Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - Europe US edition

EU Commissioner warns of slow progress on alternatives to animal testing in cosmetics

18-Jun-2009 - An EU Commissioner has warned that progress on alternative testing methods for certain endpoints looks set to remain static for several years to come.

Chemical suppliers can ride out recession by tapping into cosmetic trends

17-Jun-2009 - Maintaining investment in the research and development of innovative ingredients that tap into key cosmetics trends can help chemical companies survive the downturn.

Colipa’s Annual Report outlines research and regulatory priorities

17-Jun-2009 - Colipa has focused on “value and values” in its Annual Report, picking out sustainability and alternative testing methods as priorities for the year ahead.

Weekly comment

Global harmonisation for organic standards looks a distant dream

16-Jun-2009 - Despite high hopes and noble thoughts, the Cosmos standard for organic and natural cosmetics is unlikely to lead to global harmonisation.

Personal care market still offers opportunities for chemical suppliers

15-Jun-2009 - The fact that consumers still want effective, multi-functional personal care products means that there remains significant demand for innovative chemicals.

US cosmetics trade body hosts legal and regulatory conference

15-Jun-2009 - Covering chemical lists, social networking, and the Obama administration, the 2009 Legal and Regulatory Conference takes place this week in Vancouver, Canada.

COSMETICS COMPACT

Cosmetics Compact: Sunscreen shenanigans and questions over SPF tests

12-Jun-2009 - Cosmetics Compact brings you the highlights of the site’s top stories, in miniature. This week we shed some light on recent discussions over the rigour and reproducibility of the SPF test.

Cosmos certification may have come too late, critics say

12-Jun-2009 - The arrival of the Cosmos organic and natural certification may have come too late for it to be a globally recognised standard, critics are claiming.

Cognis adopts principles of green chemistry to hit environmental goals

10-Jun-2009 - Speciality chemicals supplier, Cognis, has adopted a new set of guidelines to combine the internationally recognized 24 principles of green chemistry and green engineering.

Clarins and Alban Muller show support for sustainable ingredients sourcing

09-Jun-2009 - Two of the biggest names in European natural personal care have lent their support to L’Herboretum, a French project to encourage sustainable natural ingredient development.

News in brief

Lipotec claims new ingredient Melatime can enhance tanning

09-Jun-2009 - Melatime can prolong a tan up to two weeks after exposure, according to Spanish company Lipotec.

Which? SPF report could be dangerous to consumers, say industry insiders

08-Jun-2009 - The Which? report that questioned SPF values could turn consumers away from sun protection with devastating consequences, according to the UK trade body CTPA.

News in brief

Grape extracts get a boost with guaranteed polyphenol levels

05-Jun-2009 - Merlot is the first grape variety from Cosmetochem’s range to come with an assured level of polyphenols.

Alkaline formulations leave skin open to irritation, say Korean scientists

03-Jun-2009 - Skin care products should always be formulated to match the skin pH, and for dry skin, acidic products should be used, according to Korean scientists.

Greenpeace says beauty industry is contributing to Amazon destruction

02-Jun-2009 - Greenpeace has named Unilever as sourcing cattle-based by-products used in beauty products that are contributing to the deforestation of the Amazon.

Companies must work together to register chemicals for REACH

02-Jun-2009 - There is an “urgent need for action” to ensure that companies meet the first substance registration deadline under REACH of November 2010, according to the ECHA.

Dispatches from Cosmetic Science Symposium

Complexity of natural extracts may make them more effective

01-Jun-2009 - The complexity of natural extracts and fragrances might be a key to their efficacy, but it also poses problems in terms of regulation, according to cosmetic scientists.

Scientists discover greater skin bacteria diversity

29-May-2009 - Soap, deodorant and antibacterial developers will be intrigued to know that US scientists have discovered a greater variety of skin bacteria than previously documented.

Parabens' bad press based on flawed science, says industry insider

28-May-2009 - The removal of parabens by some cosmetic manufacturers is a reaction to “outrageous claims” made by the media and pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), not consumer pressure, according to Dene Godfrey from S Black.

Automated tissue engineering could revolutionise skin testing

28-May-2009 - German scientists say they have developed a new, more efficient means of reproducing skin cells for use in cosmetics testing.

Dispatches from Cosmetic Science Symposium

Green chemistry can help industry reduce its environmental impact

27-May-2009 - The industry must change the way it thinks about waste and traditional chemistry if it wants to reduce resource use, according to a green chemistry consultant.

Cosmetic Valley showcases ten cosmetic R&D start-ups

27-May-2009 - French industry organisation Cosmetic Valley is promoting ten new start-up R&D companies at the forthcoming Research and Innovation expo in Paris.

BSB Innovation Awards reveal latest cosmetic inventions

27-May-2009 - Symrise, Arch and Juvena picked up the prizes at this year’s BSB Innovation Awards for cosmetic ingredients and finished products.

Dow Corning silicone blends work with wider ingredients range

26-May-2009 - Dow Corning, the US-based skin and hair care formulation company, has developed two patented silicone organic elastomer blends that can be used with polar organic ingredients.