Articles

Apr 23, 2008 - Natural vs. organic vs. certified organic In Australia by Greg Milham

There is currently a lot of confusion in the cosmetic and natural skin care market with many companies riding on the back of the growing swell of consumer support for organic products...
May 2, 2008 - IN COSMETICS 2008 : what’s interesting ? by Patricia Lemann

There were a lot of exhibitors and interesting new raw materials at IN-COSMETICS this year in Amsterdam. Every exhibitor paid special attention to their presentation, along with beautiful visual effects, attractive stands, impressive textures, formulations and demonstrations...
Apr 25, 2008 - Turmeric as a cosmeceutical ingredient by Vispi Kanga

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), plant of the Zingiberaceae family, is known as haldi, kunyit, gelbwurzel, safran des Indes, dilau, cúrcuma, açafrão, yellow or golden ginger. The rhizomes of this plant, when dried and ground, provide a yellow and flavorful powder, used for centuries as a natural coloring agent in food, cosmetics and textiles, as a flavoring compound and also as insect repellent...
Mar 3, 2008 - New technology for skincare products by Imogen Matthews

The skincare market has come a long way from basic water-in-oil formulas. Traditionally, it went that the thicker the cream, the better it moisturised. This premise has been blown away by new light low-fat formulations that hydrate the skin without clogging the pores...
Mar 3, 2008 - The beauty industry seeks inspiration from food by Imogen Matthews

For centuries food ingredients have been used in cosmetic formulations, but never more so than now...
Feb 29, 2008 - Ethnic Skin and Hair Care by Pr. Marie-Claude MARTINI

So-called “Ethnic” treatments are addressed to two types of population. Firstly phototype V and VI populations who are mixed-race and Black, and secondly phototype III and IV populations who are Asian...
Feb 1, 2008 - Global Organic Certification by Nick Morante

Organic certification of ingredients and products is not just a US Department of Agriculture thing it is very much a global happening...
Jan 17, 2008 - Novel Approaches to Prevent Skin Aging by Nick Morante

History tells us that we can slow down the aging process by providing our bodies with vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants. But what about our skin?
Jan 11, 2008 - Celebrity boom or burnout? by Imogen Matthews

A key driver in today’s beauty markets is celebrity endorsement as companies rush to sign up the latest hot name. A well-known name is a guaranteed way of creating instant brand awareness and in many cases can galvanise a company’s sales and profits...
Jan 2, 2008 - Henna Dye - Origin, uses, chemistry and allergic reactions by Vispi Kanga

Henna or Hina (Lawsonia inermis, syn. L. alba) is a flowering tall shrub, 2-6m high. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia, Africa and northern Australasia. Pure or green Henna is commercially cultivated in western India, Pakistan, Morocco, Yemen, Iran, Sudan and Libya...
Dec 10, 2007 - New powders for skin care products (and foundations) by Patricia Lemann

Even if powder particles are commonly known and used in make-up products, it is slightly different for skin care products...
Dec 5, 2007 - Cosmetics for Teens by Pr. Marie-Claude MARTINI

All surveys on adolescents’ requests relating to cosmetic products have the same result. What really interest them are products that can improve acne, and makeup...
Nov 29, 2007 - New powders for skin care products and foundations by Patricia Lemann

Even if powder particles are commonly known and used in make-up products, it is slightly different for skin care products. Skin care product formulators are aware of possible destabilisation of the interface oil/water of emulsions, dispersion problems in the formulation, re-agglomeration over time or unpleasant feelings on application, when added powders in their sophisticated emulsions...
Nov 5, 2007 - Nutricosmetics Products – Part 1 by Vispi Kanga

'Nutracosmetics' are a new class of products in the health and beauty aids category. They incorporate nutraceutical ingredients in topical delivery systems with the elegance, skin feel and ancillary benefits of cosmetics. Nutracosmetics differ from cosmeceuticals in the origin of their functional ingredients...
Nov 1, 2007 - New Ingredients for Special Claims by Nick Morante

New claims are being made for cosmetic products every day. Suppliers are presenting new ingredients as fast as we can launch new products...
Oct 26, 2007 - Trends – New Product with Active Ingredients by Nick Morante

I came across a new and interesting group of skin care products that contain some active ingredients that just may be a step above what is currently on the market today. I say that because the product contains every active ingredient imaginable. It contains them all. You would probably have to purchase half a dozen or more different products to get the benefits that this one product offers.
Oct 25, 2007 - Interview with George Hammer, founder of Urban Retreat and U R Beautiful by Imogen Matthews

George Hammer could be described as a visionary. He was the man who brought Jane Fonda's aerobic dance concept from California to London in 1975, pioneering the fitness craze that is still in full swing today...
Oct 23, 2007 - COLIPA by Nick Morante

I’m writing this article for the benefit of our colleagues in the US cosmetics industry. In the United States, the cosmetics industry relies on The Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association (CTFA) for guidance and as a liaison between the different government agencies such as the FDA...
Oct 17, 2007 - Booming interest in naturals/organics by Imogen Matthews

The launch of Origins Organics signals a new phase in the development of natural and organic beauty products. No longer the domain of small cottage-industry brands, whose owners mix products in their kitchens, organic is now moving into the mainstream.
Oct 12, 2007 - Irritation and Allergy Potential for Cosmetic Ingredients by Nick Morante

Cosmetic ingredients, especially those that have a natural origin, can be prone to sensitivity in humans. The reaction can be very mild and almost unnoticeable to very severe requiring medical attention. I personally consider irritation and allergy potential as very closely related although there are differences between the two.
Oct 1, 2007 - Exfoliating Cleansers by Vispi Kanga

Consumers recognize the vital role of skin in overall health. Scrub products, also called Skin or Body Polishes are a unique category of cleansing tools called Exfoliating Cleansers...
Sep 28, 2007 - Treatments for Acne by Nick Morante

There are various skin ailments that people worry about. There is contact dermatitis, skin irritation from allergic reactions to foods or cosmetics, and probably the most hideous of them all, acne. Acne manifests itself usually with on set of puberty and can continue onward in years until it is outgrown. In rare cases it sometimes doesn't entirely go away and remain to bother people well after their teen years...
Sep 14, 2007 - Comedogenicity by Nick Morante

Cosmetic ingredients are grades according to their ability to form comedones. This has been a concern for cosmetic formulators for many years. Ingredients that do not cause comedones are said to be non-comedogenic. Comedogenicity or pore clogging is very closely linked to acne...
Sep 1, 2007 - Detoxification and your skin by OMC author

Learn to help your body glow from the inside out. Nourish it with foods that are pure and natural. Remove harmful substances from your diet and you will notice a difference in the way you look and feel.
Sep 1, 2007 - Eczema: Getting the facts by OMC author

People from all walks of life and all ages live with eczema; however, it typically appears in infants. Also called contact dermatitis, eczema is actually a group of skin conditions. Although it may sometimes look like a contagious condition, eczema is not contagious.
Aug 15, 2007 - Entering the Spa Market by Nick Morante

In this ever-expanding industry there are always new ways to market goods and services. If you are interested in opening up a new spa or just become a director of a spa, here are some pointers to get you on the right track. First one must start with fundamentals and then go on understanding the benefits of offering various spa treatments...
Aug 1, 2007 - Differences between Moisturizers and Humectants by Nick Morante

There has always been some confusion between what a moisturizer is and what a humectant is, especially where the consumer is concerned. To put it simply, a moisturizer is any substance or mixtures of chemical agents specially designed to make the external layers of the skin or epidermis softer and more pliable, by increasing its hydration or water content...
Jul 19, 2007 - Eye Area Dark Circles – A Complex Problem by Nick Morante

I sat with a supplier a few weeks ago on my trip to California for the SCC meeting. We discussed a lot of personal stuff as well as some technical information that I was going to take to a client...
Jul 13, 2007 - How sleep affects our skin by Lori Stryker, B.Sc., B.H.Ec., B.Ed.

Sleep is a "natural, temporary loss of consciousness" (Robinson, 1941) necessary for our bodies to build up energy reserves and regenerate body cells and tissues.
Jul 12, 2007 - Skin Irritation & anti-irritants by Vispi Kanga

Cosmetics and skin care products are part of most people's daily grooming habits. Intact or uninjured skin is an excellent barrier to most substances found in cosmetics and skin care products...

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