Soap and Cosmetic Labeling

What’s in This Book?

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Modernization of Cosmetic Regulations Act of 2022 (“MoCRA”) into law. With the stoke of a pen, we had the first major update to the law governing cosmetics in the US in over 80 years.

It wasn’t unexpected. Luckily, it was not nearly as bad as it might have been. Nonetheless there are changes. There are new laws and new responsibilities for all who make cosmetics or who have their name on the label of a cosmetic product. And the FDA has new and expanded authorities.

In addition, and besides MoCRA, there have been new laws in several states that affect soap and cosmetic makers and there have been additional federal regulations governing marketing approaches that small businesses may use.

It’s often hard to understand the legalese and confusing wording in laws and regulations, and that can lead to uncertainty as to whether you’re doing it right. It’s easy to get stressed over regulations when the potential down-side to NOT getting it right is significant. It’s not likely that your product would be taken off the market or you’d be told not to sell it anymore … but it is possible if you aren’t in compliance. And that can be worrisome, indeed.

In Soap & Cosmetic Labeling, author Marie Gale clearly explains the rules and regs in plain English, cutting through the confusion of how to get your labels and marketing compliant.

Whether you are new to cosmetic product labeling, are updating old labels or doing a complete rebrand, there can be significant relief and peace of mind from knowing you have done everything you can to do it right to protect your products and your business.

This book covers the details of labeling your soap or cosmetic, including:

What laws and regulations govern the making, labeling, and marketing of soap and cosmetic products;
The difference between a “soap” and a “cosmetic” and how to figure out which regulations apply;
What is required on the label of a soap or cosmetic product;
Explanations of metric and US customary measurements and how to correctly state the net contents;
How to create your ingredient declaration, including ingredient names and conquering unusual situations such as very small packages, blended ingredients, color additives, etc.;
Options for the business name and address;
Pictures and diagrams to give examples of labeling options;
New requirements for products intended for professional use;
And much more!

New in the 4th Edition

The 4th edition (2025) includes an entirely NEW section of 12 chapters detailing the new additional regulations under MoCRA as well as other regulations that could apply to making or marketing soap or cosmetic products.

Table of Contents

For a sneak peek, here is the table of contents:

Whether you’re an old hand or a newcomer to the business of soap and cosmetics, you’ll find the information presented here clear and easy to understand, and Soap & Cosmetic Labeling to be an excellent guide through the maze of labeling regulations.

Already Have the Book?

If you already have the book, I’d love to get your comments and feedback! Send it to [email protected].