Every year Happi magazine does a listing of the top beauty companies. They actually do two rankings where they give the 50 top US companies and the 30 top International companies.  I always wished they did a compilation list.

Well, it turns out, they did. This article lists the top 20 beauty industry companies. Click the picture for the full list.

Filtered beauty company list

What I like about the list is that it separates out the beauty company part of the business from the rest of the company. For example, Johnson & Johnson is listed as the 9th company with $5.6 billion in yearly sales. However, J&J is more of a pharmaceutical company making over $63 billion a year in sales. Baby shampoo is profitable but it doesn’t bring in nearly as much as their drugs.

Why should cosmetic chemists care?

While this list is interesting from a trivial standpoint, it can also be quite useful to a cosmetic chemist. Here are just a few ways you can use the list.

1. Interview research – If you want to stand out when interviewing for a cosmetic science job, it’s helpful to know something about the company. This list can quickly get you familiar with your potential employer. It can also help you learn about the company’s competition. The more you know about the industry, the better your chances of landing a job.

2. Competitive research – If you already have a job, it’s good to know which brands go with which company. This can help you compare formulas and determine what raw material blends they might be using. This could help you in your efforts to knock-off their formulas. You can also see where they are using the same basic formulas for different brands.

3. New product ideas – This list gives you an idea of where these companies are putting their development efforts. It can help spark ideas on what areas you might want to pursue or even avoid.

Becoming knowledgeable about the companies in the beauty industry is a crucial part of being a well-rounded cosmetic chemist. Hopefully, this list has gotten you started.

Innovation from the cosmetic raw material companies always makes me smile. I remember when one particularly “innovative” company would come in for a visit and always show these incredible compounds with mind blowing claims. While I always admired their attempts there was a fundamental thing they did that I found troubling; they would blur the line between cosmetic claims and drug claims.

I still frequently see this with the way both cosmetics and cosmetic raw materials are marketed. So, I thought it would be helpful to go through what is a cosmetic.

What is a cosmetic?

Let me first apologize to our International readers. This article will focus mainly on the US market. However, many of the same principles apply.

According to the FDA a cosmetic is…

“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)]

And to distinguish cosmetics from drugs, the FDA further defines a drug as…

“articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease” and “articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals” [FD&C Act, sec. 201(g)(1)].

What does this mean?

The key piece to consider is the part in the definition where it states “…articles intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man…”

So, when companies make claims like…

Ingredient will stimulate collagen production

Ingredient will inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase

Ingredient will prevent premature gray hair

…they are making DRUG claims, not COSMETIC claims. If you use these ingredients in your formulation with the intent that they are going to have the effects claimed, you are no longer making a cosmetic. You are formulating a drug that is regulated differently than cosmetics. (Mostly, it requires more testing and validation).

What is not a cosmetic?

So to simplify the difference between cosmetics and drugs think of it this way.

A cosmetic is a product that is designed to clean or alter the appearance of the skin and hair without affecting metabolic processes. Body wash, skin moisturizers, make-up, etc. are all cosmetics as long as they are not intended to ‘stimulate collagen production’ or otherwise interfere with natural body processes.

When is a cosmetic a drug?

There are some products that are both cosmetics and drugs. This would include products like anti-dandruff shampoos, toothpaste, antiperspirants, sunscreens and anti-acne treatments. These products have to comply with the rules governing both cosmetics and drugs.

Innovation in the cosmetic field is difficult because cosmetic chemists are restricted in what type of effect they can have on the body. If you have created a formula that affects the normal functioning of the body’s cells, then you are no longer formulating a cosmetic, it’s a drug. Until they change the rules, things called cosmecuticals are just marketing fluff.

If you live anywhere near Chicago or can be around on March 31, 2010, you won’t want to miss the 2010 SCC Midwest Chapter TEAMWORKS trade show. This is always a great show and you can’t beat the price…FREE. The TEAMWORKS show features all the biggest & best raw material and ingredient suppliers in the cosmetic and personal care industry. It also features a half-day educational program. Every cosmetic chemist or interested science major should make it a point to attend.

Here are the details

SCC Midwest Chapter TEAMWORKS 2010

March 31, 2010 – 8:30 AM-6 PM
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. Des Plaines River Road
Rosemont, IL (Chicago)
Educational Program March 31 8:30 AM – noon

New colleagues are waiting, new concepts abound and innovations are within reach – discover
them in Chicago. The Midwest Chapter Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) will host TEAMWORKS 2010, the premier exhibition for formulators among the specialty chemical allied trades, on March 31, 2010, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois-conveniently located near O’Hare International Airport.

Chemists, chemical buyers, engineers and technologists in the cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical and other allied industries will mingle among 130+ booths representing prime technology suppliers in the industry. TEAMWORKS 2010 is an opportunity to gather for an exciting learning experience, and to foster friendships in a bond of cooperation and success.

Education, innovation and networking are key focal points during this event. The half-day educational program will highlight the latest material launches to give formulations an added edge, and technology exchanges will occur throughout the exhibition. See below for more information.

Networking opportunities will also abound-grab a colleague during the buffet luncheon, sit down together and debate product development strategies; or arrive a day early to network during the Social Night with some of the great minds in the industry.

A buffet lunch, raffle prize drawings, BINGO card prizes, and a well-appointed networking area will be provided. Pre-registered attendees are also eligible for a raffle prize. (must register by March 16, 2010)

Attendance is FREE! Register online –
Educational Program: Formulating for Marketing Demands – 8:30 AM – noon
8:30-9:00 Continental Breakfast and Networking

8:50-8:55 Opening Remarks
Gene Frank, Raani Corp.

9:00-9:30 Keynote Presentation: A Corporate Strategy for Sustainability
Peggy Ward, Manager of Corporate Sustainability Programs, Kimberly-Clark

9:30-9:35 Q&A

9:40-10:00 Addressing the ‘Free-from’ Conundrum-paraben-free, sulfate-free, etc.
Tim Kapsner, Senior Research Scientist, Aveda Corp.

10:00-10:05 Q&A

10:05-10:20 Coffee Break

10:25-10:45 Formulating for Sensitive Skin
Russell Walters, PhD, Johnson & Johnson

10:45-10:50 Q&A

10:55-11:15 Formulating for Ethnic Care
Ali Syed, CEO, Avlon Industries

11:15-11:20 Q&A

11:25-11:45 Improving Sensory Benefits in Hair Care
Michael Wright, Senior Research Scientist, Nexxus Salon Hair Care/Alberto Culver Co.

11:45-11:50 Q&A

11:55 Closing Remarks

*The education session will open with a continental breakfast at 8:30 am, followed by opening remarks with the keynote presentation beginning at 9:00 am.

Online Exhibitor Guide!

Plan your visit ahead of time and check out the exhibitors today! All exhibitors are listed alphabetically on the online exhibitor guide. Contact exhibitors to set up appointments during the show!

Information is provided about the products and services they offer along with a link to each exhibitor’s website. Check it out anytime and plan your trip through the exhibitor hall.

In college, science majors spend their time learning complicated subjects like Calculus, Physics and Chemistry. Figuring out stuff like differential equations and bond angles of electron orbitals there isn’t much time or brain power left to learn the more mundane things taught in business classes.

But when you get out of school, business subjects are important and you’ve got to take time to learn them. To be the most well-rounded and effective cosmetic chemist, you need to know about the markets for which you’ll be creating products. In this post, we’ll review the overall cosmetic industry to give you a basic understanding of where the money is and what products make the most.

Worldwide Cosmetic Market

If you look at the entire worldwide cosmetic industry, sales reach about $170 Billion dollars a year. It’s distributed pretty uniformly around the world with ~$40 billion in the Americas, ~$60 billion in Europe, ~$60 billion in Australia & Asia, and another $10 billion in Africa. The Western world spends a bit more per person but India and Asia are quickly catching up.

5 Primary Cosmetic Segments

So now that you know where all the money is spent, it’s helpful to know what people are spending their money on. The cosmetic industry (aka beauty industry or personal care industry) can be broken down into 5 segments. Sales are distributed roughly by the %’s given.

1. Hair Care – 20%
2. Skin Care – 27%
3. Fragrance – 10%
4. Make-up – 20%
5. Other – 23%

Market researchers like to break these up into even more segments but these 5 cover everything.

Hair Care Market

About 20% of all cosmetic products sold are for the hair. Shampoos make up the vast majority of this market since almost everyone uses shampoo. Other significant market segments include conditioners, styling products, hair color, and relaxers. Currently, the biggest players in this category are Procter & Gamble (Pantene) and L’Oreal.

Skin Care Market

The range of products that are offered for the skin care market are much more diverse than the hair care market. Skin care makes up about 27% of the total cosmetic industry and includes skin moisturizers, cleansers, facial products, anti-acne, and anti-aging products. Of all the cosmetics, skin care products can be some of the most expensive with 2 ounces of product routinely selling for >$200. Women do not mind spending big bucks to keep their skin looking young.

The biggest companies in this market include Procter & Gamble (Olay) and Unilever (Vaseline).

Make-up Market

The color cosmetic market represents about 15% of the cosmetic industry and includes anything from lipstick to nail polish. Included are things like blush, eyeshadow, foundation, etc. The array of products is vast and the number of color variations are practically infinite. You can spend a lot of time as a cosmetic chemist working on new shades of familiar products. The market is highly segmented so there isn’t really one dominant player. Maybelline an Clinique are just a couple of significant brands.

Fine Fragrance

This market segment has really taken a hit in the last few years but it still makes up about 10% of the cosmetic industry so some companies are still making money. This is the highest profit segment of the cosmetic industry but consumers are fickle. Only a few brands (like Chanel #5) can last for a long time. Fine fragrances come and go like fashion and companies have to continue to reformulate just to compete.

Other

The “other” category represents 23% of the cosmetic industry and is made up of things like toothpaste, deodorants, sunscreens, depilatories, and other personal care products not yet mentioned. Actually, many of these products could fall under one of the categories already mentioned but the industry likes to keep them separated whenever they do stories on the various markets. The dominant companies are many of the same already mentioned, P&G, L’Oreal, and Unilever.

While the cosmetic industry is considered a “mature” industry (that means business people don’t expect much significant growth) it is a pretty reliable industry. No matter what, people want to smell and look good so even when the economy hits a recession people will still buy soap. The recent economic conditions demonstrate, they do buy less, but they do keep buying.

Every year the trade magazines put together a list of the biggest cosmetic companies in the beauty industry. It’s a pretty handy list and if you are just starting or have been working for a while in cosmetics, you should be familiar with these companies. At the very least, you’ll know where there might be future employment opportunities. These companies hire lots of cosmetic chemists.

You can see the complete list of the Top 20 Global Beauty Companies as compiled by Happi magazine.

Here is the quick list. They are ranked by yearly sales.

Beauty Sales (US Billions)

1. Procter & Gamble – $26.3
2. L’Oréal - $25.8
3. Unilever  - $16
4. Avon  - $7.6
5. Beiersdorf  - $7.5
6. Estee Lauder  - $7.3
7. Shiseido  - $6.9
8. Kao  - $5.9
9. Johnson & Johnson  – $5.6
10. Henkel  - $4.4
11. LVMH  - $3.7
12. Coty  - $3.5
13. Chanel  - $3.0
14. Limited Brands  – $2.7
15. Mary Kay  – $2.6
16. Yves Rocher  – $2.5
17. Natura  - $2.1
18. Alticor - $1.9
19. Kose - $1.8
20. Oriflame - $1.7

When you first enter an industry you will learn that there are a host of magazines dedicated to that industry. In their pages you’ll find news, technology developments, stories about industry influencers, and many other useful bits of information.

Here is a list of some of the most useful trade journals for cosmetic chemists about the cosmetic industry and cosmetic science.

Free Cosmetic Industry Magazines

These magazines are supported by advertisers and are usually given away for free to qualified readers. Just having a job (or interest) in the cosmetic industry is usually enough to qualify.

Happi – A great magazine reporting on both the household and personal care industry. They also have a pretty good website too.

GCI Magazine – This magazine is less about science but filled with useful business and marketing information for people in the cosmetic industry. They also cover personal care, fine fragrance and candle and home fragrance manufacturers and marketers.

Skin Inc. Magazine – An industry publication for day spa, medical spa and wellness professionals. If you work in skin care, this is a good magazine to read for finding market trends. The science however, is a little “soft”.

Modern Salon – If you are a creator of beauty products for the hair, this magazine will give you an insight into what stylists are doing and the trends that affect them. Cosmetic chemists will find it a great source for new product ideas. Of course, it’s thick with marketing “stories” so read with a skeptical mind.

Spray Technology & Marketing – This publication specifically covers the world of sprayable products like hair spray, fragrance, AP/DO, etc. If you are working in this area of the cosmetic industry, you’ll want to keep up on this magazine.

Paid Cosmetic Industry Subscriptions

The problem with free subscriptions is that they don’t dedicate a lot of money to content generation so you get articles that seem more like sales pitches than unbiased articles. For the most unbiased the industry has to offer, a paid subscription to one of these magazines is a great idea.

Cosmetics & Toiletries – This is the premiere trade journal discussing the topic of cosmetic chemistry. If you have any interest in the science of beauty products, this is the publication for you. If you purchase only one magazine, this one should be it.

Journal of the SCC – This is a peer reviewed scientific journal that you get your membership to the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. The topics represent the latest in cosmetic science research and have titles/articles that are more complicated than the usual trade publication. Excellent for anyone who is trying to become an expert in a specific area of cosmetic science.

The Rose Sheet – If you are looking for anything about regulatory, legislative, and just about any other insider news about the cosmetic industry, this journal has it. The design isn’t much to look at (it’s a glorified newsletter) but the content is top notch. And you’ll pay top dollar for it too. Subscriptions run ~$1400 per year. But they do have an RSS feed, so it’s worth signing up for even if you don’t buy the magazine.

Perfumer and Flavorist – This is another publication from the folks at Allured focusing on the fine fragrance and flavor industry. If these subjects are the type of cosmetic chemist that you are, P&F is a better choice than Cosmetics & Toiletries. They are both excellent magazines however.

Chemical & Engineering News – This publication comes to you for free with your membership to the American Chemical Society. It isn’t specifically focused on the beauty industry but it does have valuable information about the latest developments in chemistry. It also features personal care product issues a couple times a year. It’s a great resource for new product ideas too.

Women’s Wear Daily – This daily newspaper is the proclaimed authority on the news and happenings of the beauty and fashion industry. I found it a great source of ideas for new products. It also was an excellent way to keep an eye on what your competitors were launching and how they were promoting it. Being deluged with a paper every day was challenging but it is certainly filled with information worth reading.

Next Step

There are other magazines but these are the big players. If you are able to keep up with some of these journals, you’ll definitely be ahead of your industry colleagues.

The first thing you should do is go sign up for all the free publications. If you find that you are getting too much mail and can’t keep up, you can cancel any time.

After you’ve gotten a few issues of free magazines, consider getting one of the paid publications. Since you are already a member of the SCC (you are, aren’t you!!) you will get the JSCC every quarter. Consider purchasing a subscription to Cosmetics & Toiletries.

Lastly, web links were included for all of the magazines and many have RSS feeds so you can keep up with the headlines without getting the paper subscription. This is highly valuable and will make it easier to keep up with all of the latest news and science in the cosmetic industry.

Have we missed any must-read magazines for the cosmetic industry? Leave a comment below and let us know.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at the HBA show in New York. The HBA Expo (Health and Beauty Association) is one of the bigger trade shows in the cosmetic industry and worth attending, especially if you are new to the industry. Here you will find companies with displays on new ingredients, packaging technology, contract manufacturers, and many others.

While it may seem obvious to people in the industry why they should attend a trade show, if you’re new to the industry (or have never gone) you probably don’t know what you can get out of going. So, we put together a list of direct benefits you can get from going to a cosmetic industry trade show.

1. Learn about new raw materials

If you work for a big company, most suppliers will send sales people to call on you and let you know about all their new offerings. However, if your company is small, suppliers often won’t set up meetings with you. Going to trade shows is a great way to see all the new raw materials companies have launched.

2. Get new ideas

Be sure to carry with you a notepad and pen while at trade shows. As you walk past booths jot down ideas that occur to you. You can easily generate over 50 new ideas using the inspiration of the company displays. It can be anything from a new product idea, a cost saving idea, or even just a cool package that you saw. Write them down so you don’t forget.

3. Connect with people at other companies

Another must-have at a trade show is a good supply of business cards. You can expect to meet dozens of people who will be helpful in your career both in trying to complete projects and in finding potential new employment.

4. See what the competition is doing

If you work at a chemical company a trade show gives you an excellent opportunity to see what your competitors are doing. You can see the trends that they follow and the niche they are trying to carve. This could help you determine if they are doing something that could also help you and your company.

5. Technical learning

Often a trade show will have an education program that goes along with it. These programs are often free or covered in the cost of the show registration fee. If the topics are of interest, they can be a great way to quickly learn about a given subject. Also, the trade show itself is a great resource for learning about chemicals used throughout the industry, not just the ones used in your formulas.

6. Observe new trends

Suppliers often work with marketing research companies to identify trends in the market. Many times they will discover things that your company doesn’t see because they look at it from another standpoint. Fragrance and extract companies are a great source for new trend and new product ideas.

7. Free stuff

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that trade shows are also a great place to get samples, pens, notepads, and other advertising specialties. I personally love the small candy bars they pass around. Be sure to pick up a bag early on in the show so you’ll be able to carry all the relevant things you’ll collect from the different booths. Also, companies often have raffles and give away useful prizes like iPods or gift cards. This is a nice bonus.

Cosmetic Industry Trade Shows

There are many different trade shows that are relevant to the cosmetic chemist. Below is a short list of ones that we think are worth visiting. If you have any to add, be sure to do it in the comments. At some point we will do a more thorough listing of these.

HBA Expo
SCC Annual Scientific Meeting – NY
NY SCC Supplier’s Day
Midwest SCC Teamworks
SCC Midyear Scientific Seminar
IFSCC World Conference
Midwest Beauty Show

If you’re a recent college graduate or are up on Web 2.0, you have no doubt heard about Twitter.  And if you’re really up on things, you’ve signed up and used Twitter.  However, even if you’ve tried it you still might wonder what it is all about and more importantly, why should you use it?

We here on Chemists Corner have been using Twitter for more than a year and have found a number of things that make it beneficial to cosmetic chemists.  I wrote some of these in this article about Twitter contributed to GCI.

Reasons to Use Twitter

I’ll summarize the reasons why cosmetic chemist should use twitter and include a few more that weren’t listed in the article.

1.  Discover types of products consumers want -  You can spy on the Twitterverse and see what products / problems people are talking about.  Try the Twitscoop to follow and search hot topics.

2.  Get help solving your problems - Do you need advice with formulating, writing, directions, or even figuring out what to do with yourself while you’re traveling?  Posing your question to your followers on Twitter can help you solve almost any problem.

3.  Find and share links about the beauty industry - You don’t have time to read every article published on line or in print.  You can use Twitter to find the latest industry or science news filtered by other cosmetic chemists.  And you can share things you find interesting too.

4.  Discover new science relevant to beauty industry – There are a number of scientists who use Twitter to publish their latest research.  You can quickly find obscure topics that could help you create new, innovative products.

5.  Connect with other cosmetic chemists - This is one of the most useful uses for Twitter.  See what other cosmetic chemists are up to and help them out.  In turn, they will help you when you might need a problem solved.  Creating a network of cosmetic chemists will undoubtedly be useful for the future of your career.

6.  Find out who’s talking about you or your brand - If you work on a brand you can see what people are saying about it.  This can alert you to potential problems and also help you figure out what you are doing right.  Just use something like Twitscoop to track your brand.

7.  Become an industry expert -The media uses Twitter as a quick way to identify experts who they will quote in their articles.  If you have any interest in being quoted or featured in traditional press outlets, build a following on Twitter and they’ll find you.

8.  Virtually attend conferences -When I was at the latest National SCC meeting, I tweeted what was happening in the various conferences.  The folks from C&T were also tweeting as were a few other cosmetic chemists.  You could find out what was going on without having to travel across the country to find out.

9.  Create a brainstorming group – Once you have a following on Twitter you can pose questions to them.  If you are challenged to come up with some great new ideas get help from your followers on Twitter.  More brains are better than one.

10.  Start your own brand - If you have any entrepreneurial thoughts at all, Twitter can provide an inexpensive alternative to paid advertising.  By building a  following, you can create fans who will want to try what you are developing.  Unless you are a big player (and they shouldn’t ignore Twitter either) using Twitter to launch a product is one of the easiest, most cost effective methods to follow.

Who to Follow?

The community of cosmetic chemists who are on Twitter is growing.  Here is a list of 20+ cosmetic chemists who use twitter.  Be sure to follow them to keep up on all the latest going on in the field of cosmetic science.

Just click on the screen name to see their Twitter page.

If you want to be added to this list, just leave a comment below!

Screen name	Description
kellydobos	Cosmetic chemist, out to make her mark in the world
thejoggler	World record holder for 50 mile ultra marathon while juggling. Also a cosmetic scientist, writer & innovator
thebeautybrains	Cosmetic chemists answer beauty questions from consumers
beautyscientist	Scientist formulating cosmetics and topical pharmaceuticals.
sunsetsoaps	Full time scientist, part time grad student, and aspiring soap crafter!
beerchemist	I am a cosmetic chemist focusing on new innovations, thought leadership, time management, and powerful presentations. Beer, homebrewing as a hobby.
ayuexpressions	Cosmetic Chemist, Founder of AYU, LLC, Vegetarian forever
sassij	I’m a cosmetic chemist. Making cosmetics is my passion, which I do from home while looking after my three beautiful children.
SoapyGuy	I work with soap and lotions and stuff.
Sugarmagnani	development chemist, dead head, chili cook-off winner, future resident of yellowstone national park
Glam Scientist	Model-Mom-Cosmetic Chemist-Entrepreneur- Yes!!!
MidwestSCC	Midwest Chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists
dralisyed	President and Head Chemist of Avlon & Syntonics
CandTEditor	The International Magazine of Cosmetic Technology
JacklinVet	A warm, sensitive, easy-going, independent person who believes in living life to the fullest – getting to know all types of people, seeing the world!
Happimagazine	Cosmetic industry trade journal
sagescript	Biochemist and Herbalist creating botanical skin care & wellness products, doing cosmetic microbiology, blogging, teaching. Love herbs, food, gardens, fiber
diahne	Cosmetic chemist in Arizona
BenVerona	Resident of Verona (NJ), musician (trumpet), volunteer (Landmarks Preservation, Public Health Reserve Corps, 9/11 Committee), blogger
luparuta	Cosmetic chemist in Brazil
RealizeBeautyEd	Cosmetic Chemist, Mother of two, Mountain Bike Racer, Green Queen, Entrepreneur, Science
Hallstar	Supplier of ester chemistry to the cosmetic industry
edensong	Creator of natural organic skin care
KiMiStRyCOS	Cosmetic chemist creating her own cosmetics
tBspot_beauty	Ni’Kita Wilson, Cosmetic Chemist, Shares Beauty News and Reviews from a Chemists’ Point of View!
CosmetechLabs	Innovation Allies to the Personal Care Industry- from concept to market!
valenzo	Cosmetic chemist Valerie Roach – working on some new and exciting things.
Kayla Fioravanti	Cosmetic Formulator, Registered Aromatherapist, Blogger
MirSkinCare	UK cosmetic scientist and the creator/founder of Mir Skin Care, a specialist range of fragrance-free products for sensitive and problematic skin.

Remember, if you want to be added to this list, just leave a comment below!

Since cosmetics are chemicals that get applied to people’s bodies, governments from around the world strive to ensure they are safe. It’s a laudable goal, but a challenging one to implement since there is no universal standard for what is “safe”.

The most difficult thing about cosmetic regulations for cosmetic scientists is that few people know definitive answers about the rules. They are almost always open to interpretation so your actions will depend more on what your company regulatory expert thinks than on what the regulating agency thinks. Unfortunately, most regulatory departments are set up to tell you what you can’t do, rather than help you figure out what you can do.

The best way to combat this regulatory obstacle is to find the answers yourself. To that end, here are 5 key websites that will help you find regulatory information about cosmetics.

Cosmetic Regulation Websites

1. FDA Cosmetic Info – Everything you need to know about the rules governing the sale of cosmetics in the United States is here. Some say the cosmetic industry in the US is not regulated but it is, by the FDA. You can find information useful to both the consumer and cosmetic business owner.

2. European Commission – In the EU, cosmetics are regulated by a document called the Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC. At this website you can find the full-text version and also some important commentary on the implications of the rules. An excellent website for all things EU regulatory.

3. Health Canada – While it’s not as big a market as the US or EU, Canada is still a significant player in the cosmetic industry and their government wants to have their say. At this website you can find all the rules (current and proposed) that will govern how you can sell your products in Canada.

4. Ministry of Health (Japan) – While all governments have access to the same science, they don’t always come to the same conclusions about what is safe. At this site you’ll find out what compounds are restricted in cosmetics sold in Japan.

5. Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board – This one isn’t a governmental agency but an industry agency that reviews safety data about cosmetic ingredients. They report to the FDA and provide an excellent guide as to what ingredients you can and can not use when formulating cosmetics.

There you have it. If you have any regulatory questions about the cosmetic industry you can probably find the answers on one of these pages. Of course, if you’re still left with questions, no doubt one of the fine industry consultants can help you out for the right price.

Do you have a regulatory question about cosmetics? Leave a comment and we will try to answer if we can.

Here’s some great and useful news to aspiring cosmetic chemists.  The premiere journal of our industry has put their back issues online in a searchable database.  You can see all the cosmetic science that people have been writing about since the 1940′s.

You only get complete access if you are a card carrying member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.  I recommend you join.

For non-members, you can get access to most volumes up through 2005, I think.

Check out the full Journal of Cosmetic Science archive here.