Helping you understand soap and cosmetic regulations — in plain English.
Hi, I’m Marie Gale.
For over 15 years I’ve been researching and following the world of laws, regulations, standards and guidelines for the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry. What started as a personal quest to understand soap and cosmetic labeling for my own products has grown into a deep understanding of the myriad of requirements that handcrafted soap and cosmetics makers are subject to.
My personal passion to assist others to understand and follow the labeling and other requirements grew out of all that research. If I had my way, no handcrafter would ever experience the stress and heartache of unwittingly running afoul of the the laws and regulations.
There is peace of mind in knowing that you are compliant with the applicable regulations. I’m here to help you achieve that stress-free relationship with your products and your business.
Whether you know it or not, you’ve been an invaluable resource for me throughout our years in business as I’ve relied on your many books whenever I have questions. I’ve recently purchased “Navigating the Rules & Regulations” and am going through it with tabs & a highlighter and am learning more than I ever expected. — Julia
Latest blog articles
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Natural Colorants, More
Since my last post about natural colorants I’ve gotten some questions about using ingredients that change the color of the soap or cosmetic, where that really wasn’t the point of the ingredient. Lets review the definitions. I’m just including the important bits, and bolding the really important bits. Color Additive Any material that is capable […]
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Natural Colorants for Soap & Cosmetics
“Natural colorants” usually means ingredients such as herbs and spices that will change the color of your product. But are they legal?
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Trade Secrets
You’ve developed the perfect product and you want to keep the formulation secret. Can you hide some of the ingredients? Well, yes and no. Key Word to Know Trade Secret Any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information which is used in one’s business and which gives one an opportunity to obtain an advantage over […]
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Looking for Product Drug Claims
When we talk about “drug claims” we are actually talking about the statements that tell the consumer that a product is intended to be used to diagnose, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or to change the structure or function of the body. How does the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determine the intended use of […]
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10 Ways to Improve Your Quality Control
“Quality control” is all about finding each little thing you can do to maintain control over the quality of your products. Here are 10 things you can do to improve your quality control.
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Anti-Aging, Rejuvenating, and Repairing Claims
The FDA’s 1988 Import Alert regarding Anti Aging Creams was withdrawn at the end of 2017. What does that mean?
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Color Additives for In-Bath Products
The FDA regulates color additives and their use. What about color additives for in-bath products?
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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.
MORE RESOURCES
Membership
$37 per month
Affordable and easily accessible ongoing support through courses, coaching, regularly scheduled Zoom Q + A sessions, a private Facebook group, and more. You don’t just learn what the rules are—you learn how to apply them to your business and get help when and how you need it.
Label Review
$125 per label
If you want another set of (experienced) eyes on your label to make sure it meets all the requirements, a label review is a good choice. A label review checks your label against the pertinent regulations. You get a checklist showing if corrections are needed (or not), along with documentation to help you understand the requirements. Label reviews take about a week. Once your review is complete, you can send me the revised label and I’ll take a look to make sure everything is in order.
I wanted my labels to be as close to compliant as I could get them. I took advantage of your label review service and can’t thank you enough for your expert advice. It was money well spent! — N.M.
Consulting
$100 – $125 per hour
Consulting is the tailor-made solution to address whatever your concerns are with your labeling, GMP, MoCRA compliance, safety substantiation, and the like. Consulting can be as simple as just answering the questions you have by email, phone or online meeting, or it can cover reviewing all your labels, ingredient declarations, website copy, safety substantiation documentation, and good manufacturing practices. It’s your call – I’m here to help with what you need.
I speak on behalf of the entire team that we are all very appreciative of your work in helping us grow our brand. It is a big step for us, and you have been instrumental in making that a reality. Thank you for your help. — D.C..
Books
