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If you are using a base formula and adding other ingredients to this you will need to know the composition of the base formula. Ask your supplier or the manufacturer to provide you with this information. They may be only willing to provide percentage ranges for each ingredient in their product, but preferably will give you the exact percentages. For percentage ranges, you can enter these as min. and max. %w/w.

You need to first add the base product as a raw material by selecting ‘New’ in the Raw Materials menu. You can then enter each ingredient directly into the raw material composition, entering either an exact percentage or percentage ranges.  Once you’ve created your base formula as a raw material this will then be available to add to your main product formula from where you can also add the additional ingredients.

If you still require support in creating your first formula, please download the Product Manager Getting Started Guide.

To use the Product Manager it is important that you understand the principle of entering %w/w amounts in your formula composition. This is the industry-standard method for formulation of cosmetic products and the method that is used in the software. However, if you prefer to formulate by weight/volume (even in drops), we have a tool for this. For further information please read the blog article on %w/w concentrations and the Product Manager Getting Started Guide.

Product Manager’s ingredients database includes over 31,000 single ingredients for possible use in cosmetics and personal care products. Over 99% of required ingredients can be found in this list. If you search for an ingredient in any of the following pages/tabs of Product Manager and cannot find the ingredient, a ‘Submit Ingredient Request’ button will be displayed. Before contacting us, please do the following:

  1. Contact your supplier wherever possible, if the ‘missing’ ingredient is not clearly stated in any raw material SDS in terms of its INCI and CAS no. (see section 3 of the SDS).
  2. Use Google to verify that any INCI and/or CAS you have is correct. Check for example, if you are confusing the common or chemical name with the INCI.
  3. Check on the CosIng website that the ingredient is available there and is not in Annex II (banned substances). Here is the link:

    http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.simple

  4. In CosIng and Product Manager, try searching for a narrower match of the INCI string you have instead of the entire INCI. For example, instead of entering “1,4 CYCLOHEXANEDIOL BIS-ETHYLHEXANOATE”, try “CYCLOHEXANEDIOL” and look for matches in the search results.

If the above steps show that the ingredient is available in CosIng and permitted for use in cosmetics and personal care products but cannot be found in Product Manager, please then forward the details of the ingredient to us and we will investigate.

A central pillar of the cosmetic regulatory framework in most countries is compliance with Cosmetics Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) ISO 22716. For example, in the EU compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 requires adherence to GMP and stipulates i). maintenance of complete and accurate documentation (para. 17) and ii). change control (para. 15). Paragraphs 6.4.4 and 7.2.1.2 set out requirements for documenting all batches of raw materials used to manufacture your product, as well as information on each supplier. Complying with ISO 22716 therefore extends responsibility above and beyond the regulatory requirements for maintaining up-to-date product information files (PIFs), resulting in complex and time-consuming administration for companies that have no effective system for managing these tasks.

A substance classified as CMR1B (or CMR1A) is prohibited in many countries from use in cosmetic products. By way of exception, the authorities may adopt measures for the authorization of these categories of substances. For example, in the EU all of the following conditions listed in article 15, paragraph 2 must be fulfilled:

  • No suitable alternative substances are available,
  • The application is made for a particular use of the product category with a known exposure,

    and

  • Assessment by the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Commission concluding to the safety for use in cosmetic products.