Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT US
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benecos is not a large corporation. Cosmondial GmbH & Co. KG (benecos) is a family business and was founded in Germany in 2008 by Silke and Stephan Becker. The goal was to create a natural cosmetics brand that combines the best of glam ‘conventional’ cosmetics with certified, resource-saving natural cosmetics. This is how benecos was first created (a word created from bene = Latin good and cos = cosmetics, together: good cosmetics). In summary: good cosmetics for EVERYONE!
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• In order for benecos to be so affordable, we use packaging that is inexpensive and often “off the shelf,” but is still modern and does not contain unnecessary bells and whistles.
• Folding boxes, which are usually thrown away immediately after purchase anyway, pollute the environment and are also a huge cost factor. We only provide outer packaging for products in glass packaging that need to be protected from breakage.
• Every advertising expenditure is intensively examined for its effect and dosed as sparingly as possible.
This allows for a budget for high-quality, natural cosmetic products where the contents are always more expensive than the packaging.
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Animal testing is not compatible with our attitude and corporate philosophy. We at cosmondial are firmly against animal testing, no matter where in the world. Our cosmetic products are manufactured exclusively in the EU in accordance with the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. We do not carry out raw material tests. In addition, PETA has us on the positive list for cruelty-free cosmetics. Click here for the list: https://kosmetik.peta.de/deutschland/
We greatly welcome the fact that animal testing on cosmetics has finally been banned in the EU since 2013. In addition, it is finally forbidden to market cosmetic products in the EU that have been tested on animals outside the EU.
Genuine natural cosmetics labels have always been against animal testing out of principle and responsibility towards our fellow creatures. By the way, certification according to BDIH or COSMOS requires that “neither during the production nor during the development or testing of the end products should animal testing be carried out or commissioned.” https://www.kontrolle-naturkosmetik.de/direktie.htm
The certification also guarantees that our products are not tested on animals.
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All of our benecos products - except for the nail polishes - are certified with the BDIH seal and our men's and winter series are certified with the COSMOS Organic seal for controlled natural/organic cosmetics.
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The criteria of the BDIH standard for controlled natural cosmetics and the COSMOS standard define the requirements for natural ingredients in cosmetic products. In addition, nature and animal protection are taken into account, as are important aspects of sustainability.
The central requirements of the standards include:
• No paraffins and other petrochemical components
• No silicones
• No synthetic dyes
• No synthetic fragrances
• No synthetic UV filters
• Limitation to nature-identical preservatives/no parabens
• No ethoxylated components such as PEG
• No genetically modified organisms
• No nanomaterials
• No radiation
• Consideration of species protection
• Consideration of bans on animal testing
• Consideration of the principles of green chemistry
• Requirements for misleading labeling and advertising, especially for organic advertising
BDIH standard:
https://www.steuerierte-naturkosmetik.de/direktie.htm
COSMOS standard:
COSMOS ORGANIC | COSMOS NATURAL | Certification of cosmetic products, ingredients (cosmos-standard.org)
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Comedogenic ingredients are suspected of clogging pores.
This can promote blackheads and increase acne. Non-comedogenic products are therefore particularly suitable for skin prone to pimples. The problem here is that there is no legal regulation as to when a product is considered (non-) comedogenic. There is no ingredient list (on the internet) that you should trust 100% - many lists are outdated and based on animal testing. There are therefore no suitable scientific sources and unfortunately we cannot make any statements about the potentially comedogenic ingredients.
Products with ingredients that are suspected of having a comedogenic effect do not necessarily have to cause impurities/blackheads. A comedogenic effect usually depends on the concentration of the individual substances used in the product. External factors also play a major role, such as stress, diet and hormonal fluctuations, which can have a major influence on the appearance of our skin.
Comedogenicity is therefore a very individual topic that should not be limited to specific raw materials.
COMPLEXION
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When choosing a foundation, skin type should be taken into account. If it doesn't bond well with the skin, it may look uneven. The Natural Creamy Make-Up is suitable for dry to normal skin and the benecos Light Fluid Foundation is suitable for normal to oily skin. The benecos Natural BB Cream, on the other hand, is for all skin types. The foundations can be easily applied with our latex-free, vegan make-up sponge.
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A foundation should always be tested on the area where it will later be applied: on the face. The cheek area at the edge of the face is best suited for this. Artificial light can distort the result. Basically, make-up should be a shade lighter than your natural skin tone, because make-up that is too dark quickly looks unnatural.
Which foundation is suitable for my skin type?
Texture - skin type
benecos Natural Light Fluid Foundation Light fluid for oily to normal skin
benecos Natural BB Cream Tinted Care Balm All skin types
benecos Natural Creamy Make-Up Velvety cream make-up for dry to normal skin
How do foundations differ in terms of coverage?
Texture - Opacity
benecos Natural Light Fluid Foundation Light Fluid Light
benecos Natural BB Cream Tinted Care Balm Medium
benecos Natural Creamy Make-Up Velvety cream make-up medium – high
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All benecos foundations can be mixed wonderfully. So if there isn't the right tone for you, you can also combine them. You can also easily adjust the tone with a powder afterwards.
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To increase the coverage, the foundations can be applied in several layers. The benecos Natural Compact Powder can then be used to fix it, which also extends the hold.
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The concealer is ideally the same color as the foundation or a shade lighter. It is important that you choose the colour carefully, otherwise the entire make-up could look unnatural.
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The concealer should be used before make-up. To cover dark circles under your eyes, you should apply it in the shape of a triangle and then blend it well. It is important not to use too much of the product, as the eye area is under a lot of strain from blinking and the concealer could therefore separate during the day.
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The concealer should be applied before make-up. You can soften dark circles under the eyes with the beige shade, pink helps to reduce dark spots, green can be used to combat redness and purple harmonises the complexion and makes it look fresher overall.
For a natural result, make sure to use the CC concealer sparingly. After applying the foundation, a powder should be used to set it.
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For a fresh, natural glow, you should not apply the powder to the entire face, but only to the T-zone. A complexion that is too matte can quickly appear dull. For more freshness, we recommend some of the benecos Powder Blush or the benecos Natural Trio Blush.
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Pimples often cause redness. It is therefore advisable to avoid strong red tones when it comes to blush, as these in turn emphasise blemishes.
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You should apply the bronzer to the areas that are first kissed by the sun:
Forehead, bridge of nose, cheeks, chin.
Do this sparingly and apply a second coat again. If a bronzer is applied all over the face, it can quickly appear unnatural.
EYES
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If you want to intensify the color of your eyeshadow and make it last even longer, you can easily use the benecos Natural Eyeshadow Base. It increases the color brilliance of the eyeshadows and prevents pigments from settling in the eyelid crease.
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The answer is very simple: start with your eye make-up and only then apply the foundation. This allows you to thoroughly clean the area under your eyes again and only then use the foundation products. We also recommend that you always use the benecos Eyeshadow Base because this way the pigments adhere better and the colours are intensified.
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From this overview you can choose a mascara according to your wishes:
Volume Length Swing Definition
benecos Natural Mascara Glamor Look
ultimate black ● ●● ● ●●●●
benecos Natural Mascara Adorable Lashes
deep ocean ●● ●● ●●●●● ●●
benecos Natural Mascara Maximum Volume
deep black
smooth brown ●●●●● ●● ●● ●●
benecos Natural Mascara Super Long Lashes
carbon black ● ●●●●● ●● ●●●
benecos Natural Multi Effect Mascara
just black ●●● ●●● ●● ●●●
benecos Natural Mascara Vegan Volume
magic black ●●●●● ●● ●●● ●
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The durability of a mascara depends heavily on the condition of the skin around the eye and the care that may have been used beforehand. If you tend to sweat around the eyes, this can affect the result. Likewise, eye care that is too rich or a very nourishing concealer can cause the mascara to separate easily.
If you use eye care, always let it absorb well before you start applying eye make-up. Another tip is to powder the eye area well. This “degreases” them and at the same time gives the eyelashes a little more volume when ink.
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If too much air gets into the mascara container, it can dry out. Therefore, you should always seal the mascara well and avoid pumping movements. This means that the brush is repeatedly quickly inserted into the container and pulled out again. You should also clean the mascara handle regularly with a clean facial tissue and remove any dried residue.
Please always remember to change your mascara regularly. On our products you will find a small, opened jar that indicates how long you can use the mascara after it is first opened. For example, 6 M stands for 6 months.
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If you want to fix the eyeliner, simply choose an eyeshadow in the same color. With the benecos Angled Brush you can easily apply the eyeshadow and, if necessary, smudge the eyeliner a little so that it appears smokier.
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The perfect eyeliner requires a little patience and, above all, practice in the beginning. However, there are a few tricks that make application easier. It's best to sit at a table so you can rest your elbow. Do not draw the eyeliner in one go, but first paint small dots on the eyelashes that you will connect later.
If you don't like this method, you can also try drawing the eyeliner with a benecos Natural Kajal. The advantage here is that it is easier to correct if something goes wrong. It's easiest if you then fix the eyeliner with a benecos eyeshadow in the right color. The best way to apply this is with the benecos Angled Brush. With this method you can subsequently blend the eyeliner and correct small errors.
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Simply choose an eyebrow designer in the right color and fill in the eyebrows with small, stroke-like movements. For a particularly natural result, you can use the small brush, which ensures that the color is optimally distributed.
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All our products are subject to comprehensive legislation, nationally and internationally, primarily through the European Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. The safety of substances used in the production of cosmetic products is continuously monitored and investigated by the EU. In addition, every cosmetic manufacturer must ensure the safety of their products. In addition, all of our mascaras carry the BDIH seal for controlled, certified natural cosmetics or the COSMOS Organic seal for controlled, certified organic cosmetics. Unfortunately, even with certified organic cosmetics, it can happen that one (or more) of the ingredients is not well tolerated. It is not always possible to rule out an intolerance reaction due to individual sensitivities. We recommend that you stop using the product and check with your doctor to find out what could be causing this reaction in you.
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Only from the outside to the center of the eye - this opens the view and makes eyes appear larger.
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To visually enlarge the eye, you can use white or cream eyeliner on the waterline and a light eyeshadow on the lower lash line. It is best to only apply mascara from the outside to the center of the eye.
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It's best to apply a dark, matte tone from the outer corner of the eye to the center of the eye, i.e. from the crease of the eyelid to slightly above. We also recommend using a light tone on the movable eyelid to visually enlarge the eye.
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Use a light eyeshadow to create accents in the inner corner of your eye, which will visually open your eyes. The same applied to the outer corner of your eye will make your eyes appear brighter and larger.
NAILS
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We recommend that you degrease your nails before using nail polish. This is best done with oil-free nail polish remover or a soapy hand bath. It is best to apply the coloured varnish in 2 layers. Then use the benecos Top Coat Crystal and let both dry thoroughly. Please do not use a hairdryer for this. To harden, you can briefly hold the nails under cold water.
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Our benecos nail polishes do not carry the BDIH seal and are therefore the only exception in our range. Our nail polishes are not natural cosmetic products.
We have decided to make an exception to the certification here in order to offer as many consumers as possible an uncomplicated application and yet a less aggressive alternative to many other nail polishes.
The revised texture of the benecos Happy Nails nail polishes now consists of up to 90% ingredients of natural origin, which are obtained from renewable raw materials. The focus of the revised formulation was on an even better, less aggressive texture as well as on the sustainability aspect of the raw materials used. In order to maintain the usual good quality and ease of use of the nail polish, it is unfortunately not possible to do without synthetic ingredients in the formulation.
The new nail polishes are “8-FREE,” which means they are free of formaldehyde, toluene, rosin, camphor, phthalates, parabens, silicones and organohalogen compounds. The texture is permeable to air and water to protect the nails. As a little extra bonus, we have also enriched the nail polishes with valuable avocado oil and biotin for beautiful nails.
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In our plant-based benecos nail polishes, we do not use many questionable ingredients such as triphenyl phosphate, toluene, rosin, camphor, phthalates, parabens, silicones and organohalogen compounds in order to offer our customers a less aggressive alternative to many conventional nail polishes.
Unfortunately, we cannot answer whether our nail polishes can also be worn during your pregnancy. There are no reliable scientific studies on this. Here you should consult your doctor and, if in doubt, for the sake of the baby, avoid painting your nails completely during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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Our benecos nail polishes are all permeable to air and water. This means that when applied to the nail, the texture leaves a more porous film, allowing air to reach the nail (the nail breathes) and allowing water to reach the nail when washing your hands. We have had this confirmed in writing by our laboratory. The film formers contained (nitrocellulose and resins) are responsible for this effect. The permeability is independent of how many layers of paint are applied.
LIPS
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For matte lip products you need perfectly cared for lips, otherwise every unevenness will be visible. It is therefore advisable to gently exfoliate. Also remember to always drink enough fluids. This prevents the lips from drying out.
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The colour of the teeth is slightly distorted by the colour of the lips. Warm lipstick colors can make teeth look yellow. You should make sure that the lipstick has a cool undertone, for example the Benecos shades ‘hot pink’, ‘marry me’, ‘just red’, ‘pink rose’, ‘pink honey’, ‘first love’, ‘watermelon’, ‘catwalk’ or ‘very berry’.
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For example, if you have thin lips, you can easily draw over the edge of the lip when using the lip liner to visually enlarge the lips. Another tip is to add a touch of lip gloss to your painted lips. This gives them visually more volume.
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Which product you choose is purely a matter of personal preference. However, products that leave a shine (such as lip gloss) are best for thin lips because they visually enlarge them. Matte and dark colours, on the other hand, make the lips appear smaller.
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The better condition your lips are in, the better the lipstick will last. It is also important that you drink enough so that your lips are not too dry.
You should use a lip liner, especially with dark colours, so that the edges are precisely defined. You can also fill the entire lip with lip liner to extend the longevity of the lipstick.
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Whitening is a phenomenon that can occasionally occur with lipsticks from natural cosmetics. This is due to the properties of natural raw materials. The lipstick contains a short-chain ester that comes to the surface when there are jumps in temperature, resulting in this white effect, also known as ‘fat bloom’ or ‘wax bloom’. The fats migrate from the crystalline structures in the product to the surface, where they recrystallize.
This is not a case of spoilage or mould, but a natural process that does not affect the quality of the product and can happen over time if the product is exposed to the above-mentioned temperature fluctuations, such as those that can occur during transport.
Even if it is visually noticeable, the lipstick can still be used normally and there is no need to pay attention to anything in this regard.
ACCESSORIES
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Not only make-up residue can accumulate in the brushes, but also dirt particles and bacteria. That's why you should clean your brushes once a week. If they come into contact with liquid make-up products, they should even be cleaned and air dried daily.
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The brushes should be washed once a week with a shampoo or a mild brush cleaner. If they come into contact with liquid make-up products, they should even be cleaned and air dried daily. It is important that you dry the brushes lying down instead of standing up. This prevents water from running into the handle and allows you to enjoy your brushes for a long time.
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Before first use, the sponge should be thoroughly moistened and wrung out. This closes the pores and prevents you from absorbing too much make-up. Then continue to moisten the sponge slightly before each use. The shape means you can easily apply the foundation all over your face and even reach the areas under your eyes. Please remember to wash the sponge thoroughly after each use and let it air dry.
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The brush hairs of our benecos brushes are made of high-quality, synthetic Toray hair, the brush style is made of bamboo or birch wood from certified sources and the ferrule is made of recyclable aluminum. All brushes are vegan and therefore also suitable for people with animal hair allergies.
INGREDIENTS
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All of our Benecos make-up products are gluten-free.
SEE OUR GLUTEN-FREE LIST HERE
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We currently do not use raw palm oil or palm kernel oil as such in our products. Instead, we use various waxes (e.g. beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax) and oils (e.g. jojoba oil, meadowfoam oil, cottonseed oil, mango seed oil, macadamia nut oil and sunflower oil).
However, due to a lack of alternatives, it is currently not possible to completely avoid the use of raw materials that are obtained from palm oil, palm kernel oil and fatty acids, fatty alcohols and other derivatives made from them.
We source the raw materials from manufacturers who support the sustainable cultivation of oil palms. This means that the raw materials come from RSPO members (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) or are certified by Ecocert or Green Palm, for example.
Of course, we pay attention to the origin of the raw materials we use and would like to point out that the quantities we use are in no way comparable to the palm oil content in food or biodiesel.
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Approximately 80% of the products in our entire range are vegan.
Wherever possible, we only use vegan compositions without animal ingredients for our products. However, for quality reasons, individual products contain, for example, beeswax, honey, propolis or carmine.
However, we have now changed the textures of more and more products so that they offer great performance even without beeswax or lanolin.
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No, none of our products contain nanomaterials.
We would like to inform you that none of our products contain nanomaterials within the meaning of the EU Cosmetics Regulation. If this were the case, we would have to indicate this using the INCI designation “TITANIUM DIOXIDE (nano)” or the corresponding CI number (77891) followed by the information “(nano)”.
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No, of course not.
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Our nail polish formulation contains no microplastics or other components that can be described as microplastics. The ingredients in our formulation have been carefully selected. The polymers used are perfectly soluble in our nail polish formulation. If this had not been the case, our nail polish would have very different optical and rheological properties.
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Nickel belongs to the group of heavy metals. In decorative cosmetics, the raw materials, especially the mineral pigments, can always contain technically unavoidable levels (trace in the mg/kg range) of heavy metals, despite the strictest controls and procedures. Traces of heavy metals in no way affect the quality and safety of the products.
However, traces of nickel are relevant for people who suffer from a nickel allergy.
Please check the ingredients before using our products and test our products on a small area of skin before use to check whether the product is tolerated and to minimize or eliminate any risk.
If in doubt, we recommend that you consult a doctor about whether our products can be used or not.
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Talc (TALC) is a natural mineral (hydrous magnesium silicate). It presses well, so talc is a popular ingredient in compact powders, solid eye shadows and blushes.
Talc is listed in Annex III of the European Cosmetics Regulation and may also be contained in powdered baby powder - along with the warning “Keep away from the child's nose and mouth”. The background to this restriction is that inhaling the powder can be hazardous to health due to asbestos-like fiber components, as there is a risk, as with all fine dusts, that inflammatory reactions can be triggered.
However, when used correctly and as needed, baby powder containing talc is absolutely harmless, as the investigation office (CVUA) in Karlsruhe states (see https://www.ua-bw.de/pub/teil.asp?subid=2&Thema_ID=4&ID=1147&Pdf =No&lang=DE ).
The EU Cosmetics Regulation, which is strictly based on the preventive principle, does not provide for any other restrictions on the use of TALC in products.
The same safety applies to the use of pressed and liquid cosmetic formulations containing talc, in which talc is used in bound form and for which there is no risk of talc being absorbed through the lungs. In our bound benecos textures, such as our eye shadows, talc is still a completely harmless ingredient that is also used by many other natural cosmetics manufacturers. The quality of the talc used in benecos products is also free of asbestos.
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None of our products contain aluminum as such. The products naturally contain mineral-bound (=inert) aluminum and aluminum as a component of colorants/additives.
The health safety of aluminum is repeatedly questioned. Aluminum compounds only become problematic if the aluminum can be separated from the structure. In general, with aluminum silicates, the bonding relationships in the structure are so strong that it is virtually impossible to separate the aluminum from the bonded structure under physiological conditions.
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The use of synthetic fragrances is not permitted in certified natural cosmetic products. Only natural fragrances that comply with ISO STANDARD 9235 are permitted. Fragrances obtained using biotechnological methods can also be used. Some benecos products are scented (INCI: perfume), but we also have a large number of products in our range to which we have not added any fragrance.
The following decorative benecos products are fragrance-free:
• benecos Natural Kajal (all colours)
• benecos Natural Eyebrow Designer (all colours)
• benecos Natural Mascara Vegan Volume magic black
• benecos Natural Mascara Glamor Look ultimate black
• benecos Natural Mascara Adorable Lashes deep ocean
• benecos Natural Mono Eyeshadow (all colours)
• benecos Natural Quattro Eyeshadow (all colours)
• benecos Natural Fresh Bronzing Duo (all colours)
• benecos Natural Translucent Powder mission invisible
• benecos Natural Powder Blush (all colours)
• benecos Natural Trio Blush
• benecos Natural Compact Powder (all colours)
• benecos Natural Lipliner (all colours)
• benecos Happy Nails Nail Polish (all colours) Polish (all colours)
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26 fragrances, which are more frequently associated with allergic reactions than others, must be marked with their INCI designations if specified concentration limits are exceeded (in cosmetic products that remain on the skin 0.001%; in products that are washed off 0.01%) marked in the list of ingredients. Allergens that require declaration (such as citral, geraniol, limonene, etc.) are therefore shown in our list of ingredients (INCI) so that allergy sufferers have the opportunity to check for any intolerances using the allergy pass. Not only in the perfume compositions (INCI: perfume), but also in natural oils and extracts, such as orange oil or rosemary extract, there are levels of fragrance allergens that require labeling.
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For products that have a minimum shelf life of more than 30 months, it is not legally required to state the minimum durability date.
For such products, it is specified how long the cosmetic product is safe after opening and can be used without harm to the consumer (this is the so-called “Period after Opening – PAO”).
The Period After Opening is represented by the crucible symbol. The symbol must be supplemented by a reference to the period in months.
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Unfortunately, even with certified natural and organic cosmetics, it can happen that one (or more) of the ingredients is not well tolerated. It is not always possible to rule out an intolerance reaction due to individual sensitivities. The user also cannot assume that they are safe from allergic reactions if the products are labeled ‘hypoallergenic’. The term ‘hypoallergenic’ just means ‘less allergenic’. That's why we don't use this to praise our products.
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The mineral pigments can result in a very low sun protection factor. However, we have not yet had our benecos products tested for light protection, so unfortunately we cannot provide any information on this. We recommend applying a separate sunscreen according to the recommendations of the sunscreen manufacturer.
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No preservatives are used in our decorative products in accordance with the EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex V. The antimicrobial properties of the formulations are based on the interaction of various formulation ingredients, such as in our non-vegan mascaras ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT and PERFUME