Information

Safe Cosmetics and an Epiphany

January 17, 2012 · 3 Comments

What do we know about the safety of cosmetics? We know that the FDA regulates cosmetics. We know the CIR assesses the safety of ingredients by studying all of the available science in order to make their determination. They labor over the data and then meet in a public, open meeting, to discuss their findings. We know there are scientific studies to support the safety of cosmetics. We know that the activists don’t have the science. Personal Care Truth will be celebrating its 2nd Anniversary in May. Kristin and I, PCT co-founders, have worked very hard in creating a place where truthful... [Read the full story]

Ingredients

Lavender Oil and Negative Innuendo

December 12, 2011 · 4 Comments

In a recent blog post an Environmental Working Group (EWG) research assistant suggests that lavender oil may be unsafe, saying: “the science is still evolving and safety can’t be assumed.” The science is still evolving? Isn’t that true of anything? Are we just sowing the seeds of doubt here? I have written a number of posts about the EWG and sloppy science. Their modus operandi involves highlighting negative information, along with liberal use of the phrase “has been linked to”. Factual information is so often distorted that their reputation in scientific circles is all but worthless. I... [Read the full story]

Legislation

Legislation in New York

September 12, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Donna Maria of Indie Beauty Network, Lela Barker of Bella Lucce and Lisa Rodgers of Personal Care Truth recently alerted me to Assembly Bill A05059 The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 in New York. I haven’t broken down all the details yet, but this looks like the work of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The language in this law is very close to what we have seen in Colorado, Massachusetts, California and Congress. The scary thing is that I found lots of pending legislation in New York that in one way or another may impact our industry. Here is everything I found in New York: A.B.5059: The Safe... [Read the full story]

Regulations

Label Rule Guide: A Few Tips to Keep You Out of Trouble and On the Shelf

August 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Over the years I have found myself nudging my label design customers back within labeling guidelines. This is a quick overview of what, by law, needs to be on your label… How does the law define a cosmetic? The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act(FD&C Act) defines cosmetics by their intended use, as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body…for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance” [FD&C Act, sec. 201(i)]. Among the products included in this definition... [Read the full story]

Science

Rats: Test Results That Don’t Apply to Humans

April 14, 2011 · 19 Comments

Rats are often used in laboratory experiments. The Office of Technology Assessment estimates that between 3.4 and 3.7 million rats are killed annually in research laboratories, and estimates from other sources range as high as 23.6 million every year.1 Rats differ markedly from humans in many respects, making rat experiments difficult to extrapolate to humans. Species Differences in Cholesterol and Heart Disease Heart disease is the leading killer of American adults. But rats are very different from humans in the ways their bodies process fat and cholesterol. For example,... [Read the full story]

Personal Care News

ICMAD – Update: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010

December 20, 2010 · 13 Comments

As we move towards the end of the 111th Congress, it is clear that H.R. 5786, the “Safe Cosmetic Act of 2010” will die in committee. While its Democratic sponsors may seek to reintroduce the bill in the 112th Congress it is doubtful that the House Energy and Commerce Committee, with its new Republican Chair, Fred Upton (MI), will give this bill any priority given the other more pressing matters facing the country and the fact that the bill is basically anti-business and hence bad for employment. The “Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010”, which was introduced last July by Congresswoman... [Read the full story]

Ingredients

Lavender Oil and Negative Innuendo

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Biomimetics – The Science of Nature

The quest for eternal youth has seen us climb the tallest of swiss mountains for sweet apples and diving the depths of the vastest seas for mineral rich cellulite busters but good as these things are, some people feel like this is all just too much effort. No, these days the lazy beauty buff is heading to their...

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Bismuth Oxychloride – What is it and is it Safe?

In today’s day and age, many people are choosing to go as “natural” as possible in regards to food, household products, and health and beauty items. This is a worthwhile endeavor, as switching to non-toxic substances can be quite beneficial to one’s health and overall well-being. However, in some cases...

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Lavender Oil – Skin Savior or Skin Irritant?

A question came up recently on TheBeautyBrains forum: Lavender oil in cosmetics – does it cause skin cell death, and is that a problem? This was in response to the description of “lavender extract and oil” on Paula Begoun’s Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary. Paula is known for her belief that fragrances, natural...

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The Cosmetic Ingredient Review and Safe Cosmetics

This week, I interviewed F. Alan Andersen Ph.D., with the Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Here are his answers to my questions. Who is the Cosmetic Ingredient Review? The CIR program was created 35 years ago by the cosmetics industry with the support of the FDA and the Consumer Federation of America. CIR’s...

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