Cosmetics have been around since, well, forever. People have probably always tried to apply stuff to their face and body to look better, although Cleopatra is probably the earliest and best known woman to take the the application of cosmetics to a true art form. The words cosmetic and cosmetics trace their history to the Greek language. However, it wasn’t … Read More
What is LABELING
When you start to learn about what it takes to legally label your soap and cosmetic products, you may not realize that within the laws and regulations there is a very specific definition of labeling. It’s not what you would expect it to be, and it’s not a definition you can get by looking in a regular dictionary. BUT, it’s … Read More
What is a LABEL?
One frequent point of confusion when it comes to understanding the labeling laws and regulations is exactly what is meant by the word label. The problem is that there are several regular English definitions for label, each one meaning a slightly different thing AND there is a definition of label that is used in the actual regulations and laws. Knowing … Read More
Florida Regs – 2019 Recap
[Updated July 11, 2019 to include a section on Inspections and a link to the actual regulations for the requirements that must be met.] Of all the subjects I get asked about, making cosmetic products in Florida is close to the top of the list because they have the most stringent regulations for cosmetic manufacturers. That being the case, I … Read More
FDA & Social Media
NOTE: This post is not specifically about handcrafted soap and cosmetics, but more about FDA enforcement generally. The Food Drug and Cosmetic Act defines the “label” as the written printed or graphic matter on the immediate container of a product and “labeling” as all written, printed, or graphic matter accompanying an article at any time. The FDA has authority over … Read More
Hemp Oil & Seeds
As a follow-up to my previous post, What About CBD Oil?, I have been asked about the status of hemp oil and seeds. The FDA has approved hemp seed oil, hemp seed protein powder and hulled hemp seed as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for use in food products. There should be no problem using them in any cosmetic product … Read More
For Members of the HSCG
I am very pleased to announce that I am now an official “HSCG Expert” and as such I have my very own page in the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild How-To Library. You can find tons of information on soap and cosmetic labeling and good manufacturing practices (and more to come!) In addition, I am providing my Label Review services … Read More
New Year’s Resolutions – Check Your Labels!
With the New Year come New Year’s resolutions. Besides the old standbys to lose weight, eat better, exercise more, and reduce stress, how about a new one this year — review your product labels to make sure they are compliant with the regulations! Eliminate the stress you might have from wondering whether your products would get quarantined if the FDA … Read More
