DERMOCOSMETICS AT THE PHARMACY

By May 1, 2027, retinol cosmetics that exceed the new limits may no longer be sold. What EU Regulation 2024/996 says, what to do with your inventory, and how to respond at the counter.

In September, the word “dark spots” comes up at the counter more than at any other time of year. Here’s why they surface now, the three questions that really come up, and the boundaries of what can be said without overstepping.

Erythrosis, couperose, and rosacea often come to the counter with the same question. Distinguishing between them with three questions changes the advice, protects the pharmacist, and turns a single sale into an ongoing care journey.

From July 31, 2026, the list of allergens that must be declared on the label will grow from 26 to more than 80. Two generations of INCI for the same product will coexist on the shelf: what to say to anyone who notices.

Following the European opinion on prostaglandin analogues, the question is now reaching the counter. It is neither a ban nor a green light: how should the difference be explained, how should the INCI be read, and what does keeping it on the shelf entail?

In Consumer Health, dermocosmetics is the segment taking the biggest hit—around 13%, with facial skincare at 11%. Seven percentage points of margin are disappearing from the pharmacy’s income statement. But price has never been the channel’s advantage.

As of May 1, 2026, pharmacies must check their inventory and stock: there is no transition period, and non-compliant products can no longer be sold.