Skincare & Cosmetic Brand Certifications: USA + Canada 2026 Guide

Walk into any Sephora, browse any DTC skincare brand, or scroll through a beauty retailer's website, and you will see a collection of logos on product packaging. 

COSMOS Organic. Leaping Bunny. EWG Verified. USDA Organic. Some of these certifications are legally required. Others are optional but can open doors with retailers and build trust with consumers. 

If you sell skincare or cosmetic products in the United States or Canada, it’s important to understand skincare & cosmetic brand certifications. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the most important certifications and registrations for skincare and cosmetic brands in the US and Canada in 2026, what each one requires, and what it means for your business. 

But before that, let’s take a look at the difference between mandatory and voluntary certifications.

The Difference Between Mandatory and Voluntary Certifications

Mandatory certifications and registrations are legal requirements. If you sell in a particular market, you must comply. There is no choice but to do them. 

Failing to comply can result in product recalls, fines, legal action, and being blocked from selling in that market entirely.

Voluntary certifications are market-driven. No law requires them, but the right voluntary certification can open retail doors and build the kind of consumer trust that paid advertising cannot buy. 

The wrong one will just be a waste of time and money if your target customer does not care about it.

Understanding which category each certification falls into is the first thing any skincare brand needs to know.

Mandatory Registrations and Compliance: USA

MoCRA Cosmetic Registration

MoCRA was signed into law on December 29, 2022, making it the most significant overhaul of US cosmetic regulation in decades. 

Serious adverse event reporting became enforceable on December 29, 2023. Enforcement of facility registration and product listing requirements began on July 1, 2024. 

MoCRA cosmetic registration is now mandatory for any facility that manufactures or processes cosmetic products distributed in the United States.

Here is what is required under MoCRA:

• Cosmetic facility registration: Every manufacturer and importer must register their facility with the FDA and renew that registration every two years. This applies to both domestic and international facilities

• Product listing: Each product must be listed with the FDA, including its ingredient list and intended use

• Serious adverse event reporting: Brands must track and report serious adverse events associated with their cosmetic products to the FDA within 15 business days of becoming aware of them. Records of serious adverse events must be retained for 6 years, or for 3 years for small businesses

• Safety substantiation: Brands must maintain documentation proving their products are safe for their intended use. This is not the same as FDA approval. The FDA does not approve cosmetics before they go to market. But you must be able to demonstrate safety if asked

Skincare brand FDA registration under MoCRA also comes with labelling requirements. Labels must include the product name, net quantity, manufacturer or distributor name and address, and a complete ingredient list in descending order of predominance.

Estimated costs for this registration:

• Safety report prepared by a toxicologist: $1,500 to $4,000 per product\

• Regulatory consultant fees: $100 to $250 per hour

• Facility registration: No fee, but time investment required

One thing many brands get wrong is making claims that push their product from cosmetic into drug territory. 

Claims like "treats acne," "heals eczema," or "reduces inflammation" push your product into the drug category, which requires a completely different approval process. 

To avoid this, review all packaging, website copy, and social media content to make sure your claims remain within cosmetic boundaries.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and ISO 22716

GMP certification is not yet legally mandatory for cosmetics in the US, but the FDA has indicated it plans to issue GMP regulations. 

Following GMP principles is important for product safety, and ISO 22716, which is the international standard for cosmetic GMP. It is the certification most recognized by retailers and international buyers.

ISO 22716 covers:

• Facility design

• Raw material management

• Production processes

• Quality control

• Personnel training

• Documentation

NOTE: Many major retailers require GMP compliance before stocking a brand. 

GMP implementation support costs $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the scope of work.

Mandatory Registrations and Compliance: Canada

Health Canada Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF) and the Ingredient Hotlist

In Canada, every cosmetic product sold must be notified to Health Canada within 10 days of first sale. This is done through the Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF), which requires the product name, company information, and a full ingredient list.

The cosmetic ingredient hotlist is one of the most important compliance tools for brands selling in Canada. It lists ingredients that are either prohibited or restricted in cosmetic products. 

Any ingredient on the hotlist must either be removed from the formula or used within the specified restrictions. This is a step many US brands skip when entering the Canadian market, only to discover the hard way.

Canada also requires brands to designate a responsible person for cosmetics. It can either be the manufacturer, importer, or distributor whose name appears on the label. This is the entity legally responsible for ensuring the product complies with Canadian cosmetic regulations.

Bilingual cosmetic labelling Canada is another mandatory requirement that catches brands off guard. Product labels sold in Canada must include both English and French, covering the product name, directions for use, precautions, and ingredient list (using INCI names). This applies regardless of whether you are selling primarily in Quebec or across the country.

Voluntary Certifications 

COSMOS Organic Certification and ECOCERT Skincare

COSMOS organic certification is the leading European standard for organic and natural cosmetics. It is awarded by certifying bodies, including ECOCERT, the most widely recognized among them. 

To qualify for COSMOS Organic:

• At least 95% of the plants it contains must be organic, and at least 20% of the total formula must be organic ingredients (10% for rinse-off products)

• And a minimum percentage of those must be certified organic

ECOCERT skincare certification also requires that products contain 99% ingredients of natural origin.

These certifications are important with premium retailers and health-conscious consumers who want third-party verification behind the claims they see on every label.

USDA Organic Skincare Certification

The USDA organic certification is familiar to consumers from food, and it carries that same recognition in skincare. 

To use the USDA Organic seal on a skincare product, at least 95% of the ingredients must be organically produced. Products with 70% to 95% organic ingredients can say "made with organic ingredients" but cannot display the full USDA Organic seal.

EWG Verified

EWG Verified is a clean beauty certification awarded by the Environmental Working Group. 

Products must meet EWG's standards for ingredient safety, meaning they must be free of EWG's "chemicals of concern" and meet full requirements for ingredient transparency and manufacturing practices.

EWG Verified is valued by health-conscious consumers who are familiar with the EWG's Skin Deep database and already use it to evaluate products. 

If your brand is targeting this audience, the EWG Verified mark is a trust signal that third-party verification supports the formulation claims on your label.

Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certification

Leaping Bunny certifies that no animal testing has been conducted at any stage of product development, including by ingredient suppliers. 

It is stricter than many other cruelty-free claims because it audits the entire supply chain, not just the finished product.

The Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification is recognized globally and carries strong credibility with consumers who prioritize ethical beauty. 

More than 60% of consumers say they prefer brands that do not test on animals, and a recognized third-party certification backing a cruelty-free claim is much more convincing than a self-declared logo.

PETA Cruelty-Free

PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies certification is a cruelty-free alternative that is less rigorous than Leaping Bunny's in its supply chain auditing, but is still widely recognized, particularly in North America. 

For brands seeking a cruelty-free certification with a lower barrier to entry, PETA is the best place to start before moving on to Leaping Bunny.

Vegan Certification

A vegan certification confirms that a product contains no animal-derived ingredients and has not been tested on animals. 

It is different from cruelty-free because cruelty-free addresses testing only, while vegan addresses ingredients. A product can be cruelty-free but not vegan if it contains beeswax, lanolin, or other animal-derived ingredients.

Certified Vegan and VeganOK are the two most recognized vegan certifications in North America and Europe, respectively.

Clean Beauty Certification

Clean beauty certification is a category without a single universal standard. 

For example, Sephora's Clean at Sephora programme certifies products that meet Sephora's own list of excluded ingredients. 

Clean beauty certification programmes generally require that products be free from a defined list of ingredients considered potentially harmful, and the specific exclusion list varies by certifying body.

Certifications for Specific Markets

Halal and Kosher Certification

Halal certification confirms that a product complies with Islamic law in its ingredients and manufacturing process. 

Kosher certification verifies that a product meets the requirements of Jewish dietary law. 

Both are relevant for brands targeting Muslim and Jewish consumers or planning to sell in markets where these certifications are required or strongly preferred, including the Middle East, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

B Corp Certification

B Corp certification verifies a brand's social and environmental performance across the entire business, not just its products. 

It is one of the most rigorous and credible sustainability certifications available and is increasingly valued by retail buyers and conscious consumers. 

The process is extensive and time-consuming, but eventually, it results in a certification that integrates the entire brand and verifies a company’s social and environmental impact.

How to Build Your Certification Strategy

Skincare brand FDA registration under MoCRA, facility listing, and safety substantiation are not optional. Get these first before you think about anything else. 

In Canada, the Health Canada cosmetic notification form (CNF) must be submitted within 10 days of the first sale. 

Aside from this, here are other ways to build your certification strategy: 

Know your target customer

Different consumers value different certifications. Gen Z and Millennial consumers tend to prioritize ethical certifications like Leaping Bunny or vegan. 

Health-conscious consumers look for EWG Verified or COSMOS certifications. Sustainability-focused shoppers want certifications that verify environmental claims. 

Building a certification strategy around your customer prevents you from spending money on certifications your audience does not know or care about.

Plan for the markets you want to enter 

If you plan to sell in Canada, bilingual cosmetic labelling requirements and the responsible person for cosmetics designation in Canada need to be in place before you start selling, not after. 

If you are building toward EU distribution, the compliance requirements there are stricter than in the US or Canada. Building products to meet the strictest relevant standard makes future market expansion much less expensive for you.

Think about retail requirements

Major retailers have their own certification requirements. Sephora's Clean at Sephora programme has its own list of excluded ingredients. And Whole Foods Market has its Premium Body Care standards. 

Many natural and health-focused retailers require cosmetic GMP certification before they will even review a brand. 

If retail placement is part of your growth strategy, find out what those buyers require before you finalize your formulations.

Be realistic about timing

Some certifications take months to complete. COSMOS certification, USDA organic skincare certification, and ISO 22716 cosmetic GMP certification all involve audits, documentation reviews, and sometimes reformulation. 

If you launch before getting these in place, you will need to repackage or relabel later, which increases your expenses. 

It is almost always cheaper to plan for these requirements before production than to do them afterward.

Final Thoughts

Certifications are not just compliance checkboxes. The right ones build consumer trust, open retail doors, justify premium pricing, and give your brand a competitive edge.

Start with what is legally required. Get your MoCRA compliance right for the US, your Health Canada cosmetic notification in place for Canada, and your bilingual cosmetic labelling sorted, if you are selling in both markets. 

Then build your voluntary certification strategy around the specific audience you are serving and the retail channels you want to access.

If you are a skincare or cosmetic brand looking for marketing support, get in touch with Pro Marketer. We work with skincare brands at every stage of growth.

FAQs

1. What certifications are legally required to sell skincare in the US?

No premarket approval is required for cosmetic products in the US, but MoCRA cosmetic registration compliance is mandatory. This includes facility registration, product listing, adverse event reporting, and the maintenance of safety substantiation. 

Cosmetic GMP certification is not yet legally required, but FDA GMP regulations for cosmetics are expected. Products making drug-level claims require a completely different regulatory process. 

Failure to comply with MoCRA requirements can result in warning letters, product seizures, and facility suspension.

2. What certifications are required to sell skincare in Canada?

In Canada, brands must submit a cosmetic notification through the Health Canada Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF) within 10 days of first sale. 

Products must comply with the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, which restricts or prohibits certain ingredients. 

Bilingual cosmetic labelling in Canada applies to all products, meaning labels must include both English and French. 

A responsible person designation is also required on the label. These are all legal requirements, not optional.

3. What is the difference between COSMOS and ECOCERT?

ECOCERT is a certifying body that can issue COSMOS organic certification. COSMOS is the standard, developed by a coalition of European certification bodies. 

When a brand is "COSMOS certified by ECOCERT," it means ECOCERT has verified that the product meets the COSMOS Organic or COSMOS Natural standard. 

ECOCERT skincare certification is one of the most recognized routes to COSMOS compliance and is valued by retailers across Europe and North America.

4. Is USDA organic certification worth it for skincare?

USDA organic skincare certification can command a price premium of up to 25% over conventional alternatives. 

It carries strong consumer recognition because people are already familiar with the USDA Organic seal from food. However, the standards are strict, requiring at least 95% of ingredients to be organically produced. 

If your formulation meets that threshold or can be reformulated to do so, and if your target consumer values organic certification, then your product is good to go. 

If your formula cannot realistically reach 95% organic content, COSMOS Natural or ECOCERT skincare certification may be a more achievable alternative.

5. How long does it take to get certified?

It depends on the certification. Submitting the Health Canada cosmetic notification form (CNF) is relatively fast. 

USDA organic skincare certification, COSMOS certification, and ISO 22716 cosmetic GMP certification all require documentation, audits, and sometimes reformulation, which can take three to twelve months. 

Leaping Bunny involves auditing the supply chain and can also take several months to complete.