Beauty Brand fulfillment glossary
26 terms every beauty brand brand should know.
- ASN (Advance Shipping Notice)
- A notice sent to the warehouse before inventory arrives, listing SKUs, quantities and lots per carton. ASNs speed up receiving and reduce counting errors.
- Batch code
- A manufacturer's code printed on cosmetic packaging that identifies when and where a product was made. It is often used interchangeably with lot number.
- Cycle count
- Counting a portion of inventory on a regular schedule instead of shutting down for a full physical count. It keeps inventory records accurate throughout the year.
- Dimensional weight
- A carrier pricing method that charges based on package size as well as actual weight. Right-sized boxes help small beauty orders avoid paying to ship empty space.
- Expiration date
- The date after which a product should not be used or sold. Cosmetics in the U.S. generally aren't required to carry one, but many brands track shelf life for quality and channel requirements.
- FEFO
- First Expired, First Out: a picking rule that ships the units with the earliest expiration date first. It reduces the risk of products expiring on the shelf.
- FIFO
- First In, First Out: a picking rule that ships the oldest received inventory first. It is common for products without expiration dates.
- Flammable liquid (Class 3)
- The hazard class covering liquids with a low flash point, including many nail polishes, removers and alcohol-based fragrances. These products face shipping restrictions, especially by air.
- GWP (Gift With Purchase)
- A free product included with qualifying orders, a common beauty promotion. It works best when added as a line item so it is picked and scanned like any product.
- INCI
- International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients: standardized ingredient names used on cosmetic labels. U.S. ingredient labeling follows FDA rules that largely align with INCI names.
- Kitting
- Assembling multiple items into a single ready-to-ship unit, such as a gift set or PR box. Pre-kitted sets ship faster because they are picked as one item.
- Limited quantity
- A shipping provision that lets small containers of some hazardous materials, like nail polish or perfume, ship with reduced requirements. Packages still need proper packaging and the limited quantity marking.
- Lot number
- A code identifying a specific production batch of a product. Recording lot numbers at receiving and on each order lets a brand trace which customers received a given batch.
- MoCRA
- The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, which expanded FDA authority over cosmetics. It introduced requirements including facility registration, product listing, adverse event reporting and safety substantiation.
- PAO (Period After Opening)
- A symbol showing an open jar with a number of months, indicating how long a cosmetic remains good after opening. It is required in the EU for many products, but not required in the U.S.
- PR box
- A curated package sent to creators, editors or influencers to introduce a product, often before launch. PR boxes typically include products, inserts and custom packaging.
- Product listing
- A MoCRA requirement for the responsible person to list each marketed cosmetic product with the FDA, including its ingredients. Certain small businesses are exempt.
- Proposition 65
- A California law requiring warnings on products that can expose consumers to chemicals listed as causing cancer or reproductive harm. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempt.
- Quarantine hold
- A status that blocks inventory from being picked while its condition, lot or quality is checked. It is used for unlabeled stock, suspected quality issues or recalls.
- Responsible person
- Under MoCRA, the manufacturer, packer or distributor whose name appears on a cosmetic's label. This party is responsible for obligations such as product listing and adverse event reporting.
- SDS (Safety Data Sheet)
- A document from the manufacturer describing a product's hazards, handling and transport information. Carriers and 3PLs use it to determine whether a product is regulated in shipping.
- Seeding
- Sending free products to creators or influencers in the hope of organic content and reviews. Seeding campaigns often ship in waves to coordinate with a launch.
- Serious adverse event
- Under MoCRA, a serious health outcome associated with a cosmetic, such as hospitalization or significant disfigurement. The responsible person must report it to the FDA within 15 business days of receiving the information.
- Shade SKU
- A unique stock-keeping unit for each shade or color of a product. Separate shade SKUs, each with its own barcode, are essential for accurate picking of cosmetics.
- Tamper-evident seal
- Packaging, such as shrink bands or seal stickers, that shows whether a product has been opened. It helps verify sealed condition on returns.
- Tester
- A product unit intended for in-store or sample use, not for sale. Testers usually need their own SKU so they don't get mixed into sellable inventory.