Your handmade soap or resold skincare ships through normal couriers — but cosmetics have their own rules layer. What applies to sellers vs manufacturers.
The licence question
Reselling branded cosmetics needs no cosmetic licence (the brand holds it). Manufacturing — even handmade soap from your kitchen — needs a cosmetic manufacturing licence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, more involved than food FSSAI. Know which side you're on.
The shipping restrictions
Liquids and aerosols face carrier restrictions — creams/lotions ship fine; aerosols are mostly banned on air; nail polish (flammable) is restricted. Check the specific product against the carrier's dangerous-goods list.
The packaging that works
Leak-proof sealing (cap tape + bag), rigid box, absorbent fill for liquids. Heat-sensitive products (lipsticks, creams) ship better in cooler months — a melted product is a refund.
The claims discipline
'Ayurvedic' and 'organic' claims need substantiation — the licence and the claim need to match. Mislabelled cosmetics attract regulatory attention disproportionate to the product size.
Pakka Parcel runs the whole stack described here — one place for every carrier.
See how →The playbook
Know manufacture vs resell
Different licence regimes — check yours.
Check carrier's DG list
Aerosols and flammables have restrictions.
Surface for risky liquids
Air restrictions route you to surface.
Substantiate claims
'Ayurvedic' on a label is a legal claim.
