Since its inception, Pioupiou has made the choice to develop and manufacture its skincare products in Switzerland.
For us, Swiss Made is not simply a label on packaging. It reflects a commitment: working closely with our partners, developing formulas adapted to the sensitive skin of babies, children, and mothers, and overseeing our products from their design to their manufacture.
But what does “Swiss Made” really mean for a cosmetic product? And why did we choose to manufacture Pioupiou skincare in Switzerland?
What does “Swiss Made” mean for a cosmetic?
In Switzerland, the use of a Swiss indication of origin for a cosmetic product is governed by “Swissness” legislation and by an ordinance specific to cosmetics.
It is therefore not enough for a brand to be Swiss or for a product to simply be packaged in Switzerland to be able to claim Swiss origin.
For a cosmetic to be able to use a Swiss indication of origin, several criteria must be met. Notably:
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at least 60% of its manufacturing cost must be incurred in Switzerland;
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at least 80% of research and development costs and manufacturing costs must be generated in Switzerland;
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certain steps decisive for product quality must also be carried out in Switzerland.
Swiss Made applied to cosmetics thus corresponds to precise criteria of origin.
Skincare developed and manufactured in Switzerland
Pioupiou skincare products are developed with partners specializing in cosmetic formulation and manufacturing in Switzerland.
From formulation to the various validation stages, and then to the manufacture of the finished product, we work in close connection with our partners.
This proximity is particularly important for Pioupiou. Our skincare products are intended for babies and children, from birth depending on the product, as well as for mothers during pregnancy and postpartum.
Developing a formula does not just mean selecting beautiful ingredients: it involves finding the right balance between composition, tolerance, sensory appeal, stability, and daily use.
Why did we choose to produce in Switzerland?
To work as closely as possible with our partners
Pioupiou is a Swiss brand, and working with local production partners allows us to maintain a direct relationship with the people who develop and manufacture our skincare.
When a formula evolves, a new ingredient is studied, or a new product is developed, this proximity facilitates communication and project monitoring.
For a small brand like Pioupiou, being able to know its partners and precisely follow the development of its products is particularly valuable.
For their cosmetic expertise
Developing a skincare product for sensitive skin, and particularly for that of a baby or young child, requires genuine formulation expertise.
We work with specialized partners capable of supporting us in the choice of ingredients, formulation, testing, and the various regulatory requirements associated with our products.
This expertise allows us to develop formulas that correspond to the criteria we have defined for Pioupiou.
To keep production consistent with our roots
Pioupiou was born in Switzerland and is based there.
Producing our skincare in Switzerland allows us to maintain a concrete link between the brand's identity and the way our products are manufactured.
Swiss Made is therefore not an element added to our history for us: it is part of how Pioupiou was built.
Does Swiss Made mean all ingredients are Swiss?
No — and this distinction is important.
A Swiss Made cosmetic is not necessarily composed exclusively of raw materials from Switzerland.
Cosmetic formulas require many ingredients that are not produced locally or that come naturally from other regions of the world.
The Swiss origin of a cosmetic is therefore based on precise criteria concerning, in particular, costs and development and manufacturing stages, and not on the obligation that 100% of its ingredients be grown or produced in Switzerland.
We prioritize our ingredients for their quality, their function in the formula, and their suitability with the product's requirements.
Swiss ingredients when it makes sense
Some Pioupiou formulas nevertheless make room for ingredients associated with our alpine environment.
This is notably the case for edelweiss, present in our Baby & Child Face Cream.
But we do not seek to use a Swiss ingredient solely to be able to claim it. Each ingredient must first and foremost have a function and find its place in a coherent formula.
This approach aligns with our general philosophy: prioritizing compositions thought out as a whole rather than an accumulation of ingredients chosen solely for their marketing value.
Swiss Made, natural, and organic: different concepts
A cosmetic manufactured in Switzerland is not automatically natural or organic.
Conversely, a certified organic cosmetic is not necessarily manufactured in Switzerland.
These are different criteria that can complement each other.
At Pioupiou, we have chosen to combine several commitments depending on the product: Swiss manufacturing, a high proportion of ingredients of natural origin, and COSMOS ORGANIC certification for some of our skincare.
To better understand what “natural”, “of natural origin”, “organic”, and COSMOS ORGANIC mean, you can consult our guide dedicated to natural origin cosmetics.
Swiss manufacturing serving Pioupiou skincare
Choosing Swiss Made is not for us an abstract promise of “Swiss perfection”.
It is a much more concrete choice: developing and manufacturing our skincare in Switzerland, working as closely as possible with our partners, and maintaining tight control over the development of the products we offer to parents.
Skincare designed to support the sensitive skin of babies, children, and mothers, developed with rigor and manufactured in Switzerland: that is simply how we have chosen to build Pioupiou.