Since Amazon is the world's largest online retailer, its e-commerce platform offers enormous opportunities for entrepreneurs to reach millions of potential customers and increase sales. Amazon has also become the go-to destination for millions of beauty shoppers online, which means it's a great platform to make money selling soap, cosmetics, and other beauty products. You can start with a small inventory and take advantage of tools and resources provided by Amazon that can help you grow your business.
In this article, we'll talk about the requirements you need to meet to sell beauty products on Amazon and give you some tips on optimizing your listings to increase visibility and win customers.
Do You Need to Get Approval to Sell Beauty Products on Amazon?
Amazon's beauty and personal care category is divided into several subcategories, including makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrance, foot, hand & nail care, tools & accessories, shave & hair removal, personal care, and oral care. You can also dig deeper into each subcategory to get more specific.
Before 2017, the beauty category was gated, and sellers needed to apply for special accounts and go through a tedious process to get approval and list their products. But now, the beauty and personal care category is no longer restricted to new Amazon sellers.
Still, certain items in this category require approval from Amazon before they can be sold, such as cosmetics and skin care products in gated subcategories. Amazon has strict guidelines to ensure customers' safety and protect its reputation. By requiring sellers to get approval before listing certain beauty products, Amazon can ensure that all products on their platform are safe and meet all applicable standards.
The approval process can differ depending on the item, but in general, sellers must provide supporting documentation about the products, such as invoices, safety assessments, and other documents.
Remember that as a seller, you need to understand and comply with Amazon's guidelines and policies on product safety and compliance. This can help you avoid practices that could lead to blocked listings.
Selling Soap on Amazon
Selling soap on the platform doesn't require approval from Amazon, but you must comply with all federal laws and regulations applicable to soap products. True soap that meets the definition of the term in the FDA's regulations is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). You may want to check out our blog article to learn more about soap labeling requirements.
The FDA's interpretation outlines the following requirements that a product needs to meet to be regulated as "soap":
- What it's made of: the product must consist mainly of the "alkali salts of fatty acids," that is, what you get when you combine fats or oils with an alkali, such as lye.
- What ingredients cause its cleaning action: those "alkali salts of fatty acids" must be the only material that results in the product's cleaning action. If the product contains synthetic detergents, it's classified as a cosmetic, although you still can use the word "soap" on the label.
- How it's intended to be used: the product must be labeled and marketed only for use as soap. Claims such as moisturizing the skin or deodorizing the user's body classify the product as a cosmetic. If you claim that the product is intended to treat skin conditions, such as acne or eczema, your product is a drug, but you can use the word "soap" on the label.
In the US, cosmetics and drugs are regulated by FDA. You should also note that the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by including the definition of a "cosmetic product" as "a preparation of cosmetic ingredients with a qualitatively and quantitatively set composition for use in a finished product." This means that if the product contains ingredients commonly recognized as having cosmetic properties, it may be classified as a cosmetic even if no cosmetic claims are made.
If you want to start selling soap on Amazon, traditional all-natural soaps like those that we make at Botanie Soap and offer for private-label use are perfect. Explore our collection and choose products that you could sell under your brand. You can also order a sample set that includes all our bar soap varieties and samples of our different liquid, unscented, and scented soaps.
How to Sell Cosmetics on Amazon and Be Compliant with Its Policies
Amazon defines cosmetics as products that are usually rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed onto the body for cleansing, beautifying, or changing the body's appearance. Amazon establishes requirements for packaging, labeling, product detail pages, and ingredient disclosure of cosmetic products listed on the platform in accordance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and other applicable regulations.
Amazon provides a compliance checklist that includes information about requirements for packaging, labeling, product detail pages, and ingredients. You should use this checklist to ensure that your beauty products are compliant with Amazon's policies.
Packaging requirements for cosmetics
- Cosmetic products must be sealed in the original manufacturer's packaging.
- Cosmetics must be new and unused.
- Cosmetic products must clearly display identifying codes placed on the packaging by the manufacturer or distributor, such as matrix codes, lot numbers, or serial numbers.
Labeling and product detail page requirements
Cosmetics labels and detail pages must include the following information in English:
- The name of the product,
- The purpose or use of the product (for example, cleansing the body or moisturizing the skin),
- The amount of content of the cosmetic product, in terms of weight, measure, count, or a combination (for example, 30 oz, 5 mL, 10 pills, 5 lb),
- The ingredient list,
- The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor (this information is not required on detail pages),
- Any necessary label warnings.
Cosmetic labels and detail pages must not:
- State that the products cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease in humans, unless that statement is approved by the FDA and the product, is properly labeled as both a cosmetic and a drug;
- State that the cosmetics are "FDA approved" if they are not FDA approved;
- Use the FDA logo;
- State "tester," "not for retail sale," or "not intended for resale" as such items may not be sold on Amazon.
Amazon also recommends that sellers visit the US Food and Drug Administration's resources for more information about cosmetics labeling requirements.
Product and ingredient requirements
Cosmetic products must be safe for use and must not be named in an FDA recall or safety alert. They must not contain prohibited ingredients, substances the FDA classifies as posing a risk of harm or illness, and controlled substances. Cosmetics must not require a prescription or a medical professional's supervision or direction.
Selling Beauty Products on Amazon: Top Tips to Attract Customers
Selling beauty products on Amazon can be very profitable if you price your products competitively and invest time and effort in optimizing your listings and marketing. Remember that Amazon works as a search engine, so it's crucial to take advantage of its algorithm to increase the chances that your beauty products can appear at the top of Amazon's search results. Here are some tips on optimizing your Amazon product listing to increase visibility and drive sales.
Create compelling product titles
Ensure your titles contain at least 100 characters and accurately describe your beauty products. Do detailed keyword research to find keywords that people use when searching for products related to your niche, and include them in your titles to help potential customers find your products. But remember that titles should sound pleasant and natural, so don't stuff them with keywords.
Write clear and concise product descriptions
A well-written product description can help you convince potential buyers that your product can make a difference in their daily lives. You need to give descriptive and factual information and highlight the unique selling points of your beauty product. Using relevant keywords in the product description also improves the chances that shoppers will find your listing.
Use high-quality images
Visuals are critical when it comes to selling beauty products on Amazon. Some customers may decide based on what they see in the images. That's why you should use high-resolution photos that accurately show your products from multiple angles and entice your customers. Ensure the images are large enough to allow the zoom function to work to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.
Encourage positive customer reviews
Having high ratings and positive reviews is essential for any Amazon seller. Most consumers read online reviews before they make a buying decision, so you should encourage buyers to leave feedback. Ensure your product claims are accurate and honest, provide excellent customer service, and respond quickly to inquiries and complaints. This will increase your chances of getting more favorable reviews and ratings.
Final Thought
Selling beauty products on Amazon can be a great way to make money. Still, you should understand how the Amazon marketplace works and be familiar with the requirements and regulations to ensure compliance. You should also optimize your product listings to match the Amazon search algorithms and stand out among competitors. However, delivering high-quality beauty products and exceptional customer service is the key to success.