Cosmetic Ingredient Purchasing FAQ

Match the full supplied composition, INCI, CAS where applicable, physical form and current specification to the quotation. A blend may contain carriers, preservatives or salts. An INCI name alone does not establish concentration, branded origin or interchangeability. Quality and document review

Ask for the assay method, units and basis: dry basis, as supplied, chromatographic purity or marker content. A product name or typical value does not prove monograph compliance. Specify the required pharmacopoeia and edition, then request evidence for the offered grade and lot. Quality and document review

Request the manufacturing country, actual production site and whether RAWESS is the manufacturer or distributor for the offered grade. Ask for origin and traceability documents and any independent audit report available for that site. A brand address is not proof of manufacturing origin. Quality and document review

Request the current certificate, holder, site, scope and expiry date for the proposed material or facility. Ingredient approval, an organic certificate and a site management-system certificate serve different purposes. Do not treat a logo or portfolio statement as certification of every ingredient. Quality and document review

Request the lot-specific COA before release and agree the required identity, assay, impurities, heavy metals and microbiological tests. Check actual results, units, methods and acceptance limits; test panels differ by grade. A specification, SDS, TDS or product PDF cannot replace batch analytical results. Quality and document review

Share the destination, finished-product category, intended use and concentration. Ask for the grade-specific regulatory status and supporting documents for REACH obligations, China IECIC, US requirements and the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive as relevant. An inventory entry or REACH status alone is not finished-cosmetic approval. Ingredient Knowledge Center · EU Cosmetics Regulation

Check the current destination-market rules using the exact identity, composition, impurities and intended use. Limits can depend on the product type, exposure and labelling. Have your regulatory assessor confirm the applicable conditions; there is no single limit that applies to every market and formula. Ingredient Knowledge Center · EU cosmetics restrictions

Ask for grade-specific TDS guidance and any stability data with test conditions, packaging and acceptance criteria. Raw-material shelf life does not establish stability in your formulation. Evaluate processing heat, pH, light, oxygen and packaging in the finished product under your proposed conditions. Ingredient Knowledge Center

Request separate, dated statements for animal-derived inputs, processing aids, animal-testing policy and allergen content or carry-over. Confirm the scope, site and supplied composition. For EU fragrance-allergen assessment, use the applicable expanded Annex III requirements, not only an older 26-allergen checklist. These claims cannot be assumed across the portfolio. Ingredient Knowledge Center · EU fragrance-allergen amendment

Assess the exact supplied polymer under REACH Annex XVII entry 78, introduced by Regulation (EU) 2023/2055. Composition, particle form, dimensions, solubility, degradability, intended use and any applicable derogation or transition matter. Natural origin or an INCI name alone is insufficient. Request a grade-specific assessment and supporting test evidence. Ingredient Knowledge Center · EU restriction on synthetic polymer microparticles

Send the grade, requested sample quantity, application, destination and courier details. Ask for written confirmation of availability, sample price or waiver, freight charges and any import costs before dispatch. Free samples and free shipping are not automatic terms. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Request the sample lot number, matching COA and relevant SDS/TDS, then confirm dispatch readiness and shipping method. Arrival depends on preparation, carrier transit and customs clearance. Agree an estimated dispatch and delivery window; a generic 48-hour statement is not a confirmed delivery date. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Ask about sample sizes, pilot packs or a split pack for the specific grade. Feasibility depends on packaging, handling, traceability and available stock. Confirm quantity, pack size, price, documents and lead time in the quotation; a sample does not establish ongoing supply below MOQ. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Request the current grade-specific TDS, starting use range and incorporation instructions, plus any application examples available. Disclose pH, processing temperature, phase, electrolytes and other actives. Confirm solubility or dispersion, preservation and packaging in trials; a starting formula is not validation of your finished product. Ingredient Knowledge Center

Ask which reports are available and compare material identity, concentration, route, formulation, population and endpoints. In-vitro, oral and topical clinical evidence are not interchangeable. Published research on another material does not prove efficacy of the supplied lot or your formula. Substantiate finished-product claims with relevant evidence. Ingredient Knowledge Center · EU common criteria for cosmetic claims

Request quotations for the same grade, active-content basis, pack size and order volume. Compare price per supplied kilogram and, where relevant, per kilogram of active. Include freight, insurance, duties, testing and handling. Ask for volume tiers and quote validity; do not assume a fixed discount above a particular MOQ. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

The product page gives a purchasing reference; ask for the current order MOQ and minimum pack for the offered grade. Confirm whether a trial pack, consolidated order or annual schedule is possible. The written quotation governs the accepted quantity, price and delivery terms. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Ask for the payment options offered for your order. Deposit, balance milestones, bank charges, L/C conditions and any credit approval must be agreed in writing. A 12-month price or capacity commitment needs an accepted contract specifying volumes, validity, adjustment clauses and cancellation terms; it is not a standard portfolio guarantee. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Specify the Incoterms version and named port or destination. FOB and CIF are sea or inland-waterway terms; CIF adds seller-arranged freight and insurance, but risk does not wait until arrival. DDP requires agreement on import clearance and duties. Confirm taxes, insurance, unloading and importer responsibilities separately. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Confirm the grade, lot, quantity, pack size, document-release status and estimated dispatch date. Separate production or QC lead time from freight and customs time. A catalogue estimate is not a stock reservation or delivery commitment; request confirmation when placing the order. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Ask for the actual dispatch site or port, inventory owner, lot number, available quantity and customs status. Confirm whether any overseas or bonded stock is available for the requested grade. Do not assume that a Rotterdam or EU warehouse claim applies to every item or that bonded goods are cleared for domestic delivery. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Discuss forecasts, call-off schedules, safety stock, capacity allocation and change notification before contracting. Ask whether an independently qualified second site or source exists for the exact specification. A different synthesis route is not automatically an approved alternative; agree requalification, testing and disruption procedures. Request grade-specific documents and a quotation

Ask which records connect the shipment lot, manufacturer batch, incoming materials, production site, QC release and retained sample. Agree document retention and change-notification expectations. Request traceability evidence for the proposed supply chain rather than assuming identical record access for every ingredient. Quality and document review

Request an audit or document-review plan stating the site, scope, independent reports, timing and access conditions. Propose an NDA before exchanging confidential formulation, process or pricing information. Acceptance, permitted disclosure and scheduling require agreement; there is no universal audit-notice period. Quality and document review

Agree sampling, test methods, acceptance limits, complaint deadlines, quarantine and independent retesting before ordering. Record the lot and preserve evidence if a discrepancy occurs. Returns, replacement, credit, investigation, corrective action and compensation depend on the accepted quality agreement and contract; no automatic remedy should be assumed. Quality and document review