Helping soap and cosmetic handcrafters navigate the rules and regs.
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.
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Anti-Aging, Rejuvenating, and Repairing Claims
In 1988, the FDA issued Import Alert 66-38 titled “Skin Care Products Labeled as Anti-Aging Creams” which clearly stated that exaggerated ‘anti aging’ claims could cause a product to be an unapproved new drug. Import Alert 66-38 was the basis for understanding restrictions on cosmetic claims like anti-aging, rejuvenating and repairing. That Import Alert was […]
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Color Additives for In-Bath Products
The FDA regulates color additives and their use. For cosmetics, the FDA has a list of color additives permitted for use in cosmetics and each color additive has specifications on how it may be used: In-Bath Products “In-bath products” include cosmetic products such as bath oil, bubble bath, bath fizzies, or bath bombs—many of which are […]
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Street Address – Your Choices
Even though the requirements for the street address on the label are pretty clear cut, it still seems to be an issue for those working out of their homes.
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“Love” Isn’t an Ingredient
The FDA has finally stated, clearly and definitely, that “love” isn’t an ingredient—at least in granola. Recently the news and social media have been filled with articles about the FDA’s recent warning letter to a bakery in Concord, Massachusetts, in which they were cited for (amongst other things), including “love” which is “not a common […]
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Minimum Risk Pesticides
The EPA website has been updated since the last time I looked at it. It still wasn’t too easy to find the Minimum Risk Pesticides page, but once I found it, I discovered it was much clearer and easier to understand than before the updates. Of course, the information and regulations haven’t changed, but it […]
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FTC updates business address requirements
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has issued the final rule for updating some aspects of their labeling regulations, including the requirements for the business name and address. Note that these revised regulations will apply to non-cosmetic items, including to soap that is exempt from the definition of a cosmetic (see Soap, the Chameleon). The updated regulation […]
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Understanding the Net Contents
Close to HALF of the labels I see don’t include the net weight. The net weight of the product isn’t just a good idea. It is a key piece of information that is required on every product.
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Another FDA Warning Letter
The FDA just (July 2017) published a warning letter to a cosmetic manufacturer in St. Louis. Once again, the FDA reviewed the website and cited drug claims: “…the claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under the … Food Drug and Cosmetic Act … because they are intended for use in the […]
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Net Contents Big Enough?
Most of the recent packaging I’ve seen DOES have the net contents on it. However, on almost all, it is way too small. Way. Too. Small.
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Hybrid Soap Ingredient List
Some stunning hybrid soap can be made by combining two different types of soaps into one artistic bar. The problem is, how do you figure out the ingredient declaration when you have a CP (cold process) soap with MP (melt & pour) soap embeds, or vice versa?
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Soap: Cosmetic or Not?
Soap is a chameleon; it can be a cosmetic or something else, depending on what it is made of, what it’s used for, and what you claim it can do. In many cases, it is the CLAIM that determines what the product is, and that in turn determines which REGULATIONS or LAWS apply. Soap Can […]
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Lawsuits Over “Organic” Cosmetics
Babyganics is now the last in a long line of cosmetic companies sued for false advertising over organic-type claims. Last month (Sept 2016) there were two suits filed against Babyganics, one for falsely advertising and implying their products are organic and one by a mom who alleged that her toddler sustained chemical burns from Babyganics tear-free […]