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A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Beauty Products on Amazon

sell beauty products on amazon
February 12, 2024 13 mins to read

The beauty industry is booming, and Amazon is one of the top marketplaces for selling beauty products. 

According to Statista, the global beauty market is expected to be worth over $800 billion by 2023, and beauty products are some of the most popular items on Amazon. 

Besides, a recent survey stated that more than 70% of consumers think Amazon is their go-to source for buying beauty products. 

Selling beauty products on Amazon is a great business opportunity due to the rising demand from consumers and the availability of a wide range of products. However, you need to know a few essential things before embarking on this journey. 

This guide will help you with the approval process, selling fees, labeling, and packaging requirements for beauty and cosmetics products on Amazon. So, let’s get started!

Quick Guide

  1. Is selling beauty products on Amazon profitable
  2. What products are categorized as beauty products on Amazon
  3. Why does selling beauty products need approval on Amazon? 
  4. How to get approval for selling beauty products on Amazon
  5. Amazon selling fees for cosmetics
  6. Requirements for selling beauty products on Amazon
  7. Prohibited beauty products on Amazon
  8. Final thoughts

Is it profitable to sell beauty products on Amazon?

Selling beauty products on Amazon is a very profitable business for many entrepreneurs. This is because Amazon is one of the world’s largest and most popular e-commerce sites, with millions of shoppers visiting the site every day. 

The sheer size of Amazon’s customer base means that you can easily reach a large audience and make a decent profit from selling beauty products on the platform.

As a seller of beauty products, you should also stay up to date on the latest trends in the beauty industry. This includes staying informed on the newest makeup, skincare, and hair care products and the most popular ingredients and techniques.

With wide access to beauty products and the ability to quickly reach a large customer base, selling beauty products on Amazon can be extremely profitable. However, it would be only lucrative when you invest the time and effort.

What products are categorized as beauty products on Amazon

Beauty products on Amazon are divided into a variety of ways, including cosmetics, skincare, makeup, hair care, nail care, and personal care products.

amazon best seller beauty products

Bath & Bathing Accessories: This includes items such as bath brushes, sponges, bath mats, and other items used in the bath or shower. 

Foot, Hand & Nail Care: This includes foot scrubs, foot creams, hand lotions, nail polishes, nail clippers, and other items that we use for hands, feet, and nails.

Fragrance: This includes items such as perfumes, colognes, body mists, and other products used to give off a pleasant scent.

Gift Sets: This subcategory includes gift sets of beauty products, including makeup, skincare, and fragrance-based products.

Hair Care: This includes items such as shampoo, conditioner, hair styling products, and other items used to care for and style hair.

Makeup: This includes items such as eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, lip gloss, bronzer, and other items used to enhance the appearance of the face.

Skin Care: This includes items such as facial cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and other products used to care for the skin.

Tools & Accessories: This includes makeup brushes, sponges, tweezers, and other tools and accessories used in the application of beauty products.

There are other subcategories for beauty products:

  • Premium Beauty: This category generally includes higher-end, higher-priced beauty products, such as cosmetics and skincare, that have higher quality than mainstream drugstore brands. These products often come from luxury brands such as Chanel, Dior, and Lancôme.
  • Professional Beauty: This category includes products designed for use by professional stylists, makeup artists, and other beauty professionals. These products generally have higher quality and usually come in larger sizes than those found in retail stores.

Overall, Amazon offers a variety of beauty products in many different categories, from cosmetics and skincare to hair care, nail care, and more. Whether you’re looking for a new foundation or a new toothbrush, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for on Amazon.

Why does selling beauty products need approval on Amazon? 

Selling beauty products on Amazon requires approval to ensure that the items sold on the platform are safe and of high quality. You should take this into account, as the beauty products sold on the marketplace can significantly impact the health and well-being of customers.

Provide safety data and accurate product information

Beauty products are often full of chemicals and other ingredients that can potentially harm the skin, eyes, and other body parts. To protect customers from potential hazards, Amazon requires sellers to submit safety data and product information before they can list their items for sale on the platform. This helps Amazon ensure that the products sold on their platform are safe and meet all applicable safety standards.

In addition to safety considerations, selling beauty products on Amazon requires approval because the platform must ensure that sellers provide accurate product descriptions.

For example, Amazon requires sellers to provide accurate information about ingredients, expiration dates, and other important details. This ensures that customers get the full benefit of their purchase and that they are not being misled or taken advantage of.

Also, the platform wants to ensure that customers are not being scammed or buying counterfeit items. Amazon wants to ensure that sellers provide honest customer service and that their products are of good quality. 

Overall, Amazon requires approval to sell beauty products to protect customers from potential harm, provide accurate product information, and ensure that sellers offer legitimate items.

This process helps customers trust the products they buy on Amazon, which helps the platform maintain its reputation as a reliable and trusted source for purchasing beauty products.

How to get approval for selling beauty products on Amazon

The beauty and personal care categories are no longer “restricted,” meaning sellers do not need to get approval from Amazon in order to list products in this category. 

If you want to sell beauty products on Amazon, you must first be approved in the relevant category. Although Amazon does not require approval to sell in all categories, certain products may require approval. 

Getting approval for selling beauty products on Amazon

If you are reselling products through retail arbitrage or wholesale, you should check that you are allowed to list the product or brand before buying inventory. 

If you want to list a certain product or brand but are restricted, you must find an authorized distributor and purchase at least ten units. You then need to submit the invoice to Amazon for approval. If Amazon is satisfied with the documents, you will be approved. 

Note: If you want to sell private-label products under the beauty category, you can check out this guide on selling private-label products on Amazon.

Products should meet Amazon’s standards

Finally, you should make sure that your products meet Amazon’s standards. Ensure that your products are of high quality, packaged and shipped properly, and meet Amazon’s regulations and policies. Once you meet all of these requirements, you should be able to get approval for selling beauty products on Amazon.

Additional Read: How to get Amazon restricted category approval

Amazon selling fees for cosmetics

When selling cosmetics on Amazon, there are two main selling fees: referral fees and closing fees. 

Referral fees are paid for each item sold and are based on the product category and the selling price. Referral fees range from 8% to 45% of the total selling price. The referral fee for cosmetics is typically 15% – 20%.

In addition to referral fees, sellers must also pay a closing fee. This fee varies based on the product category and ranges from $0.99 to $3.99 per item. The closing fee for cosmetics is typical $1.99 per item.

When selling cosmetics on Amazon, sellers must also pay a variable closing fee. This fee is based on the size and weight of the item. For example, if you sell a lip gloss that weighs 0.05 ounces, you would need to pay a variable closing fee of $0.10.

In addition to the fees mentioned above, sellers must also pay fees for shipping, returns, and other services. Shipping fees vary based on the size and weight of the item, and the destination. Returns or exchanges are typically free but, sometimes, would incur a small fee. Other services, such as Amazon Prime, may also incur additional fees.

When selling cosmetics on Amazon, it’s important to understand the fees associated with the platform. By understanding the fees, sellers can ensure that they are pricing their products appropriately, and are aware of any additional costs associated with selling on the platform. Understanding the fees associated with selling beauty and cosmetics on Amazon can help sellers to be more successful in their business.

Additional read: Learn more about Amazon FBA fees

Requirements for selling beauty products on Amazon

Here is the list of requirements for selling beauty products on the Amazon marketplace.

Packaging Requirements

When selling beauty products on Amazon, all products must be packaged as per Amazon’s packaging guidelines. This includes using appropriate packaging materials for the product, such as boxes, envelopes, and bags, and making sure that the packaging is strong enough to protect the product during transportation.

Additionally, all products must be clearly labeled with the product name and details such as size, quantity, weight, and other relevant information. The label should also include a valid UPC and batch code, the name and address of the manufacturer.

beauty products packaging guidelines and checklist

Labeling and Product Detail Page Requirements

The labeling and product detail page requirements for selling beauty products on Amazon are the same as for any other product category. All products must have a detailed product description, including all necessary information such as ingredients, instructions for use, warnings, and any other relevant information. Additionally, all products must have a product image that accurately represents the item, as well as a price, and product availability.

Product and Ingredients

When selling beauty products on Amazon, all products must meet Amazon’s guidelines for products and ingredients. This includes ensuring that all products are free from hazardous ingredients or substances and that all ingredients are clearly labeled.

Additionally, all products must be free from animal testing, and must not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Finally, all products must not contain any banned substances or ingredients and must meet any other applicable regulations.

Prohibited beauty products on Amazon

Amazon restricts the sale of certain cosmetic products that do not meet its checklist requirements. This list includes but is not limited to all cosmetic products that are prohibited by Amazon.

  • Corrective and cosmetic contact lenses
  • Latisse
  • Obagi Nu-Derm Sunfader
  • Obagi Nu-Derm Clear
  • Obagi Nu-Derm Blender
  • Obagi Elastiderm Decolletage Skin Lightening Complex
  • Obagi C-Therapy Night cream
  • Obagi RX System Clarifying Serum
  • Products that contain minoxidil in excess of 5%
  • Bithionol
  • Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution
  • Chloroform
  • Halogenated salicylanilides
  • Methylene chloride
  • Vinyl chloride in aerosol products
  • Zirconium-containing complexes in aerosol products
  • Synthol, Synthrol, or Swethol posing oil
  • Trichloroacetic Acid

To know more about the requirements for selling beauty products on Amazon, click here.

Tips for finding profitable beauty products to sell on Amazon

Look at customer demand 

It is important to look at customer demand when deciding which beauty products to sell on Amazon. By researching customer demand for beauty products, you can determine which products are currently in demand and which products are likely to remain in demand in the future.

You can do this by looking at the top-selling beauty products on Amazon and other online stores, as well as researching the latest trends in beauty products. This will help you identify which beauty products to focus on in order to maximize your sales.

Do the research

Before deciding which beauty products to sell on Amazon, it is essential to research the market. This research should include looking at the top-selling beauty products on Amazon and the competition in the market. By researching the competition, you’ll be able to determine which products have the potential to be profitable and which products should be avoided.

Pick the right sub-category

 Amazon has a wide range of beauty products, so it is important to pick the right sub-category for your needs. For example, if you are selling makeup, you should focus on makeup products such as foundation, eyeshadow, and mascara. By focusing on the right sub-category, you’ll be able to maximize your profits and increase your sales.

Analyzing your competition

You also need to be aware of the competition in the beauty products sector. There are many established brands on Amazon, and it is important to ensure that your product stands out from the crowd. You need to create a unique selling point and establish a strong online presence. This could include advertising campaigns, social media, and influencer marketing.

Understand your target audience

When deciding which beauty products to sell on Amazon, consider your target audience. By understanding your target audience, you’ll be able to identify the products that are likely to be the most popular and the most profitable. For example, if your target audience is younger women, you may want to focus on products that are popular among more youthful women, such as lipsticks and eyeshadows. 

Find best-seller trends 

You need to identify the best-selling products in any given category, compare their sales performance with competing products, and understand the trends in the market. The best way to know the best seller trends will be with SellerApp’s Product research. You can select your category.

finding the right beauty products

In this example, we searched for Eyeshadow in the beauty and personal care category. 

How to analyse beauty products performance
beauty products trends and ranking on amazon

Here, you can find different metrics like ratings, price, category, estimated orders, weight, best seller rank, etc. You can analyze the ratings, price, and estimated sales for the top sellers in the category. You can download these reports from the Export button on the right of the image.

Final thoughts

Selling beauty products on Amazon can be a great way to make money, but it is important to be informed and prepared before you make the leap. You should also understand the Amazon marketplace, be familiar with the requirements and regulations, and create a plan for pricing and marketing your products.

Additionally, ensure you find reliable suppliers and learn about the shipping process. With proper research and preparation, selling beauty products on Amazon can be a successful venture.

Happy selling!

Additional Guide:

Strategies CPG brands need to market new product launches on Amazon.

The Power of Digital Shelf Analytics for E-Commerce Success.

How to Select Amazon Seller Name?

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3 Comments on “A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Beauty Products on Amazon”

  1. Adair
    January 2, 2023

    Thanks for the information.

  2. Barret
    January 2, 2023

    Good Resource for Amazon sellers.

  3. Calder
    January 2, 2023

    Enjoyed reading this !!

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