Fragrance Loophole Fears Are Unfounded
A common claim I see about cosmetics and fragrances in particular is that there is a “fragrance loophole” that allows cosmetic companies to fill their…
What are the startup costs for a cosmetic business?
If you have an idea to startup a cosmetic business you might be wondering how much it will cost you and whether it will be profitable. We list the pr…
How to be convincing
When I participate in discussions about cosmetic ingredients, I’m usually disappointed in the quality of arguments people put forth in support of their positions. It…
Naming cosmetic ingredients – part 2
In the first part of this cosmetic ingredient naming series we covered how the ingredients got their official names and some of the regulatory framework…
Cosmetic Product Marketing and Weasel Words
I received the following question from a reader which I thought would make a good jumping off point to talk about cosmetic product marketing. I read…
Avoiding pseudoscience in the cosmetic industry
Here is an interesting take on the cosmetic industry written by Zen Liu, a scientist but not a formulator or cosmetic chemist. She is looking…
Cosmetic Warning Labels that Make Sense
I read this article about French lavender farmers who are outraged by EU regulations that will require manufacturers who use lavender oil to put a…
Can you make cosmetic products safer?
California is one of the world leaders in their propensity to regulate cosmetics. They started with their own VOC regulations and also put together Prop…
Visit the Cosmetic Compliance Summit September 15-17
If you sell or product cosmetic products around the world you are going to have to keep up with the various local governmental regulations. And…
Making your cosmetic brand stand out
One of the best books on marketing by Seth Godin is his book The Purple Cow. It’s an easy read and I recommend it to…
How will natural ingredient replacements affect cosmetics?
Here’s an interesting trend that will affect cosmetic chemists and formulators in the future. More and more, natural ingredients are replacing standard cosmetic raw materials.…
Why do people buy cosmetics?
You work hard as a cosmetic formulator. You research the ingredients, you optimize the levels, and you do it in an affordable way. Then you…
Is there really such thing as a cosmetic?
According to the FDA statute first written in 1938, cosmetics are products used for beautification and enhancement of the appearance of skin or hair. By…
Formulating Chemist Job – Big Company or Small?
Getting a degree in chemistry will teach you a lot about science but not much about having a chemist job. We’ve previously talked about what…
What is a Cosmetic Product?
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…
Learn All You Need to Know About Business for Free
Congratulations!! You spent your days in college making it through some of the toughest courses the place had to offer like Physical Chemistry, Advanced Inorganic…
75 Things a Formulation Scientist Does
“What does a formulation scientist do every day?” This was a question I received in an email from someone who was doing some research about…
Cosmetic Chemist Jargon – Acronyms of the Industry
A list of over 100 cosmetic industry acronyms and their meaning. Essential knowledge for a cosmetic scientist.
5 Reasons You Should Attend a National SCC Meeting
A blast from the past. First published in 2008. Still relevant now… On Friday afternoon, I walked out of the New York Hilton and waved…
Badger Sunscreen recall demonstrates risk of small brands
This was bound to happen. A mid-sized but growing brand who positions themselves as “natural” and “safer” than conventional products doesn’t put a proper preservative…