Good Manufacturing Practices for Home Cosmetics

Creating homemade cosmetics is a rewarding and personalized experience. However, to guarantee the quality and safety of your preparations, it's essential to follow certain recommendations.

Whether you're a novice or an expert, these best practices will help you work with confidence, while preserving the health of your skin and hair.

Here are the crucial points to observe when making your cosmetics, from hygiene rules to safety precautions, to ensure an optimal and enjoyable creative experience.

Important recommendations

When preparing your homemade cosmetics, it is essential to observe the following points to guarantee the safety and quality of your creations.

Personal protective equipment

To avoid any risk when making cosmetics, we recommend using the following protective equipment:

• Gloves: To avoid direct contact with ingredients and protect your skin.
• Goggles: Essential to protect your eyes, especially when handling potentially irritating ingredients.
• Mask: Wear when handling powdered ingredients to avoid inhaling particles.
• Protective charlotte: To prevent hair contamination during preparation.

Hygiene rules

Any cosmetic product containing water, hydrolats or aqueous active ingredients is susceptible to contamination by bacteria and/or fungi. It is therefore imperative to follow strict hygiene rules:

1. Hand washing: Wash your hands thoroughly before starting work.
2. Minimize contact: Use pump bottles rather than jars to limit product/air or product/hand contact. If using jars, use a small spatula to remove the product.
3. Disinfection: Thoroughly disinfect preparation equipment and containers by immersing them in boiling water for 10 minutes, or using drugstore alcohol. Don't forget to clean your utensils afterwards.
4. Product identification: Label your homemade cosmetics with
   • Product name
   • Date made
   • Best-before date (see shelf life indicated on recipe sheet).
5. Storage: Keep your preparation in a cool place and observe the shelf life indicated. Do not consume the product if you notice any change in odor, color or appearance.

Allergy risks

Before using a new product, it's crucial to check your tolerance:

• Allergy test: Always test 24 hours before use by applying a small amount to the crease of the elbow. If a reaction occurs, do not use the product.