Helping you undersand soap and cosmetic regulations — in plain English.
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Hi, I’m Marie Gale.
For over 15 years I’ve been researching and following the world of laws, regulations, standards and guidelines for the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry. What started as a personal quest to understand soap and cosmetic labeling for my own products has grown into a deep understanding of the myriad of requirements that handcrafted soap and cosmetics makers are subject to.
My personal passion to assist others to understand and follow the labeling and other requirements that grew out of all that research. If I had my way, no handcrafter would ever experience the stress and heartache of unwittingly running afoul of the the laws and regulations.
There is peace of mind in knowing that your are compliant with the applicable regulations. I’m here to help you achieve that stress-free relationship with your products and your business.
Whether you know it or not, you’ve been an invaluable resource for me throughout our years in business as I’ve relied on your many books whenever I have questions. I’ve recently purchased “Navigating the Rules & Regulations” and am going through it with tabs & a highlighter and am learning more than I ever expected. — Julia
Latest blog articles
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FDA Regulatory Agenda – Fall 2024
The Fall 2024 Unified Agenda of Regulatory Actions is out. The FDA updated the timetable for issuing MoCRA regulations.
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Using Icons & Symbols
While symbols on your product can be good marketing, you need to make sure they are TRUE and you are AUTHORIZED to use them.
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Made in the USA – A good example
If you make the claim that your product is “Made in the USA” there are some very specific rules you must follow. This is a good example (albeit from a food product) that shows a “qualified claim.”
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Consumer reviews – what NOT to do
Not to long ago, the FTC finalized regulations that cover consumer reviews and testimonials. Here we have an example of what NOT to do.
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How to Build an Ingredient Declaration
FDA regulations require ingredient declaration on a cosmetic product. This post explains how you build that ingredient declaration from your master formulation.
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Labeling – Let’s Summarize
It’s back-to-school season! Let’s take a quick review of the label requirements.
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California Allergen Reporting
If you sell cosmetic products in California (or sell to California residents from an out-of-state online store) you may have some reporting requirements concerning fragrance allergens.
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Consumer Reviews & Testimonials
On August 21, 2024, the FTC announced their new regulations on endorsements and testimonials. No more fake reviews!
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Plain Soap vs. Antibacterial Soap
According to the FDA, there isn’t any evidence to show that using an antibacterial soap is any better than plain soap when it comes to preventing illness.
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MoCRA Fragrance Allergen Regulations
FDA has scheduled ther proposed rule for fragrance allergens for October 2024.
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FDA Issues Warnings To Skin Peel Companies
FDA has issued warning letters to four cosmetic companies, as well as Wal-Mart and Amazon, for skin peel products that are unapproved new drugs.
MORE RESOURCES
Label Review
$125 per label
If you want another set of (experienced) eyes on your label to make sure it meets all the requirements, a label review is a good choice. A Label review checks your label against the pertinent regulations. You get a checklist of showing if corrections are needed (or not), along with documentation to help you understand the requirements. Label reviews take about a week. Once your review is complete, you can send the revised label and I’ll take a look to make sure everything is in order.
I wanted my labels to be as close to compliant as I could get them. I took advantage of your label review service and can’t thank you enough for your expert advice. It was money well spent! — N.M.
Consulting
$100 – $125 per hour
Consulting is the tailor-made solution to address whatever your concerns are with your labeling, GMP, MoCRA compliance, safety substantiation, and the like. Consulting can be as simple as just answering the questions you have by email, phone or online meeting, or it can cover reviewing all your labels, ingredient declarations, website copy, safety substantiation documentation, and good manufacturing practices. It’s your call – I’m here to help with what you need.
I speak on behalf of the entire team that we are all very appreciative of your work in helping us grow our brand. It is a big step for us, and you have been instrumental in making that a reality. Thank you for your help. — D.C..
Books
