Do you test your products on animals?

L'Oréal Paris has not used an animal laboratory testing for the evaluation of our cosmetics products since 1989.

Various national level regulations (including Australian regulations) require suppliers to conduct the nescessary tests to guarantee the safety and tolerance of the ingredients they use.

For more than 20 years, L'Oréal has taken significant steps to research, develop and validate alternative methods to laboratory animal testing.

Beyond the progress already accomplished, industry and university researchers must embrace a new challenge in years to come: to develop new, regulatory approved, alternative ways to evaluate chemical ingredients in the domains of toxicology where such methods no longer exist.

L'Oréal absolutely supports the elimination of laboratory animal testing. L'Oréal is an active member of the European Partnership for the Development of Alternative Methods, put in place by the European Commission in November 2005. We aim to do everything within our field of experience and expertise to promote this programme through our actions.

In 2007 the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) announced the validation of an ‘in vitro’ test as a full replacement method for assessing the skin-irritancy potential of chemicals. This test employs the L’Oréal Episkin model; a human epidermis reconstructed on collagen. Importantly, the test enables the replacement of animal tests for skin-irritancy of 10,000 substances.

The Group's acquisition of the Skin Ethic tissue engineering company is further testament to L'Oréal's ongoing concern about this issue and confirms the leadership position of our company - L'Oréal - in the domain of alternative research methods.

For more information, please visit www.invitroskin.com.

How can I obtain a list of ingredients for a product?

The European Community has required the cosmetics industry to write all ingredients on each product for greater transparency. The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) aims to harmonize labelling on an International level. Ingredients are listed on product packaging by their INCI name so they appear standardised internationally. If you want any extra information, please contact the L'Oréal Paris Advisory Bureau on 1300 659 359 (for the cost of a local call) or email abureau@au.loreal.com.

Is your packaging recyclable?

L'Oréal Paris tries to simplify the packaging of our cosmetics and toiletry products, whilst placing the safety of our consumers above all other concerns.

Product packaging has an important function in protecting the product. Our products are destined to come into contact with the outer parts of the body, their packaging must give them protection and innocuousness on a micro-biological and allergic level. Because eliminating PVC was problematic, in recent years we have taken initiatives such as replacing it with other materials that conserve our formulas in satisfactory conditions.

Collectively, initiatives such as these reduce our products' impact on the environment.

It is important to remember our concern for customers' safety. Our products are ultimately used in bathrooms and sometimes on children. If a glass product were to fall or break, it could cause injury; plastic packaging does not present this type of risk.

Additionally, plastic packaging can be incinerated. With filters in place to treat emissions, the incineration of plastic packaging does not pose an atmospheric problem. It is also worth noting that transporting plastic packaging is both more economically and environmentally efficient than transporting glass; there is less impact on the environment due to a lighter transport requirement, resulting in lower energy use.

What is the shelf life of your products?

Unopened and protected from excess heat and humidity, L'Oréal Paris products are tested to have a minimum shelf life of 3 years. To find out the date of manufacture, simply tell us with the batch code (2 letters followed by 3 numbers) printed on the pack.

After opening, your product will last for several months as advised by the Period After Opening symbol on the product as long as it is protected from ambient temperature, and used in a clean environment, never mixed with other products and carefully closed after each use.

If you want any extra information, please contact please contact the L'Oréal Paris Advisory Bureau on 1300 659 359 (for the cost of a local call) or email abureau@au.loreal.com.

Can Cleansing Wipes be used every day?: They can be used daily but are best recommended for travel or convenience. Cleansing products developed for your skin type will provide optimal benefits by delivering the specific ingredients it needs.
How do exfoliators help the skin?: Regular exfoliation helps boost the skin's radiance and unclog/refine the pores by gently removing dead skin cells. As we age, the skin’s natural exfoliation process slows and the use of a product with granular beads (mechanical exfoliation) or containing an AHA or BHA (chemical exfoliation) will help to achieve this.
How often should I apply my self-tanning product?: If using a traditional self-tanner such as Sublime Bronze, around every 3 to 5 days will keep the colour even. If using a buildable tanning product such as Nutrisummer, these can be applied daily as they are primarily a moisturiser with the added benefit of a little self-tan to add more glow with each application. In both instances, we recommend a full exfoliation every 10 - 14 days to keep the colour even and natural-looking.
If I use an anti-wrinkle cream for mature skin types when I am young, will it prevent me from getting wrinkles later on?: No, we should always use products formulated to treat our skins needs at that particular time. This may even mean changing our products to suit climatic conditions such as changing to slightly richer ones in colder months if needed. Using products that are formulated for mature skin types when you are young can be too rich and over-nourish or cause congestion in your skin so should be avoided.
Moisturisers with SPF – should I use it every day?: In our Australian climate it is recommended to use sunscreen every day, even in winter as we are exposed to both UVA & UVB rays all year round, and these are known to accelerate the ageing process.
Should I moisturise my body every day?: It is a good habit to get into and your skin will absorb the moisturiser most effectively following a bath or shower when it’s still slightly damp.
Should I still use a moisturiser if I have Oily Skin?: Yes. Moisturisers for oily skin types contain ingredients to absorb excess oil and help mattify the skin plus others to hydrate for perfect balance.
What does a Toner do?: Toners are used to complete the cleansing regime by restoring the skins natural ph balance, removing last traces of cleanser or makeup and allowing the skin to absorb the full benefits of the moisturiser or treatment that follows.
What is the difference between a Day and a Night Cream?: Day creams are formulated to protect our skin from daily aggressors such as UV rays and pollution whilst hydrating and addressing specific skin type needs. Night Creams are formulated to replenish and assist with cell renewal, most of which occurs naturally whilst we sleep and do not contain sun filters.
Why should I use a specific Eye Cream?: The skin around our eyes is up to 6x thinner and more delicate than on the rest of our face and contains less natural oil so is therefore more prone to showing the first visible signs of ageing. Specifically formulated eye creams are developed to address these needs and also help reduce dark circles and puffiness.

Are there any rules for applying eyeliner?: Apply as close as possible to your lash line. Always on the top and sometimes on the bottom as well, but never just the bottom lash line as this ‘closes’ your eyes making them look smaller. The tapered line should be the entire length of your eye, 1/3 or 2/3 across but never halfway as this too will ‘cut’ your eye in half visually. Liquid liner is best applied to the top lashes only.
How do I apply Bronzer?: Bronzer is best applied to the areas of your face that ‘catch’ the sun, never all over. Lightly sweep over forehead, cheeks, chin and nose for the most natural result.
How do I choose a mascara?: This depends on the result you want and your lashes. Mascaras are developed to deliver specific results, either length, definition, volume or a little of each. The name of each product is a good indicator of the result you can expect to achieve. There are 3 parts to the effectiveness of a mascara, the formulation, the brush and the wiper that determines the measured dose of product needed to get the result.
How do I choose my blush shade?: As a general rule, match your blush to the tone of your lipcolour to harmonise the total look. For example, choose a pink-toned blush if you are wearing pink lipcolour. If wearing a natural/nude or bright red shade lipcolour, then you should select a natural-looking blush shade that is in a deeper tone to your skin.
What benefits does Face Powder have and which is better, pressed compact or loose?: Face powder is an indispensable beauty tool to refine the complexion by ‘setting’ the foundation and concealer in place, giving the skin a velvety texture while controlling shine.

Using a large soft brush or the puff provided, apply powder immediately after foundation and before applying powdered eyeshadow, blushers or bronzers. This will give greater blendability and a more professional result.

Pressed and loose formats both deliver the same result but pressed powders have the added benefit of convenience and portability for touch-ups.
What does lipliner do, and how do I select a shade?: Lipliner can be used to define and shape your lips, prevent lipcolour ‘feathering’, correct uneven lip shapes and provide a basecoat for lipcolour hold when applied all over the lip for longer wear. Match the shade to your lipcolour as closely as possible or choose a shade that is the same colour as your natural lip colour.
What is a makeup primer and how/when do I use one?: Makeup primers come in two formats, one for all skin types and others to help correct excess oil or pigmentation in the skin. All are applied to the skin after moisturising to create a smoother texture and extend your makeup hold.
When and how do I apply my concealer?: Concealer is best applied after foundation as this allows the foundation to cover most of the imperfections so that just a little concealer is then needed for extra coverage. The only exception is colour-correcting concealers which are best applied before your foundation.

Apply using the supplied applicator or a small brush, then gently ‘dab’ it into the skin without ‘rubbing’.

When using a concealer around the eye area, apply only to the dark area of the eye contour. In the case of puffiness, avoid very light shades as these accentuate the problem by bringing the feature ‘forward’.
Where is the best place to test the shade of my foundation?: On your face, either the jawline or around the nose area, never on your wrist as this skin is different in both texture and colour to that on your face. A perfect match will be almost invisible once applied.
Why is skin preparation so important before applying makeup?: A flawless, lasting finish can only be achieved on skin that has been prepared with a suitable moisturiser to help balance the skin and give longer wear.

Can a permanent hair colour be applied over the top of a tone-on-tone hair colour? Can a tone-on-tone hair colour be applied over a permanent hair colour?: Depending on the shade chosen, a permanent colour can be applied over a tone-on-tone hair colour such as Casting Crème Gloss providing it has been close to 28 shampoos since you coloured your hair with Casting Crème Gloss. Otherwise your hair will have a build up of colour and the final result will be darker than expected.

Casting Crème Gloss can be applied over an existing permanent shade to refresh the colour. It is best to select a shade that matches the existing colour or is one to two shades darker. A lighter shade will potentially not be as visible as you would desire, so please keep this in mind when selecting your shade.

For assistance, please call our team of experienced hair dressers in the L'Oréal Paris Advisory Bureau on 1300 659 359, or alternatively email your enquiry to us at abureau@au.loreal.com. They are happy to help you with any of your hair colour queries.
How can I prepare my hair to ensure I achieve the best results possible?: L'Oréal Paris hair colour is enriched with many different conditioning ingredients to protect and treat your hair during the colouring process. However, for ongoing care of your hair and its colour, it is recommended to use shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated to protect your hair and prolong your colour’s radiance. Regular deep conditioning masques and treatments will help maintain and retain your hairs moisture and vitality so that when you do colour, your hair absorbs the colour evenly and the end result is perfect from root to tip. The L'Oréal Paris ELVIVE Colour-Protect range is specifically formulated to protect you hair and prolong your colour’s radiance and shine. This range ensures your hair and its colour is in the best condition before and after colouring your hair.
Regular trims to remove dry and split ends will also assist in keeping your colour looking rich and shiny.
How can I remove colour staining on my skin?: Apply a small amount of an alcohol-based product such as mouthwash, after-shave or fragrance to cotton wool and gently rub affected areas. Follow up by wiping with water and applying a little face moisturiser. To prevent colour staining for future applications, apply a little moisturiser or Vaseline to your hairline before you apply the colour, ensuring you do not get it on the hair as it can also prevent the colour from taking in those areas.
How do I choose a shade that will suit me?: We recommend that you select a shade that sits within two shades of your natural hair colour, either darker or lighter. By using this process you will achieve a result that harmonises well with your natural skin and eye colouring and is easy to maintain for follow-up applications.
How often should I do a re-touch application?: This depends on how quickly your hair grows (approx 1cm or ½ inch per month), so around every 5 to 6 weeks. For colours that gradually shampoo out of the hair such as Casting Crème Gloss, re-application will depend on the frequency you shampoo your hair.
I have lightened my hair to a light blonde and now want to return to my darker natural colour, how do I do this?: A two-step application is essential to replace the warmer gold or red pigments that were removed during the lightening process before applying the new darker shade. Failure to do this can result in your hair looking matte or greenish. For more information and advice, please call our team of hairdressers in our Advisory Bureau on 1300 659 359.
If I already have a colour in my hair and I want to use a new lighter shade, will it work?: A lighter permanent colour cannot lighten existing colour pigments already present in the hair. A two-step process may be required to remove some of the existing colour using a lightening product before you can apply the new shade. For advice on how to achieve this, please call our team of hairdressers in our Advisory Bureau on 1300 659 359.
If my colour result is a little too dark or bright, how can I fix it?: Repeated shampooing with a medicated/anti-dandruff shampoo can help remove some but not all of the colour pigments. Apply to damp hair, lather and leave lather for a few minutes, repeat applications (approx 3 – 6 times) until desired shade is achieved. Follow with a rich conditioner or deep conditioning treatment. For more advice, call our hairdressers in the Advisory Bureau on 1300 659 359.
Is it important to do the sensitivity test recommended in all the L’Oréal Paris hair colour packs?: Absolutely, whilst allergic reactions are very uncommon it is important to conduct the sensitivity test at least 48hrs before you mix and apply the colour. More specific information on how and where to conduct this test is on the Instruction Leaflet included in each pack of colour.
New 10 minute technology, what is it? Is this right me?: L'Oréal Paris developed Excell10’, the first hair colour technology perfect for busy women who have little time to spare. Excell10’ colours in 10 minutes and makes your hair stronger.

Excell10’ has the ability to work quickly based on the ph level being lower than most permanent colours this limiting the release of ammonia (an important active ingredient in most permanent colours) so the colour can use 100% of its capacity more quickly.

Excell10’ has 16 natural-looking permanent shades, formulated to give 100% grey coverage, mirror-shine colour with cashmere touch. Excell10’ comes in a non-drip extra-rich crème with the addition of cashmere balm, cocoa butter and Ceramide R to help repair the hair and make it stronger. The key is to get the product on your dampened hair as quickly as you can (the sooner the better) then allow to develop for just 10 minutes. It really does work in 10 minutes!
There are so many different L’Oréal Paris hair colour ranges available, how do I know which range is best for me?: This depends on the end result you want to achieve, grey coverage, adding reflects or tones, lightening or deepening or covering first greys. Each range is designed to help you achieve a specific colour result.
What is the difference between a Crème and Gel formulation?: Crème formulas give a more intense solid colour result and are great for covering greys. Gel formulas provide intense colour in a more translucent result that blends the colour with your hair’s natural highs and lows. Some products are a Crème/Gel, blending the best of both technologies, softer grey coverage with a slightly more translucent result.
Why can’t I buy the After-Colour Conditioner in a bigger size, it always makes my hair so soft and shiny?: The After-Colour Conditioner is specifically ph formulated to complete the colouring process by closing the cuticle on the outside of the hair shaft and helping to lock the new pigments into the hair. It is designed to maintain the colour with a few follow-up applications but is not recommended for long-term use. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris ELVIVE Colour-Protect range with UV filters for ongoing colour and shine maintenance.

How and when do I apply a serum?: Serums are formulated to add shine, smooth and help tame the hair. They can be applied to damp/towel dried hair before styling or used to finish your style and tame fly-way ends once dry.
How often should I shampoo my hair, and is it ok to wash it every day?: The frequency you shampoo depends on your hair type and your lifestyle. Oily hair types, work environments and sporty/active lifestyles will require more frequent shampooing. Daily shampooing is fine just be sure to use a range specifically suited to your hair type and its needs.
How will a treatment help my hair, and how often should I use one?: Haircare treatments contain a higher concentration of the active ingredients to intensely treat your hair’s needs. Some treatments can be used daily such as the ELVIVE Conditioning Sprays, Serums and ELVIVE Re-Nutrition Night Elixir and Daily Nutritive Fluid. Other treatments such as the ELVIVE Masques and the ELVIVE Anti-Breakage Concentrate only need to be used once every 7-10, depending on your hair’s condition.
I have wavy/curly hair that doesn’t need shampooing every day but looks flat and messy when I wake up, what should I do?: There are two options: you can dampen/wet your hair, apply a little styling product, leave-in treatment or serum, and style or leave to dry naturally. Alternatively, if your hair is prone to dryness, wet your hair, apply conditioner, rinse out and style.
Is it ok to brush my hair when it’s wet?: It is recommended to only use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair when wet as this won’t stretch or pull on the hair’s natural elasticity. When blow-drying with a brush, ensure you work in small sections and dry each section thoroughly.
My long hair gets oily at the roots but the ends are still dry, how can I overcome this?: Regular shampooing to remove the oil at the roots, followed by conditioner applied to the mid-lengths and ends only should help. Using a leave-in treatment, like an ELVIVE Conditioning Spray or Serum, on the drier areas will also help balance the moisture level.
Should I change my shampoo and conditioners frequently?: The products you use should be those that treat the immediate needs of your hair, and these can change due to climatic conditions, colouring or some health situations. Alternating use of different products can be beneficial for some but is not essential.
Should I use conditioner every time I wash my hair, even if it’s oily?: Conditioner is recommended for all hair types after every shampoo. Conditioner closes the cuticle on the hair shaft protecting your hair and adding shine. If you have oily hair, try applying conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends only, or try one of the ElVIVE Conditioning Sprays. The lightweight leave-in formula is two times lighter than a traditional conditioner with the same level of care.
What are the benefits of using a leave-in conditioning spray?: The ELVIVE Conditioning Sprays can be used instead of or as well as a traditional conditioner depending on your hair’s needs. The lightweight formula adds moisture, shine and contains tailor-made technology to suit your hair’s needs. The sprays are quick and easy to use - there’s no need to rinse and they won’t weigh your hair down! With a quick spray your hair is instantly detangled and receives 24 hour care.