Helping you undersand soap and cosmetic regulations — in plain English.
Get updates and news from Marie Gale!
Category: Soap & Cosmetic Labeling
Blog posts that deal with soap and cosmetic labeling; addition information, questions asked and answered and updates as new information becomes known.
-
ISO Issues Natural and Organic Cosmetic Guidelines
In February this year, the International Standards Organization issued ISO 16128-1, Guidelines of technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products (available to purchase here). The description of the guidelines says: ISO 16128-1:2016 provides guidelines on definitions for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients. In addition to natural and organic ingredients, other ingredient […]
-
What’s the Worst That Could Happen?
I’ve talked in the past about the dangers and pitfalls of making medical claims for soap and cosmetic products. Over and over, handcrafters have asked me: “What’s the worst that could happen?”
-
What Suppliers Will (and Won’t) Tell You
When you make and label your own cosmetics, you are required to declare on the label all of the ingredients in descending order of predominance. In addition (and unlike food) you must list all of the components of any blended ingredient individually, in correct order in the ingredient declaration. If you purchase, for example, a […]
-
Melt & Pour Soap: Soap or Cosmetic?
Whether a melt & Pour soap is a cosmetic or not depends on the ingredients and how it is marketed.
-
Understanding Labels & Labeling
Is there a difference between the “label” and the “labeling” when it comes to soap and cosmetic labels? YES. (Well, mostly.) The FDA defines both “label” and “labeling” for food, drugs, and cosmetic products. The FTC defines “label” for consumer commodities other than food, drugs, and cosmetics. Most states have regulations that define “label” and “labeling” […]
-
Blended Fragrances in the Ingredient Declaration
You can use the term “fragrance” in your ingredient list, but if you use essential oils, you have options.
-
Myth: Soap Labels Aren’t Regulated
One of the myths that I still frequently hear is that “I can put whatever I want on my soap labels because they aren’t regulated.” I believe that particular myth got started because of the “soap exemption” in the FDA’s definition of “cosmetic:” Directly from the regulations: A product, except soap, intended to be applied to […]
-
FDA Warning Letters – Drug Claims for Cosmetics
There’s been an increase in cosmetic warning letters. What sort of claims are being made?
-
Cosmetic & Drug Claims
“Americans spend a lot of money on creams, lotions and other cosmetics that promise to improve their skin, hair and even eyelashes. “But sometimes those promises go too far.” So says a new page on the FDA website intended for consumers, to inform them of the differences between drugs and cosmetics. In my opinion, they’re […]
-
What Is the “Common Name”?
The FDA has said that the “common name”1 is required for cosmetic ingredients. But what does that mean, exactly?… Let me tell you the story of the Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, and INCI names. Once Upon a Time Back in the 1970’s, a book called the Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (CID) was published by the Cosmetic Toiletries and […]
-
Unpackaged Cosmetic Products
We all know that the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires that all consumer products (including cosmetics) have the identity of the product and the net contents on the front, as well as the name and address of the manufacturer somewhere on the label. Cosmetics also require a list of their ingredients. Here’s a question […]
-
Helpful Pages from Updated FDA Site
The FDA continues (as of 2015) to update their website, clarifying and making things more understandable. I love the new articles as they are very clear and easy to understand (as well as many of them being targetted to small and emerging business). The only thing is that they are a little hard to find! I […]