What is COSMOS Certification?

When we say all our ingredients are 'COSMOS approved', what does that actually mean? COSMOS (Cosmetic Organic and Natural Standard) is one of the biggest international natural cosmetic certification bodies in the world.

COSMOS was created by five of the largest certification organizations in Europe: BDIH (Germany), Cosmebio and Ecocert (France), ICEA (Italy), and the Soil Association (UK). Their goal was to create a unified standard for natural and organic cosmetics worldwide.

For an ingredient to be COSMOS approved, it must meet strict criteria. Natural ingredients must be minimally processed using approved methods. Synthetic ingredients are only allowed in very limited cases, and each must be individually assessed and approved.

Importantly, COSMOS-approved products must be free from: GMOs, parabens, phthalates, synthetic colors and fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and ingredients derived from petrochemicals. Animal testing is also prohibited.

At Essentials Kenya, we chose to use only COSMOS-approved ingredients because we wanted the highest standard of safety and naturalness for our products. While we haven't yet pursued full COSMOS certification for our products, using only approved ingredients means you can trust that every component of our skincare has been vetted by international experts.

This commitment to transparency is part of our philosophy: 'what you see is what you get'. No hidden ingredients, no harmful chemicals, no compromises. Just pure, plant-powered skincare.