At the moment when the "beauty economy" is booming, the cosmetics market is increasingly rich in categories - from morning cleansers to night repair essence, from lipstick to sunscreen, different types of cosmetics meet diverse beauty needs. However, how to accurately distinguish the functions and attributes of the dazzling array of products on the shelves? This article will use the "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics" as the regulatory basis, combined with practical market applications, to systematically sort out the classification system of cosmetics from four core dimensions: functional use, use area, product form, and regulatory attributes, providing clear guidance for consumers to choose and industry practitioners to understand.

1、 Classified by functional use: Full coverage from "basic care" to "special needs"

Functional use is the core classification basis for cosmetics, directly related to the product's usage goals. It can be divided into four categories: basic care, cosmetic modification, special function, and cleaning and makeup removal, covering the entire process from skin care to makeup creation.

Basic care is the cornerstone of cosmetics, focusing on daily maintenance of the skin and hair, and can be further subdivided according to usage scenarios:

Daily skin care: focusing on moisturizing, moisturizing and soothing, including facial cleaning products (such as amino acid facial cleanser, soap based facial cleanser), make-up water (toner, toner, essence water), lotion/face cream (moisturizing milk, repair cream, refreshing gel), essence (hyaluronic acid essence, vitamin C essence, anti wrinkle essence). These products need to be used for a long time to help maintain skin barrier health and are suitable for daily care of all skin types.

Hair care: for hair and scalp problems, it covers shampoo products (dandruff shampoo, oil control shampoo, repair shampoo), hair care products (hair conditioner, hair film, essential oil), styling care (wash free essence, anti hair loss lotion), among which anti hair loss products, because of their "hair growth" effect, need to be managed as special cosmetics, and need to be approved by the State Food and Drug Administration and marked with a "special certificate" number.

The beauty category focuses on "instant beautification", adjusting the appearance through color and texture, which is the core of makeup and styling:

Facial makeup: shape facial contour and skin color, including base makeup (liquid foundation, air cushion, powder, isolation cream), concealer (concealer cream, concealer liquid), set makeup (loose powder, honey powder), powder blusher (powder powder blusher, liquid powder blusher), and face repair (face repair powder, high gloss cream). These products focus on skin feeling and durability, and some add skin nourishing ingredients (such as liquid foundation containing hyaluronic acid), giving consideration to beautification and care.

Eye and lip makeup: focus on eye and lip details, including eye shadow (eye shadow plate, monochrome eye shadow), eyeliner (eyeliner pen, eyeliner liquid), eye black (slender, dense), eyebrow products (eyebrow pencil, eyebrow powder, eyebrow dye), lip products (lipstick, lip glaze, lip color, lipstick), of which lipstick, if it only contains moisturizing ingredients, belongs to ordinary cosmetics, and if it claims "sunscreen", it should be classified as a special functional category.

Special functional products (i.e. "special cosmetics") require strict supervision for specific needs. According to the "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics", such products include 8 categories: hair dye, perm, freckle removal and whitening, sunscreen, anti stripping, acne removal, nourishment, repair, etc. They need to be approved by the National Medical Products Administration, and the product packaging should be labeled with "National Makeup Special Character" or "National Makeup Special Advance Character" (imported products). For example, hair dye should be clearly labeled with the color code and applicable hair texture, sunscreen should be labeled with SPF value (sun protection index) and PA level (sun protection duration), and spot removal and whitening products should provide melanin inhibition test data to ensure efficacy and safety.

The cleaning and makeup removing category focuses on "cleaning and decontamination", removing dirt and cosmetic residues on skin and hair, including makeup removing products (makeup removing oil, makeup removing water, makeup removing cream), cleaning facial mask (mud film, tear off facial mask), body cleaning (shower gel, scrub cream), and hand cleaning (hand sanitizer, hand cream). These products focus on gentleness, and sensitive muscle products usually do not contain soap base, alcohol and other irritant ingredients.

2、 Classified by usage area: Accurately match the nursing needs of different parts

The significant differences in skin structure and physiological characteristics among different parts of the human body determine that cosmetics need to be subdivided according to their usage areas to avoid irritation to sensitive areas caused by "generic" products. They can mainly be divided into six categories: face, eyes, lips, body, hair, and nails.

Facial cosmetics: the core category. Because of thin facial skin and dense distribution of sebaceous glands, the product needs to give consideration to efficacy and gentleness. In addition to basic skin care and makeup, it also includes facial massage cream, facial essential oil, etc. Some are targeted at specific areas (such as T area oil control essence, U area moisturizing cream).

Eye cosmetics: The thickness of eye skin is only 1/3 of that of the face, and it lacks sebaceous glands, so it is easy to dry and have fine lines. Therefore, eye products (eye cream, eye mask, eye essence) are generally thinner, more precise in nutrition, focusing on anti wrinkle, removing dark circles and eye bags, and avoiding irritating ingredients such as essence and preservatives.

Lip cosmetics: The lip skin has no cuticle, is vulnerable to external environment (dryness and cracking), and directly contacts the mouth. Therefore, lip products (lipstick, lip glaze, lipstick) must meet the safety standards of "contact mouth". The ingredients are mainly moisturizing (such as vaseline, lanolin) and repairing (such as vitamin E). Colored lipstick must pass the heavy metal test.

Body cosmetics: cover the skin of the trunk and limbs. Due to the thick skin and less distribution of sebaceous glands, the products pay attention to moisturizing and moisturizing, including body milk, body cream, body scrub, and body essential oil. Products for dry muscles usually contain high concentrations of glycerin and ceramide. Products for sensitive muscles are marked with "no essence, no alcohol".

Hair cosmetics: In addition to hair care, they also include products specifically designed for eyebrows and eyelashes (such as eyebrow repair fluid and eyelash growth fluid). If eyelash growth fluid claims to have a "growth" effect, it needs to be managed as a special cosmetic. Hair dyeing and perming products need to be labeled as "suitable for hair quality" (such as special hair dye for damaged hair).

Nail cosmetics: For nails and nail skin around nails, including nail polish (nail polish glue, water-based nail polish), nail care products (nail polish, polish, nail polish), nail care around nails (dead skin scissors, nail cream), nail polish must meet the safety standards of "low formaldehyde, low toluene", and water-based nail polish has become the mainstream in recent years because of its "tear off, no odor".

3、 Classified by product form: adapted to different usage habits and scenarios

The product form affects the user experience and portability. Classifying products by form can help consumers choose suitable products based on their usage scenarios (such as home, outdoor, and travel), mainly divided into five categories: liquid, cream, powder, gas, and film.

Liquid cosmetics: It is easy to use and absorb, including make-up water, essence liquid, make-up remover and toner. It is usually bottled or spray. Traveling clothes are mostly small capacity (10-50ml), suitable for carrying.

Cream cosmetics: thick and moist, including face cream, lotion, makeup remover and lipstick, which are canned or tubed. face cream is suitable for dry season, lotion is suitable for summer or oily skin, and emulsification technology is added to some products to achieve the balance of "fresh texture+high moisture".

Powder cosmetics: mainly focus on oil control and makeup setting, including loose powder, powder, eye shadow and powder blusher. Most of them are powder. Some of them are added with "oil control factor" (such as silica) or "moisturizing factor" (such as hyaluronic acid microsphere) to avoid powder sticking and drying.

Gaseous cosmetics: it is presented in the form of spray, including moisturizing spray, sunscreen spray, and makeup setting spray. When used, the liquid is converted into fine particles through air pressure, and evenly covers the skin. It is suitable for makeup make-up or emergency moisturizing. Sunscreen spray should pay attention to the instructions of "spraying 15-20cm from the skin".

Film cosmetics: promote nutrition absorption through "sealing effect", including facial mask (patch type, mud film, tear film), eye film, lip film. Patch type facial mask has become mainstream because of "ready to use", while mud film is suitable for deep cleaning. Tear film needs to pay attention to "avoid frequent use" to prevent damage to the skin barrier.

4、 Classified by regulatory attributes: strict distinction between ordinary and special cosmetics

To ensure consumer safety, China implements "classified supervision" on cosmetics, dividing them into ordinary cosmetics and special cosmetics according to the degree of supervision. There are significant differences between the two in the approval process, labeling, and efficacy claims, which are also dimensions that consumers need to pay close attention to when making purchases.

Ordinary cosmetics: refer to products that only have the basic functions of "cleaning, care, and modification", and do not involve special effects, such as ordinary facial cleansers, moisturizing lotion, non sunscreen isolation creams, ordinary lipstick, etc. This type of product implements a "filing system", and enterprises need to file with the provincial drug regulatory bureau before the product is launched. They need to submit information such as product formula, production process, safety evaluation report, etc. After the filing is approved, the product can be launched. The packaging should be labeled with a filing number such as "Guangdong G Cosmetics Network Filing Letter XXXX" (taking Guangdong Province as an example).

Special cosmetics: Refers to products with 8 special effects such as "hair dyeing, perming, spot removal and whitening, sun protection, anti shedding, acne removal, nourishment, and repair". Due to their involvement in "changing the physiological state of the human body" (such as hair dyeing changing hair color, anti shedding affecting hair growth), they need to implement an "approval system". Enterprises need to undergo strict safety and efficacy tests (such as human skin irritation tests and sunscreen efficacy tests), submit an application to the National Medical Products Administration, and obtain the "National Makeup Special Character XXXX" (domestic) or "National Makeup Special Advance Character XXXX" (imported) number after approval before they can be listed. In addition, the efficacy claims of special cosmetics must have "sufficient scientific basis" and should not be exaggerated (such as spot removal and whitening products not claiming "7-day whitening" or "complete spot removal").

5、 The practical significance of classification: providing dual guidance for consumption and industry

The classification of cosmetics is not "formalism", but a dual value that combines consumer guidance and industry norms:

For consumers, clear classification can help "accurate shopping" - for example, consumers with sensitive muscles can quickly select products suitable for themselves through the label combination of "ordinary cosmetics+no essence+special for face"; Consumers who need to dye their hair can use the information of "special cosmetics+national makeup special characters+applicable hair quality" to determine the safety and suitability of the product, and avoid skin allergies or hair damage caused by misuse of the product.

For the industry, classification is the basis of "compliant production" - enterprises need to determine the filing/approval process according to product classification, for example, the production of ordinary moisturizing lotion only requires provincial filing, while the production of sunscreen lotion requires national approval; At the same time, classification also promotes product innovation. For example, in response to the segmented demand for "sensitive eye muscles", companies have developed "preservative free eye cream", and in response to the demand for "travel scenes", they have launched "small capacity liquid cosmetics sets", promoting the market to develop towards "refinement and scene based".

Conclusion: Scientific classification makes beauty safer

From the distinction between "ordinary and special" under the regulatory framework to the matching of "function and part" in consumer scenarios, the cosmetics classification system is not only a "defense line" to ensure safety, but also a "bridge" to connect products with demand. With the development of the market, the classification will become more refined (such as "male specific cosmetics" and "mother and baby specific cosmetics"), but the core logic remains unchanged - based on scientific classification, allowing consumers to pursue beauty while obtaining a safe and suitable product experience. In the future, both consumers and industry practitioners need to have a deeper understanding of the classification system, making "precision skincare" and "compliant production" the norm, and promoting the healthy development of the cosmetics industry.