Selling Beauty Products on TikTok Shop: What You Need to Know
As a seller, you must ensure all products listed on TikTok Shop comply with applicable laws, regulations, and TikTok Shop Platform Policies and Community Guidelines. Please review these requirements carefully, as you are accountable for your products' compliance.Note: The content below is for guidance only. TikTok Shop reserves the right to remove any listing it considers to be inappropriate for sale for any reason.
This guide will help you understand what types of beauty products are not allowed to be sold on TikTok Shop, how to tell if your product qualifies as a cosmetic or medical, how to build an accurate listing and avoid misleading claims.
❌ What Types of Beauty Products Are Not Allowed?
The following items are prohibited under UK Cosmetics Regulation (UKCR), EU Regulation 1223/2009, and platform policy.⚠️ Examples of Prohibited Beauty Products (non-exhaustive):
- Products containing restricted ingredients above legal limits
- Products containing prohibited cosmetic product ingredients
- Opened or used beauty products
- Products not sealed in the original manufacturer's packaging
- Expired products (past use-by or expiration date)
- Counterfeit cosmetics
- Cosmetics that infringe registered trademarks
- Sharp beauty tools
e.g. scissors, dermaplaners, exposed bladed tools
- Products banned by governmental safety alerts or recalls
- Beauty products labeled as “professional use only”
- Products that are ingested, inhaled, or not topically applied
e.g. edible tanning drops, tanning nasal sprays
- Products that make medical, medicinal, therapeutic, or physiological claims
- Products with claims that mislead consumers or do not comply with UKCR or EU Regulation 655/2013 regarding truthful, evidence-based marketing
- Injectable beauty products
- Skin whitening products
- Medical Hair Growth Products
📍Click here for TikTok Shop's Prohibited Products Policy
❓ Cosmetic, Medicine, or Medical Device: How to Tell the Difference
Depending on their ingredients, claims, or presentation, some beauty products may be classified as medicines or medical devices, which are not allowed for sale on TikTok Shop.🧴 What is a Cosmetic Product?
A Cosmetic Product is applied externally (to skin, hair, nails, lips, teeth, or mouth) with the main purpose to:- Cleanse
- Perfume
- Improve appearance
- Protect or maintain condition
- Correct body odor
🔬 Cosmetic Ingredients
The ingredients in a product can determine whether a product classified as a cosmetic or a medicine.You are responsible for ensuring that all ingredients in your products are compliant with UK cosmetic ingredient regulations. If your product contains ingredients/ingredients that do not comply with UK cosmetic regulations, it cannot be sold as cosmetic on TikTok Shop. If you are unsure, consult a regulatory expert before listing your product.
Examples of ingredients not permitted in cosmetics:
| Product | Claim | Prohibited Ingredient |
| Body Cream | Skin Lightening | Hydroquinone |
| Shampoo | Reduces Hair Loss | Minoxidil |
| Eye Lash Serum | Increase Lash Growth | Prostaglandins e.g. isopropyl cloprostenate |
| Face Cream | Treats Eczema | Steroids e.g. Hydrocortisone |
💬 What Claims Can You Make?
As a seller, it's your responsibility to ensure all claims comply with relevant regulations. The claims you make about your product can determine whether it is classified as a cosmetic, a medicine, or a medical device. Physiological and therapeutic claims are not allowed to be made on cosmetic products.✅ Allowed Cosmetic Claims:
These describe appearance-based or subjective effects.Examples:
- “Skin appears brighter”
- “Hair looks fuller”
- “Improves the appearance of blemishes”
- They don't promise medical results
- You have evidence to back up the claims
❌ Claims You Must Avoid
Do not claim or imply your product:- Treats, cures, heals, eliminates, reverses, or removes skin conditions (e.g. eczema, psoriasis)
- Treats, cures, heals, eliminates, alleviates, or prevents any disease
- Alters the body's structure or function (e.g. stops hair loss, accelerates healing)
Images and product details should set a realistic expectation of what the buyer will receive.
- Before-and-after images: show genuine, average expected results; do not digitally exaggerate effects or suggest permanent or biological changes. State the timeframe, include “Results may vary by individual”, and reference supporting studies.
- Shade and colour: use real, variant-specific swatches and, where useful, show the product on more than one skin tone. Do not use filters, AI-generated swatches or one image for every shade. Keep the shade name, selector and image set aligned, and explain relevant lighting, for example “photos taken in natural daylight”.
- Size and quantity: show the exact ml/g, pack count and bundle contents. Keep the title, first image, variant selector and package details consistent; never show multiple units if only one ships.
🏷️ Branded Products and Authorisation
Individual sellers listing eligible branded products in categories such as perfume, skincare, and haircare and styling may need valid Brand Authorisation before the listing can go live.
If a listing is deactivated because of a Brand Restriction, complete your Brand Authorisation. Once approved, resubmit the product listing.
✅ Use one clear brand identity. The brand field, title, packaging, variants, images, keywords and promotional scripts should all match the physical product. Keep an authorisation letter, distributor invoice or other provenance evidence showing the seller, brand, product scope, territory and validity period. Do not claim “official”, “authorised” or “100% genuine” without evidence.
📋 Before You Publish Your Listing
The safest listing tells the same story to the buyer, moderator and algorithm. Check that the product identity, claims and evidence agree across every surface.
- The full INCI list, a readable label photo, net weight or volume, pack count, usage instructions and relevant warnings are included.
- Images match the selected shade, size, quantity and variant without filters or misleading edits.
- Every quantified claim explains how the result was measured; duration and efficacy claims include conditions and limitations.
- CPSR/PIF, CPNP or SCPN evidence, Responsible Person details and manufacturer information are available where required.
- SDS is available for aerosols, pressurised sprays, perfumes or flammable products; CE/UKCA evidence is available for personal-care electrical appliances.
- Brand authorisation, invoices or provenance evidence are available for branded goods, with batch, expiry or remaining shelf-life evidence where relevant.
- Creator and LIVE talking points match the approved listing and do not introduce medical, comparative or guaranteed claims.