Over-the-counter (OTC) products are one of the main areas where the US market differs from the rest of the world. A sunscreen, antiperspirant, or acne treatment may seem like simple cosmetics from a brand's international perspective, but for the FDA, they fall under the OTC ("over-the-counter") classification , which in the United States is regulated as drugs .

In the United Kingdom, a food supplement is a food product designed to supplement the diet with concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals, or other substances. In England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, these products are regulated by food safety authorities, such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

California has updated the permissible exposure levels for titanium dioxide in its respirable form under Proposition 65. These limits determine when a brand must include the well-known warning about exposure to potentially carcinogenic substances.

The Member State Committee (MSC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has confirmed the inclusion of an additional substance on the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (REACH). With this update, the list now has a total of 251 entries.

This guide summarizes the essential elements that companies wishing to market cosmetics in the US need to know—as well as consumers seeking greater transparency.

In recent days, the European Union has published two corrections to previous amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. Although these are minor adjustments, they are relevant for professionals responsible for regulatory compliance and the correct naming of ingredients on labels.