Blog Posts

Find out more about all aspects of soap and cosmetic labeling, regulations, legislation, and news!

  • Mary’s Monkey

    As one of my personal projects, I am scanning and correctly, archivally storing the family collection of papers and documents.  Yesterday I scanned a collection of 400 post cards dating from 1908 to 1920. One little series mentioned soap, so I read it carefully … and I just have to share: Mary has a little Monkey…

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  • Myth: Soap Labels Aren’t Regulated

    One of the myths that I still frequently hear is that “I can put whatever I want on my soap labels because they aren’t regulated.”  I believe that particular myth got started because of the “soap exemption” in the FDA’s definition of “cosmetic”: A product, except soap, intended to be applied to the human body for…

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  • Bittersweet Weekend Trip

    As a sort of pre-Memorial Day Weekend trip, Jere and I, accompanied by dogs Duke and Xena, went on a short jaunt north and then back down the coast. It was a trial run with the dogs in the RV, to see if they (and we) would be able to do it.

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  • It’s harder than you think

    Running away from home in our new RV is turning out to be a little more complicated than one would think. So many things to consider and take care of. The biggest issue is getting rid of all our STUFF, since it won’t fit in the RV!  The good news is that we’re making progress.…

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  • FDA Warning Letters – Drug Claims for Cosmetics

    I get notices when the FDA sends out warning letters and it seemed like there has been an increase in warnings to cosmetic companies for drug claims. So I checked. Yes – there definitely has been an increase. One would guess that the FDA is looking a little more carefully at the claims being made.…

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  • Personal Care Products Safety Act (2015)

    On April 20th, 2015, Senators Diane Feinstein (D – CA) and Susan Collins (R – ME) introduced The Personal Care Products Safety Act (S. 1014), which, if passed, will update the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as it pertains to cosmetics. There has been considerable discussion about various aspects of the bill and what its…

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  • Running Away From Home in an RV

    Last month, Jere and I announced to family our intention to get an RV and “run away from home,” living and working on the road as we travel around the US seeing the sights and visiting friends and family. Yesterday it became a lot more REAL.  I actually drove our new (to us) RV. Actually, it wasn’t…

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  • Wildlife Society Award to Chandler Family Ranch

    I was just informed that our ranch, of which I have been the Operations Manager for 12 years, has been awarded the Private Landowner Stewardship Award by the Oregon Chapter of the Wildlife Society!  The award is one of two civic recognitions they give out annually.  From their website: “Private Landowner Stewardship Award “This civic award…

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  • Cosmetic & Drug Claims

    Americans spend a lot of money on creams, lotions and other cosmetics that promise to improve their skin, hair and even eyelashes. But sometimes those promises go too far. So says a new page on the FDA website intended for consumers to inform them of the differences between drugs and cosmetics. In my opinion, they’re…

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  • What is the “Common Name”?

    The FDA has said that the “common name”1Ingredient Names, FDA Website. Also 15 USC 1454(c)(3) is required for cosmetic ingredients. But what does that mean, exactly? Let me tell you the story of the Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and INCI names. Once upon a time … Back in the 1970’s, a book called the Cosmetic Ingredient…

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  • Unpackaged Cosmetic Products

    We all know that the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires that all consumer products (including cosmetics) have the identity of the product and the net contents on the front, the name and address of the manufacturer somewhere on the label.  Cosmetics also require the ingredients to be listed. Here’s a question that has come…

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