What is Ethical Sourcing for the Cosmetic Industry? Climate crisis: we are the problem, and we are the solution. How can we, the cosmetic industry, more actively help mitigate climate threats? I believe that “ethics” desperately needs to be added to our commitment to ingredient supply. More so, include thoughtfulness about the long-term impacts of […]
Read MoreWhat exactly does “transparency” mean and what is its value? It means knowing where your ingredients come from and who grows & processes them: complete transparency back to the producers. What is its value? The ability to protect your supply and anticipate your costs. Why is this important? Climate change is hammering farmers. Costs go up and supply goes […]
Read MoreI recently read a “transparency plan” that caused me to stop and reflect. While the brand was able to call out the location from which each ingredient came, I’m not so sure that they understood how the ingredients were made. Or, exactly what the inputs were in each ingredient. For this Earth Day we are […]
Read MoreLet’s be clear. This blog is not going to look at safety of essential oils (EOs) except to say, the world seems pretty messed up about “safety” and EOs. I recently saw a study issued by “doctors”, saying that lavender oil was causing a physical reaction. When I looked at the products examined by the […]
Read MoreLately I’ve heard that “natural” is not “sustainable”. Let’s explore a few things. A very little history… Essential and natural oils have been used for 10,000 plus years in every region in the world. There is a lovely article in the current edition of the NYSCC “Cosmetiscope” about the history of “natural ingredients”. This small […]
Read MoreI once asked an FDA inspector what her basic rule was for ingredient claims and she said, “tell the truth”. That means, you need to know what the truth is. Certificates Ask for certificates. If it is organic, you are required by law to be able to prove it with a certificate. If it […]
Read MoreAlright folks. I’ve had it. We’ve been promoting and selling organic ingredients into the cosmetic space for 22 years and now there are multiple companies talking about the “sustainable” ingredients they sell. I call BS and here is why. I just read an interview of someone saying they were making “natural” ingredients but their supply […]
Read MoreEvery time I turn around there is a new standard. Some people make “dirty lists” and call them standards but how can a two or three page list cover all the problematic chemicals used in personal care? Some standards are laws or regulations: the Organic Rules are a regulation (law) but COSMOS is a private […]
Read MoreDisclaimer : This article was originally published on BPC Insights April 27, 2021 What does L’Oréal’s renewable ingredients pledge mean? A couple of weeks ago L’Oréal announced that by 2030 “95% of its ingredients will be derived from renewable plant source, abundant mineral, of circular process…”. They made a number of commitments around downstream impact, water use, […]
Read MoreShort and to the point… FACTS: • Oil is, by its’ very nature, more fluid when it is warm. • Organic production requires that no solvents are used, the oil is “mechanically” pressed. No chemicals are used to extract the oil. • Most organic oil is produced by an expeller press: “An expeller press or “screw press,” […]
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