FEATURE ARTICLES

Rough skin, which occurs because of barrier disruption, is one of the most important cosmetic problems. The outermost surface of the body is covered by the stratum corneum, which is an effective barrier essential for preventing epidermal water loss and impeding the entry of external stimulus.

Often described as the skin’s barrier function, the epidermis is considered to be the first protection of our body against external factors.

Since before the time of ancient Rome, sweet almond oil has been an effective moisturiser and beauty treatment. These civilisations prized beauty at least as much as contemporary populations and the purity of their skin oils, salves and lotions quite literally set the standard for the unadulterated, natural ingredients we use today.

This article aims to give an overview of how cosmetics are regulated in the United States of America. It looks at the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, adulterated and misbranded cosmetics, colour additives, sunscreen products, and the role of the Food and Drug Administration

Skin redness is a true cosmetic concern. Redness is an indication that there is inflammation in the skin and blood is rushing in to try to heal it. Red has never been a synonym of calm and tranquility. Redness is skin's default reaction to any number of conditions but the three most common are rosacea, allergies and skin sensitivity.

This article will outline the development process of new preservative solutions by Sharon Laboratories: Sharon™ Amplify, and SharoSense™ Plus. The industry analysis that led the decision to develop two new concepts ‘less is more’ and ‘synthetic-naturals’ as well as review the product efficacy and compatibility for the personal care industry.

Sulfate-free or not sulfate-free? That is the question when customers are studying the INCI list of personal care products and find ingredients like surfactants based on sulfoacetates or sulfosuccinates. In fact, the discussion linked to that question is rather fruitless but one by one….

Most personal care products are emulsions which can be defined as stabilised fluid systems of liquids that do not normally like to mix, like oil and water. The peacekeeper in such systems is called an emulsifier. Emulsifiers combine a water-loving head holding to the water phase and a fat-loving tail that clings to the oil phase.

There are regular news stories circulating about how people need to avoid settling into a sedentary lifestyle in order to prevent serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Over the past few years, the awareness of gender and its increasing non-correlation with the sexes has soared. Generation-Z has driven us towards the belief that gender is in fact a spectrum made up of behavioural, psychological and cultural traits. It is different from person to person and for some people it is different day to day.

Humans are tribal, and as such have a tendency to align themselves to a set of ideals and connect with other similarly minded people. As part of a tribe, people will seek to ensure as many aspects of their life conform to their particular ideals, shaping the world around them.

The 39th Annual NYSCC Suppliers’ Day will be the anchor of a Beauty Week in New York that will bring the entire industry together and provide unparalleled innovations and opportunities for the beauty and personal care industry.

Launched by cosmetic glitter supplier Ronald Britton, the new Bioglitter brand is the first legally compliant, naturally degradable glitter, to hit the market. It will give new options to formulators of glitter cosmetics, offering an eco-friendly product that will help tackle the problems of microplastic pollution in the environment.

Article 3 of EU Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (‘the Regulation’)1 states that: “a cosmetic product made available on the market shall be safe for human health when used under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use”.

Excessive sebum production can give rise to oily skin, shiny appearance, enlarged pores and favour the development of acne lesions. The care of acne-prone skin involves the use of harsh molecules, wash out and multi-step products that irritate the skin and limit user compliance.

Skin ageing is a multifactorial process that involves outdoor and indoor environmental factors. Outdoor stress factors, such as UV radiation and air pollution, have been already recognised for their role in accelerating skin ageing. The role of indoor factors has not been well highlighted yet.

Several key changes have occurred in the personal care industry over the last twenty years. Firstly, there are fewer chemists working on the development of new formulations, due in part to consolidation and downsizing of the industry. Secondly, the lead time for new products has contracted. Thirdly, the regulatory requirements have expanded considerably. These changes have forced the formulator to work in a more efficient way, minimising the steps needed to commercialise a product.

The desire for natural cosmetics and personal care products has taken the industry into an exciting and challenging direction over the past few years. Indie brands and startups are now seen as proactive pioneers.

Because oily hair comes from a functional imbalance in the hair bulb, this needs to be corrected through targeted action on the production of oily substances, and also on the general protection of the hair.

The prolonged use of heat styling devices may lead to cumulative effects on the hair fibre. These involve various physical and chemical changes of hair cuticle and cortex structure that seem significantly linked to a gradual protein thermal denaturation after exposure to high temperatures