Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - North America EU edition

Pollution from personal care compounds may cause antibiotic resistance

A study conducted by scientists at the universities of Birmingham and Warwick suggests pollution from compounds in a variety of household products could cause antibiotic resistance.

Nanoparticles may damage bacterial cell walls, say scientists

Nanoparticles found in sunscreens may damage the cell walls of bacteria which could leave them unviable, according to recent research.

ESS Technologies develops robotic loader for tube filling

ESS Technologies has developed a new robotic loading system to add flexibility and speed to tube filling.

Physicians Formula posts big losses and ceases forecasts

Masstige player Physicians Formula recorded a significant loss in 2008, and as the economic downturn kicks in, the company says it is withdrawing all financial forecasts.

Sara Lee confirms interest in selling personal care business

Sara Lee confirmed yesterday that the company is considering selling its household and body care business.

News in brief

Unicep Packaging increases its contract mixing capabilities

Idaho-based Unicep Packaging says it has invested in new facilities to increase its contract mixing capabilities.

Procter & Gamble increases commitment to sustainability

Recently voted the most admired company in the industry, P&G is attempting to further increase its corporate image by pledging a greater stress on sustainability.

Weekly comment

EU rules on nanomaterials should be exported to the US

Small may well be beautiful but to protect public safety and prevent a consumer backlash the US should adopt European style rules on nanomaterials.

Revlon appoints Ann Jordan to board of directors

Cosmetics giant Revlon has announced that appointment of Ann Jordan as a new independent member of its executive board.

News in brief

Stock options boost Avon CEO's earnings to $19.6m

Avon CEO Andrea Jung enjoyed a 75 pecent increase in renumeration last year, thanks to stock options received during the first quarter.

Dow Corning presents new silicones portfolio at In-Cosmetics

Chemicals giant Dow Corning will unveil a series of ingredients and technologies that focus on naturals, anti-ageing, hair care and sun care at the forthcoming In-Cosmetics show.

Private label products are not just a fad, says Professor

Private label food, cosmetics and household products are not just a fad that will run its course once the economy picks up, says marketing Professor.

Cocktail of chemicals poses danger to oceans, says scientist

Chemicals often assumed to pose no environmental danger on their own may be toxic when in combination with others, suggests research from Sweden.

New EU rules on nanomaterials cause controversy

The provisions for nanomaterials in the recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive have come in for criticism from campaigners.

Personal care pollution found in US waterways

A new study from the Baylor University shows that fish samples from US waterways are frequently showing up with personal care product residues

Board approves appointment of ex-P&G man as CEO of Estee Lauder

Estee Lauder’s board of directors has approved the appointment of Fabrizio Freda as president and CEO of the prestige beauty company.

News in brief

CPTC adds new faces to its sales and marketing team

Consumer Product Testing Company (CPTC) has announced two appointments at the head of its sales and marketing team.

HBA allies with industry associations on development program

The organizers of the HBA Global Expo have announced a co-operation program with the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors (ICMAD).

Divestment and strong care chemical sales boost Cognis

Strong sales for its Care Chemicals division and the divestment of the Oleochemicals and Pulcra Chemicals businesses boost Cognis, but net profits were still in the red in 2008.

MEPs approve stricter version of EU cosmetics legislation

The amended recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive, approved yesterday by MEPs, contains stricter requirements for nanomaterials and CMRs.

Allergan eyes acquisitions despite takeover rumours

Allergan is considering purchases to strengthen its cosmetics, and other business segments, at a time when the company is itself at the heart of takeover rumours.

Toothpaste ingredients go the natural route

Skin care has been the big flag bearer in the trend for natural cosmetics but a rash of natural ingredients for toothpaste suggests that oral care is catching up.

Givaudan signs sustainable sourcing partnership

Givaudan has partnered with a Laos-based producer to secure the sustainable supply of benzoin, a raw material used in fragrances.

News in brief

Beauty Beverly Hills to distribute EMK skin care line

EMK has appointed Beauty Beverly Hills as the exclusive distributor of its Placental skin care product line.

Weekly comment

Do we really need all that packaging?

Secondary packaging can serve to protect a product and also to give it a more up market appearance, but with consumers becoming both more eco- and budget-conscious its demise could be imminent.

Natural Beauty Summit America focuses on key opportunities

The forthcoming Natural Beauty Summit America will focus on key areas where opportunities still exist to tap in to continued growth in the naturals market.

Luxury beauty sales turn ugly

Sales of luxury cosmetics in the US sagged last year falling 3 percent with all categories taking knocks, according to NPD Group.

Parents take baby personal care manufacturers to court

Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble and Kimberley Clark are among a number of leading baby personal care manufacturers being taken to court over allegedly cancer-causing ingredients.

Peptides have 'immense' potential in future of skin care, review

The potential for bioactive peptide ingredients in cosmetics is ‘immense’ due to their highly targeted and flexible nature, according to dermatologists.

News in brief

Lush launches online petition against Canada seal hunt

UK naturals cosmetic manufacturer Lush has launched an online petition to campaign against the culling of seals in Canada.

News in brief

Johnson & Johnson baby products cleared in China

The Chinese health authorities have concluded that the Johnson & Johnson baby products, tested under suspicion of containing carcinogenic ingredients, are safe to use.

P.L.Thomas brings oral skin hydration ingredient to US

As part of an ongoing focus on oral cosmetics, P.L.Thomas is introducing a ceramide-containing moisturising ingredient to the US market.

IFF opens new creative center in Brazil

International Fragrances and Flavors (IFF) is opening a new creative center in Brazil to spark new product ideas and tune in to local consumer preferences.

QVC fined for false cellulite claims

TV shopping channel QVC has been ordered to pay millions of dollars after making false claims about an anti-cellulite skin cream and a number of vitamin supplements.

Tube manufacturers need to be flexible to survive the crisis, says trade body head

‘Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility’ should be the mantra of all European tube manufacturers if they want to weather the current economic storm, says the head of their trade body.

Internal ageing plays part in skin wrinkling, study suggests

Research conducted by a team of scientists working with US skin care expert NuSkin links a newly identified free radical generator to age-related skin damage.

Rexam targets promotional campaigns with new mini dispenser

Personal care players launching promotional programs with trial products are the target of Rexam’s new mini dispenser.

MWV closes two factories and reduces secondary packaging production

Marking a move away from secondary packaging, MeadWestvaco (MWV) is closing two factories in Virginia and Puerto Rico with the loss of 278 jobs.

Mexico imposes high tariffs on US-produced cosmetics

The Mexican goverment has imposed higher tariffs on a list of 89 consumer goods imported from the US, including a large number of personal care products.

News in brief

Coty signs lease on new office in Rhode Island

Coty has signed a lease on an office in Rhode Island to better service its nearby beauty customer CVS.

J&J baby products under question in China

A number of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) baby bath products are being tested by health authorities in China following allegations they contain carcinogenic chemicals.

Symrise gains organic certification for US production plants

Organic fragrance ingredients will be a future focus for Symrise’s US division after having received organic certification for two production facilities in New Jersey.

Sederma launches topical lip plumping ingredient

Sederma’s new lip plumping ingredient targets the increasing segmentation of the anti-ageing market.

Anti-aging launch combines organic, nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals

Start-up company Sustainable Youth Technologies has launched a new product line that taps into a number of the industry’s fastest growing trends.

P.L.Thomas focuses on edible cosmetics with new ingredient

P.L.Thomas’ launch of an ingestible ingredient designed for people with itchy or flaky skin is part of the botanical company’s larger focus on beauty from within.

News in brief

Star Trek fragrances are the latest in unusual scents

Pop culture merchandise manufacturer Genki Wear is boldly going where no company has been before with its range of Star Trek fragrances.

Television tipped for beauty success by NPD

NPD Group tips infomercials and TV shopping as promising avenues for beauty companies looking to beat the recession.

Origins launches campaign to recycle beauty packaging

The Estee Lauder-owned natural beauty brand Origins is introducing a scheme to recycle all of the packaging for its range of cosmetic products, together with those of competitors.

New ingredient blocks damage from UV that slips past filters, claims Symrise

Symrise’s new ingredient promises to protect against UVB damage by blocking the creation of toxic substances produced when the rays penetrate the skin.

News in brief

US exports of packaging machinery boosted by demand from emerging markets

United States exports of packaging machinery increased 9.5 percent in 2008 reaching a total value of $950m, according to PMMI.

Avon’s future looks bright, report claims

Its commission-only workforce, cost-cutting measures, the global nature of the business and a future weakening of the dollar all put Avon in a strong position.

People on the move at the top of the cosmetics industry

Estee Lauder, Revlon and Bare Essentials have all announced changes to their senior level management teams over the past week.

Male grooming market has enormous potential, says Datamonitor

Marketers need to find a way of engaging with male consumers if they want to take advantage of the significant potential that the market presents, according to a Datamonitor report.

Government initiatives offer cost-saving solar panels to manufacturers

Personal care manufacturing firms in the US are set to benefit more than ever before by installing solar panel energy systems at their facilities, as the benefits of tax cuts and grant programs start to take effect.

Sara Lee rumoured to be making moves to exit personal care

Food, household and personal care player Sara Lee is contemplating selling its remaining cosmetics business interest in Europe to focus on food and beverage.

P&G investigates gene expression in aging skin

The changes to the skin’s antioxidant pathways are similar in both intrinsically and photo-aged skin, says P&G.

Weekly comment

Resorting to obscure nonsense won't cover up bad news

Every product is “innovative”, every award is “prestigious” and everyone is “delighted” to be climbing the corporate ladder.

‘Free from’ claims can trade on false safety concerns says trade body

Manufacturers are advised against labelling their products as ‘free from’ certain ingredients by the UK cosmetics trade association (CTPA).

European Commission imposes conditions on BASF’s acquisition of Ciba

BASF is now one step closer to acquiring Ciba but had to promise to share cosmetics know-how and sell businesses to get the €3.8bn deal accepted.

Inter Parfums sales slide on strong dollar and weak consumer demand

Sales for both the US and European operations slid considerably as the company faced the dual challenge of a strong dollar and the economic crisis.

Kautex launches blow moulding equipment for clear packaging

Kautex Maschinenbau has developed new blow moulding equipment for the manufacture of highly transparent cosmetics packaging.

GlyMed swaps over to recycled secondary packaging

Honing in on the trend for green packaging, GlyMed says it has teamed up with the Recycled Paperboard Alliance for its secondary packaging.

Exclusive interview

Profitable growth opportunities remain in beauty packaging

The economic crisis has eaten into the turnover of leading packaging firms but the president of personal and beauty care at MeadWestvaco (MWV) insists that profitable growth opportunities remain.

Trade body fights back against toxic baby cosmetics claims

The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)has described allegations that baby products contain harmful chemicals as a cynical attempt to prey upon concerned parents.

Shiseido opens up beauty advice centers in Taiwan and Shanghai

Shiseido is establishing three new Life Quality Beauty Centers in Shanghai and Taiwan targeting consumers with serious skin problems.

How ethical is the cosmetics industry? A new barometer may tell...

An initiative to determine the position of the industry and consumers on ethical matters will be launched at a conference in April.

EU ban on animal testing comes into force today

Campaigners are today celebrating the enforcement of the EU ban on the use of animals to test cosmetic ingredients but reservations remain about the availability of alternatives.

Technical seminar tackles natural vegetable oils and fats

The AAK Academy is holding two technical seminars in Cincinnati and Dallas to highlight formulation issues specific to vegetable oils and fats.

Canada bans or restricts four chemicals from cosmetics

The Canadian government has banned or restricted the use of four cosmetics ingredients as they could pose a threat to human health.

Coty's ex-CFO accuses former employers of fraud

Coty’s former chief financial officer has filed a civil complaint against the company accusing the board of “arbitrarily, capriciously, fraudulently and illegally” cheating him out of millions of dollars in stock options.

P&G most admired company in cosmetics industry

P&G and Henkel are two of the most admired companies in the industry, according to a recent survey by Fortune magazine.

Dow settles differences with Rohm and Haas

Dow Chemical’s acquisition of Rohm and Haas will go ahead after the companies reached an agreement that eases Dow’s debt burden.

NatureWorks claims equipment is available to sort bio-plastics for recycling

NatureWorks has insisted that there are no technical barriers to the sorting and separating of polylactic acid (PLA) bottles for recycling.

Avon rating downgraded on currency weakness and CEE gloom

Citing currency weakness and overexposure in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market, an analyst has downgraded Avon's outlook for 2009.

Croda claims UV hair protection ingredient outshines competitors

Croda claims its new UV protection ingredient sticks better to the hair shaft which helps it to protect against damage and color loss.

P&G says president Susan Arnold will not be replaced

Procter & Gamble (P&G) does not plan to replace Susan Arnold who steps down as president today.

IFF increases spending on basic research despite recession

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) insists research budgets are not in danger despite the recession and that spending on fundamental research is actually on the rise at the company.

Dr. Bronner’s says NSF organic certification will stop misbranding

The recently approved NSF organic certification is a step towards determining what constitutes an organic cosmetic and stamping out misbranding, claims proponent Dr. Bronner’s.

Weekly comment

Don’t patronize consumers with science jargon and high-tech talk

Face lifts in a jar, botox in a cream and youthful skin stem cells in a tube. However attractive, companies must avoid these exaggerated marketing claims or risk losing their credibility with a discerning public.

Cosmetics Compact

Cosmetics Compact: Getting to the root of grey hair

Cosmetics Compact brings you the highlights of the sites’ top science. This week we explore why hair turns grey and look at possible mechanisms to fight against the culprit hydrogen peroxide.

Stakeholders disagree on how nanotech should be regulated, report

Policy makers, industry and non governmental organisations do not agree on how nanotechnology should be regulated, according to a report from the FramingNano project.

Zorbit expands global packaging footprint with new facilities

Beauty packaging company Zorbit has expanded its packaging manufacturing capabilities through a joint venture with New York-based Paul T. Freund Corp.

New website aims to clear up confusion over natural cosmetics

A consumer-orientated website has been launched to address confusion over natural and organic personal care product ranges.

Cosmoprof seminar digs into private label potential

Cosmoprof North America will be hosting a seminar on private label cosmetics for decision makers looking for a recession resistant business model.

Kids count in growing Hispanic sector

Children’s opinions are much more likely to be considered in purchasing decisions amongst America’s growing Hispanic population, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.

News in brief

JAFRA appoints new chief executive officer

Direct selling company JAFRA Cosmetics International has appointed a new chief executive officer and president.

Beiersdorf says acquisitions are still possible as results defy downturn

Beiersdorf announces strong sales growth and beats earning forecasts, adding that it will remain acquisitive in 2009 if the right opportunities arise.

Growth in market for wipes to decline but opportunities still exist

Growth in the market for wipes in the US is set to decelerate under uncertain market conditions, but will still continue to register healthy increases and offer opportunities.

Aztec Technology pursues cosmetics packaging merger

Aztec Technology announced today that the packaging firm is in merger negotiations with a European cosmetics and wellness company.

Helen of Troy buys therapeutic hair care business from P&G

Helen of Troy is widening its portfolio of hair care brands with the acquisition of Infusium 23 from Procter & Gamble.

Injectable peptide could help regenerate the fat lost in ageing skin

An injectable peptide that helps induce the growth of fat under the skin could help plump up aging skin, according to researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Comment

Value cosmetics will be key to beating the economic downturn

With word out that consumers are increasingly focused on value for money, providing personal care products that fulfill this criteria is now the big challenge facing manufacturers.

Body Shop cuts 275 jobs in restructuring effort

The Body Shop is cutting 275 jobs as part of a restructuring plan that aims to equip the company for long term growth.

Bare Escentuals warns of sharp sales decline in first quarter

Bare Escentuals expects first quarter sales to fall significantly as retailers lower their inventories to cope with the increasingly uncertain economic environment.

Skincare range uses new botanicals extraction process

California-based personal care provider Arbonne has introduced a skin care range that taps into a new extraction process for botanicals.

Dandruff treatment doesn’t stop working with repeated use, P&G

The effectiveness of anti-dandruff treatments does not decline over time contrary to what many assume, according to P&G scientists.

Fragrance shows potential for growth among seniors

Fragrance and deodorants present big opportunities for manufacturers hoping to capture the spending power of seniors, says Datamonitor.

Cognis streamlines operations with sale of botanicals business

Cognis says the sale of its botanical extracts division to Burgundy Botanical Extracts Iberia will increase the company’s competitiveness and increase efficiencies.

Value more important than price even in recession, says survey

Consumers are willing to pay higher prices as long as they are getting what they perceive to be good value for money, according to a survey by Brandkeys.

Beauty brands in the US enjoy wider trade mark protection than in Europe

Beauty brands in the US enjoy a level of protection that L’Oreal has struggled to find in Europe during its long-running legal battle with discount perfumers Bellure, says senior Beanstalk lawyer.