Updated May 2026: This post has been fully revised with current Australian regulations (AICIS and TGA) as of May 2026.
This is the second post in the series. If you haven’t read the first one yet, you might find it helpful to start there, where we talk about why ingredient awareness matters for our families.
As a mum, I know how important it is to understand what we’re putting on our skin, especially when sensitive skin or little ones are involved. But I also know firsthand how confusing Australian labelling rules can feel at first.
When I first moved to Australia, the childhood eczema I thought was gone forever suddenly returned. I was so confused. Back in the UK, I had carefully read labels and chosen products that seemed least likely to irritate my skin. That approach worked well for me. But the same strategy here didn’t seem to be helping at all. After some detective work, I finally realised I had been using a sunscreen that contained an ingredient I already knew irritated my skin. I just hadn’t realised it because that ingredient wasn’t listed on the label.
That experience was a real eye-opener for me. It taught me how differently cosmetic and therapeutic products are regulated in Australia, and why two products that look almost identical can tell very different stories on their labels.
The truth is, cosmetic products and therapeutic products follow different rules. Depending on how a product is classified, the same ingredients can appear under different names or in some cases, some ingredients might not appear on the label at all. This is one of the main reasons comparing products can feel so tricky.
Why the Difference Exists
Several factors determine whether a product is considered a cosmetic or a therapeutic good. These include its purpose, the ingredients it contains, how it’s used, and how it’s marketed.
For example:
- Regular shampoos, deodorants, and SPF15 lip balms are usually considered cosmetics.
- Medicated shampoos, anti-perspirants, and SPF30+ lip balms are usually considered therapeutic goods.
This difference directly affects what you see (or don’t see) on the label.
Cosmetic Goods
In Australia, cosmetics are products used externally on the body (or in the mouth) to clean, protect, perfume, or change appearance. These are regulated by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) for ingredient safety and the ACCC for labelling standards. With cosmetic products, brands must list all ingredients in descending order of quantity.
Where it starts to become confusing is that they can use either the common English name or the official INCI name (or sometimes both).
Therapeutic Goods
Therapeutic goods are products intended to prevent, diagnose, or treat conditions, or affect the structure or function of the body.
These include
- prescribed medicines
- over the counter medicines
- vitamin supplements
- Primary sunscreens and products claiming to provide SPF over 15
- cosmetic products that make therapeutic claims
They are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and usually carry an AUST L, AUST L(A), or AUST R number on the packaging.
For these products, only active ingredients and certain known irritants need to be listed. Many other supporting ingredients (called excipients) do not have to appear on the label. This is why two products that look very similar on the shelf can actually tell quite different stories.
How to Tell Them Apart
The simplest way is to look for “AUST L” or “AUST R” printed on the packaging. That’s your clearest sign the product is regulated as therapeutic.
I remember how eye-opening this discovery was for me.
Understanding this distinction made label reading much less overwhelming and helped me make more informed choices for my family.
In the next post, we’ll look at why the same ingredient can appear under several different names, and I’ll share clear examples to make it easier to compare products side by side.
