Helping you understand soap and cosmetic regulations — in plain English.
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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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What Suppliers Will (and Won’t) Tell You
When you make and label your own cosmetics, you are required to declare on the label all of the ingredients in descending order of predominance. In addition (and unlike food) you must list all of the components of any blended ingredient individually, in correct order in the ingredient declaration. If you purchase, for example, a […]
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Melt & Pour Soap: Soap or Cosmetic?
Whether a melt & Pour soap is a cosmetic or not depends on the ingredients and how it is marketed.
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Understanding Labels & Labeling
Is there a difference between the “label” and the “labeling” when it comes to soap and cosmetic labels? YES. (Well, mostly.) The FDA defines both “label” and “labeling” for food, drugs, and cosmetic products. The FTC defines “label” for consumer commodities other than food, drugs, and cosmetics. Most states have regulations that define “label” and “labeling” […]
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Blended Fragrances in the Ingredient Declaration
You can use the term “fragrance” in your ingredient list, but if you use essential oils, you have options.
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Myth: Soap Labels Aren’t Regulated
One of the myths that I still frequently hear is that “I can put whatever I want on my soap labels because they aren’t regulated.” I believe that particular myth got started because of the “soap exemption” in the FDA’s definition of “cosmetic:” Directly from the regulations: A product, except soap, intended to be applied to […]
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FDA Warning Letters – Drug Claims for Cosmetics
There’s been an increase in cosmetic warning letters. What sort of claims are being made?
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Cosmetic & Drug Claims
“Americans spend a lot of money on creams, lotions and other cosmetics that promise to improve their skin, hair and even eyelashes. “But sometimes those promises go too far.” So says a new page on the FDA website intended for consumers, to inform them of the differences between drugs and cosmetics. In my opinion, they’re […]
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What Is the “Common Name”?
The FDA has said that the “common name” is required for cosmetic ingredients. But what is it?
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Unpackaged Cosmetic Products
We all know that the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires that all consumer products (including cosmetics) have the identity of the product and the net contents on the front, as well as the name and address of the manufacturer somewhere on the label. Cosmetics also require a list of their ingredients. Here’s a question […]
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Helpful Pages from Updated FDA Site
The FDA continues (as of 2015) to update their website, clarifying and making things more understandable. I love the new articles as they are very clear and easy to understand (as well as many of them being targetted to small and emerging business). The only thing is that they are a little hard to find! I […]
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Labeling Book 2015 Edition – Preorder
Well, it’s finally happened. I’m OUT OF STOCK on the 2nd Edition of the book (2010)! The 2015 updated 3rd Edition (I’m calling it the “purple edition”) is almost finished. I’m on the final round of edits and updates. In a way, it’s good that the project was delayed a bit because now I’ll be […]
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FDA Responds to HSCG PO Box Petition
As handcrafters, often working out of our homes, it’s always been an issue that the street address is required on our product labels (unless published in a current phone or city directory). The Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild (HSCG) just announced that the petition they filed with the FDA in 2012 to allow the use […]