.

• Storage: Heat and sunlight can spoil even the best NAFDAC-approved cream. Always store your products in a cool, dry place.
• The “patch test”: Even safe products can cause allergies. Before using a new brand on a client’s whole face, try a tiny bit behind the ear and wait 24 hours.
• Reporting: If a product causes a client to have a serious reaction, it is your duty to stop using it and report the batch number to NAFDAC. This can save hundreds of other people from the same problem.

Classroom practical and discussion

1. The label hunt: Bring five empty cosmetic containers from home. Can you find the NAFDAC number and the expiry date on each one?
2. Spot the fake: Look at two products: one with a full address and ingredients, and one with very little information. Which one would you trust on your own skin?

Discussion: If a client brings their own “homemade” cream to the salon and asks you to apply it, what should you do? (Think about the ethics and safety rules we learned.)

Evaluation

1. Give two reasons why cosmetic products need to be regulated.
2. What does NAFDAC stand for, and what does it check before a product is sold?
3. How does the work of SON differ from the work of NAFDAC?
4. List five pieces of information that must appear on a cosmetic label.
5. Describe how to do a patch test.

Assignment

Choose any cosmetic product at home. Write down the information on its label under the five headings in this lesson. Say whether the product is safe to use and give your reasons.