Association reveals safety guidelines for beauty counters

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) has published a charter to help shoppers safely browse beauty counters as department and retail stores in the UK have now opened.

CTPA, the trade association representing the UK cosmetics industry, has worked with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the industry’s scientific experts, with support from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), to tailor government guidance and develop the new charter: Protecting Us All at the Beauty Counter.

The charter was created to help ensure that customers feel confident that precautions are being taken to keep them and staff safe when choosing beauty products in store.

The charter covers a range of important factors for customers to be aware of:

• the availability of testers for self-use
• enhanced hygiene measures, including regular and thorough disinfecting of surfaces
• restricted access to open products
• contactless payment methods
• the suspension of staff performing demonstrations and make-overs on customers.

To read the charter in full, please click here. 

Alongside the charter, the association is also launching new guidance for the cosmetics industry: ‘Covid-19 Guidance on In-Store Testers and Cosmetic Counters, Beauty – Safe in Store’.

Aimed at both retailers and companies, the guidance, based on government advice and with industry input, addresses the future use of testers and how companies can prepare for customers coming back to store, particularly stores with beauty counter staff who frequently serve customers face-to-face.

Dr Emma Meredith, director-general of the CTPA, comments: “As an industry, we take our responsibility for staff and customer safety seriously.

“The new BRC-backed CTPA customer charter has been created to help boost customer and returning staff confidence that every precaution, based on sound scientific evidence, is being taken and applied, to ensure their safety in store as we continue to navigate these unparalleled times.”

Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the BRC, states: “We fully support CTPA’s new customer charter. This is another example of how the cosmetics industry has continued to transform in response to the pandemic and changing consumer shopping habits.

“Retailers across all sectors have faced unique challenges since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK and consumers are more cautious about health and safety and spending than ever.

“We hope that the public feel reassured when buying their favourite beauty and cosmetic products in-store thanks to this important update.”

The charter and guidance will be reviewed regularly and will evolve as the situation demands, based on the latest science and advice from the UK and devolved governments.

For more about the CTPA, visit www.ctpa.org.uk