Regulation & safety

Study highlights rise in consumer complaints to FDA

Study highlights rise in consumer complaints to FDA

By Simon Pitman

A new study by Northwestern University highlights how the number of complaints to the FDA relating to cosmetic and personal care products more than doubled between 2015 and 2016.

Australia prepares to replace cosmetics regulation NICNAS

Australia prepares to replace cosmetics regulation NICNAS

By Natasha Spencer

The present National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) cosmetics regulation, which covers a wide range of chemicals including cosmetics, will be reformed from 1st July 2018.

Chinese regulations update: Knowledge and compliance

Chinese regulations update: Knowledge and compliance

By Natasha Spencer

As Belinda Carli, Director of the Institute of Personal Care Science prepares to provide an update on Chinese regulations at this week’s  in-cosmetics Korea in Seoul, we caught up to gain clarity on cosmetics regulations in the leading region.

Canada finalizes microbead ban

Canada finalizes microbead ban

By Deanna Utroske

The government published its Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations this month and the formal ban will go into effect in phases, beginning in January of 2018.

Will the UN instate a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics?

Will the UN instate a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics?

By Deanna Utroske

Cruelty Free International and The Body Shop have teamed up on a campaign to ask the intergovernmental organization to do just that. It’s an effort that could eventually act as a precedent for establishing other globally harmonious personal care and beauty...

What does Homeland Security want with beauty industry? part 2 CFATS

What does Homeland Security want with the beauty industry? part 2

By Deanna Utroske

For cosmetics and personal care companies and those that supply the industry with its ingredients, registration and participation in the program known as CFATS could well be mandatory. And not getting involved could be costly; violating companies can...

What does Homeland Security want with beauty industry? part 1 CFATS

What does Homeland Security want with the beauty industry? part 1

By Deanna Utroske

A department initiative knows as the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, or CFATS, requires select cosmetics manufacturers as well as ingredient suppliers and distributors to register and comply with security protocol.

Why 1,4-dioxane in cosmetics deserves more attention

Why 1,4-dioxane in cosmetics deserves more attention

By Simon Pitman

The issue of 1,4-dioxane is back in the headlines after traces of the substance were found in water supplies for Long Island, New York, but one expert fears that this attention could mean that the problem is overlooked for cosmetics formulation.

Does the move to eradicate 1,4-dioxane go far enough?

Does the move to eradicate 1,4-dioxane go far enough?

By Simon Pitman

Although pressure to ensure 1,4-dioxane is removed from cosmetic and personal formulations is supported by a leading naturals expert the question remains as to whether the move goes far enough.

Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) Washington Report cosmetics

Washington DC and the state of beauty industry

By Deanna Utroske

A week ago Monday, the Personal Care Products Council convened a panel, as part of the organization’s annual meeting, to discuss the ramifications that the new Presidential administration’s legislative endeavors and policies will have on the cosmetics...

Future of Beauty Industry Coalition cosmetology licensing regulations

The Future of the Beauty Industry Coalition aims to update regs

By Deanna Utroske

A new advocacy group launched this month with designs on standardizing cosmetology licensure from state to state. For now the group calling itself The Future of the Beauty Industry Coalition has its sights set on legislation in Texas and Nebraska.

Making your mark: Brand management issues for the cosmetics industry

Making your mark: Brand management issues for the cosmetics industry

By Emily Holmes and Gino Maurelli

Because  brand identity is so important for beauty and personal care companies while the market continues to be more crowded, it becomes even more important to establish a differentiated, strong brand and diligently protect it.

Color cosmetics brand Mineral Fusion sets an EWG record

Color cosmetics brand Mineral Fusion sets an EWG record

By Deanna Utroske

The vegetarian, natural makeup company now has over 100 beauty products verified by the Environmental Working Group for being made according to certain manufacturing protocol and without select ‘ingredients of concern.’

Consumers value sustainability, shows Unilever data

Consumers value sustainability, shows Unilever data

By Deanna Utroske

The multinational consumer goods company recently released the results of its global consumer survey on sustainability, results which indicate that shoppers in the US are highly motivated to make ‘purpose-led’ purchases.

Beauty news you missed, FDA lead, Glansaol, Unilever class action

Beauty news you may have missed over the holiday break

By Deanna Utroske

Several transaction of note took place over the past weeks, including the FDA issuing new guidance on lead in lipstick, Glansaol making its debut by acquiring key beauty brands, and the class action lawsuit against Unilever and its St. Ives brand facial...

Canada adds cosmetic ingredient to toxic substances list

Canada adds three new materials to toxic substances list

By Deanna Utroske

In effect since early 2000, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act exists to safeguard the natural environment and human health. Following recent CEPA assessments, three materials—one of particular interest to cosmetic makers—have been deemed toxic.  

The Leaping Bunny Logo for cruelty free products turns 20

The Leaping Bunny Logo turns 20

By Deanna Utroske

It was in 1996 that the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics debuted its rabbit logo for so-called cruelty free products, those made without testing on animals.

EWG puts pressure on FDA with hair care lawsuit

EWG puts pressure on FDA with hair care lawsuit

By Deanna Utroske

This week the Environmental Working Group along with Women’s Voices for the Earth filed suit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia in an effort to motivate the FDA to take action regarding professional keratin hair products.

EWG calls for pressure on ‘outdated’ cosmetics laws

EWG calls for pressure on ‘outdated’ cosmetics laws

By Simon Pitman

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has made a renewed call to update laws governing cosmetics products, claiming the FDA still has little authority to review the safety of chemicals in products, which proposed legislation could change.

FDA to publish adverse event data for cosmetics

FDA to publish adverse event data for cosmetics

By Deanna Utroske

In doing so, the agency brings a whole new level of transparency to the beauty and personal care industry, though completeness and accuracy of the reported data is at issue and concerns are being raised about what this means for consumer class actions.