How are cosmetic products stored?

Cosmetic products are not labelled with ranges as tight as those on medicines, but that does not mean they can be stored anyhow. A cream can separate in the heat, a perfume can change in the light, and an aerosol in the wrong place is a safety risk. This article looks at what cosmetics need in the warehouse.

What the label says

In Türkiye, cosmetic products are overseen by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK). Article 19 of the European Union’s Cosmetic Products Regulation lists what the label must carry, and two of those items matter directly in the warehouse.

The first is the batch number or the reference that identifies the product. In a recall, it is how you trace which batch went where.

The second is the date. Products with a durability of 30 months or less carry a date of minimum durability. Products that last longer show a period after opening instead, marked with the open-jar symbol. For dated products, stock rotates so that the nearest date leaves first.

Heat, light and frost

Creams and lotions are emulsions: they can separate in high temperatures and lose their structure if they freeze. Light can change the colour and scent of some formulas, and products in transparent packaging are more exposed. Cosmetics are therefore kept in areas out of direct sunlight with controlled temperature, and watched for frost in winter. Where a label states a specific storage condition, that condition applies.

Humidity counts too: in damp air labels peel, cartons weaken and products become unsellable. Our article on humidity and packaging covers this in detail.

Flammable products

Aerosol cans are pressurised, and alcohol-based perfumes and some sprays are flammable. These products are kept in areas that meet fire-safety rules, away from heat sources and apart from other goods. Local fire regulations and the warehouse’s own fire-safety arrangements decide how much can be stored where, and how.

Good manufacturing practice guidance

ISO 22716, the international standard for good manufacturing practices in cosmetics, also covers the storage of finished products: suitable storage conditions, stock rotation and keeping quarantined goods apart. Cosmetics manufacturers often expect their logistics partners to work to the same routine.

How batch records and date order are set up in a warehouse is described in our article on FEFO and batch traceability.