There are various systems used for industry research to classify business entities. Knowing these schemes can make some areas of research easier because some databases, many of the print sources, and the U.S. government (most notably the Census) use them in their indexing, charts, graphs, lists, and indexes. The most important of these in the United States are the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). Internationally the International Standard Industrial Classifications of All Economic Activities (ISITC) External is maintained by the United Nations. Manufacturing and retail are treated as their own activities so both are necessary to understand the industry as a whole.
More recently Census has developed the the North American Product Classification System (NAICPS) which is a hierarchical structure consisting of sections, subsections, divisions, groups, subgroups, and trilateral products.
The North American Product Classification System (NAICPS)
371010101 Toiletries and cosmetics
37101010101 Bath, facial, and hand soaps, including hand sanitizers
37101010102 Perfumes, toilet waters, and colognes
37101010103 Hair care products
37101010105 Cosmetics, creams, lotions, oils, and other toilet preparations
371010103 Other non-electric personal care equipment and supplies
371020101 Wholesaling services for personal care supplies
37102010101 Wholesaling services for cosmetics, beauty supplies, perfumes and colognes, including hair preparations and hairbrushes
37102010102 Wholesaling services for bath, facial, and hand soaps
37103 Retailing services for personal care supplies
371040101 Personal care services
37104010101 Hair care services
37104010102 Nail care services
37104010103 Skin care services
37104010104 Hair removal services
Relevant codes from these systems for the cosmetics industry are included in the section below, along with links to government data related the cosmetics industry are included when available.
446120 Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Stores
44812 Women's Clothing Stores (with Product & Service Code: 20160)
44815 Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores (with Product & Service Code: 20160)
45211 General Merchandise Stores (with Products & Services Codes: 20160, 20165)
424210 Cosmetics merchant wholesalers, Perfumes merchant wholesalers
325620 Toilet Preparation Manufacturing : This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in preparing, blending, compounding, and packaging toilet preparations, such as perfumes, shaving preparations, hair preparations, face creams, lotions (including sunscreens), and other cosmetic preparations.