Beauty returns cannot be treated like apparel returns. Opened or tampered cosmetics should not be resold, so returns processing for beauty is about fast decisions, clear records and protecting customers.
Hygiene-first return grading
Beauty returns are graded with hygiene first. Opened, used, unsealed or tampered products should not return to sellable inventory. We inspect every returned unit against your grading rules and sort it into clear dispositions: return to stock, return to stock as B-grade, hold for review, or destroy.
Only products that are sealed, undamaged and within your shelf-life rules can be restocked. Grading criteria are documented with photos for each product type, so a sealed compact, a shrink-wrapped fragrance and a jar with an intact inner seal are judged consistently.
Returned units have their lot recorded when visible, so returns data can be connected to quality signals. A cluster of returns from one batch is an early warning worth seeing before it becomes a wider issue.
Damage and complaint documentation
When a customer reports a leak, a broken bottle or a reaction, documentation matters. We photograph damaged returns, note the lot and condition, and log the reason code your customer service team assigned, giving your quality team a clear record.
For product complaints that could relate to an adverse event, your team can request that returned units be held rather than destroyed, so they remain available for investigation. Under MoCRA, the responsible person maintains adverse event records and reports serious adverse events, and preserved samples and lot data support that process.
Damage patterns also feed back into packaging. If one SKU keeps arriving cracked, we review the packout and propose changes rather than waiting for the next round of complaints.
Retail and wholesale returns
Retail returns follow different rules than DTC. Retailers may send back damaged goods, unsold seasonal sets, discontinued shades or overstock, sometimes on pallets with limited paperwork.
We receive retail returns against your authorization, count and grade them, and report results by retailer and purchase order where possible. Sellable units return to stock by lot; seasonal sets can be held for next season, broken down into components or sent to a liquidation channel you approve; damaged units are documented for credit reconciliation.
Clear retail return reporting helps your finance team reconcile deductions and helps planning teams see which products and shades are coming back, so future orders can be adjusted. Where retailers send returns to a central return center, we can receive consolidated shipments and break them down by origin.
Controlled destruction and disposition
Not every beauty product can simply be thrown away. Products containing alcohol, aerosols or certain ingredients may require handling as regulated waste, and brands often want proof that products were destroyed rather than diverted to unauthorized resale.
We coordinate destruction through appropriate disposal vendors in each market and record what was destroyed, including SKU, lot, quantity and date. Certificates of destruction can be provided where the vendor issues them, supporting your inventory write-offs and brand protection.
For products that are still safe but cannot be sold at full price, such as short-dated or outer-carton-damaged units, we can stage inventory for donation partners or approved off-price buyers you select. Every disposition is recorded, so your inventory and lot history stays complete from receipt to final outcome.
What's included
- Hygiene-first grading with photo standards
- Lot capture on returned units
- Damage and complaint documentation
- Hold-for-investigation on request
- Retail and wholesale return processing
- Seasonal set breakdown and re-kitting
- Recorded destruction and donation dispositions
Frequently asked questions
Can returned cosmetics be resold?
Only if they are sealed, undamaged and within your shelf-life rules. Opened, used or tampered beauty products are not returned to sellable inventory.
Do you record lot numbers on returns?
Yes, when the lot is visible on the unit. Linking returns to lots helps your quality team spot batch-related issues early.
Can you hold a returned product for a quality investigation?
Yes. Units tied to a complaint can be held instead of destroyed, with photos, lot and condition recorded.
Do you provide proof of destruction?
We record SKU, lot, quantity and date for every destruction, and provide certificates of destruction where the disposal vendor issues them.