July 22nd, 2010
Yesterday, the Safe Cosmetics Act was introduced into the House of Representatives. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is one of the biggest pushers of this bill that will “overhaul the law that allows chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, or other illnesses in the products we use on our bodies every day.”
While on paper this sounds like a way to flush out the bad beauty perpetrators in the personal care industry, there is much criticism about this bill from the beauty industry.
This new bill, as best as I can decipher, would regulate the cosmetic industry by forcing companies to provide much more information to the FDA about their ingredients, safety data assessments and full company/product details.
The bill would also set up a database for cosmetic ingredients through the FDA. Those ingredients would then be classified into three categories – prohibited, restricted and safe without limits.
Again, all great on paper, right? Well the Personal Care Products Council says not in reality. The PCPC says the Act is ‘not based on credible and established scientific principles.’
In a statement from the PCPC, this new Act would put a huge if not impossible burden on the FDA, creating a regulatory structure for cosmetics that is greater than any other FDA regulated category – including food or drugs.
This bill is long, vaguely defined and full of lengthy, perplexing language. Please check out this other pieces on the legislation and let me know what you think. This is a huge deal for us small beauty businesses………
- FDA Law Blog
- The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 has been introduced
- Safe Cosmetics Act 2010
- Essential U Blog
What’s your verdict?
Tags: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, FDA, personal care products, Safe Cosmetics Act
Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, News, Skin & Body Care/Treatments | No Comments »
July 21st, 2010
The beauty and personal care product industry has stepped up to the plate when it comes to sustainable packaging and products. But what happens when a company invests potentially millions of dollars into designing sustainable packaging and once that product is finished, it no longer becomes sustainable?
Well this is the next hurdle in the not-so-eco world. The problem is that consumers do not always have an earth-friendly option when it comes to disposing of the recyclable material.
Depending on geographical location, that product that you went out of your way to buy and probably spent a little more money on may not have a recycling facility that will take it.
Not only do recycling regulations and facilities vary from country to country, in the U.S. the regulations vary state to state, county to county and even suburb to city.
If you one of the lucky, this is not your problem. Your city/county has gone out of its way to regulate recycling and provide adequate resources so everyone can play their part.
But if you live in the majority of the country, you packaging might have been sent to the land fill because of plastic pumps or other material that cannot be sorted due to a lack of adequate recycling facilities.
So what now? Well I have heard two reasonable responses:
- One, companies that provide recyclable packaging should have a way for consumers to return it, once used, so the company can recycle it. Or have an in-store depository so consumers can return used product and packaging.
- Two, there should be a national recycling program. Recycling facilities need to make adjustments to their rules and regulations and better implement their programs.
You be the judge…which one sounds more viable? Let me know………..
Tags: eco-beauty, recycling beauty products, sustainable packaging
Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Green Living | No Comments »
July 20th, 2010
I know I read at least one new study on skin care a week. Every time we turn around they have found the next big thing to fight aging, blemishes, or anything else we don’t like about our skin.
Well this post is not about a new treatment or beauty product, just the facts when it comes to your skin and the care it needs.
Here is the skinny on skin care:
- The skin is linked to everything else that takes place in your body. All of its function can be affected by things that penetrate your skin.
- If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer you have double the risk of developing other types of cancer.
- The sun is responsible for 80% of the effects of aging.
- Before the age of 18, 70% of the aging process has started
- Stress is the number 1 cause of free radical damage, aka fine lines, wrinkles, redness, inflammation, breakouts and sagging skin.
While there are thousands, maybe even millions of products you can use to take care of your skin, it is equally important to remember what goes inside the body.
Antioxidants are key to maintaining healthy skin and a healthy body. They also provided stress reduction.
Look for products containing the following:
- Vitamin A - retinol and retinyl palmitate
- Vitamins B and E
- 20% vitamin C serums
- Minerals - zinc, iron, copper and potassium
And on the inside incorporate these foods that are high in antioxidants:
- Green and/or red tea
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Almonds
- Cranberries
Whats your key to good skin care and protection?
Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, Beauty Care & Treatments, Scandle Candle, Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Skin Cancer, Skin Care, Skin Damage | No Comments »
July 19th, 2010
Hope y’all had a great weekend and are ready for the work week
Throughout the year I have continuously received or came across articles with head lines about nano compounds and particles in beauty and personal care products.
Well, a new report published this week says these new ingredients are so popular that they could give way to a new personal care category.
Nanotechnology involves the creation of certain compounds that are incredibly small, fewer than 100 nanometers; so small that they are less than one thousandth the width of a human hair.
So what’s the big deal with nano-cosmetics? Well in the beginning of time (beauty research time that is) scientists believed that the skin was impervious to almost all particles. But nano-particles can potentially slip through the skin’s outer layer and interact with the immune system or bloodstream.
Nano-titanium dioxide has become an industry standard in the sun care industry because of its effective protection and anti-aging potential. And now nano-particles have found their way into hair care too.
Three years ago there were only a couple hundred products on the market that listed nano-material as a key ingredient. Currently there are over 1,000 personal care/cosmetic products throughout the world.
But with the new technology comes concerns about its safety. Because nano-particles can penetrate the skin, pressure to discover whether there are any potential health and safety concerns has led to a $15 million pledge by the FDA to issue new regulations.
The concern is that some of the nano chemicals would normally cause irritation in original, large size; but because of their nano size they are able to penetrate the skin without causing irritation. But while you will definitely see results from these treatments, the long term affects of these harsher chemicals are not yet known.
What do you think? Are nano-cosmetics here to stay? Are they safe? Have you tried products that boast about their nano technology?
Tags: nano cosmetics, nanotechnology
Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty Treatments, Consumer Reports, Hair Treatments, Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Skin Care | No Comments »
July 15th, 2010
Massage or Lotion Candles, while not as well known as a typical home candle, have been around for many years. But because of their recent rise in popularity, some myths and misconceptions about this emerging body and spa product has created some debate on their safety.
A massage/lotion candle does not contain the same ingredients as a home candle. Its ingredients can include soy butter or oil, coco butter, shea butter, vitamin E and/or jojoba. No massage candle should ever contain paraffin, which requires a much higher melting point and can burn the skin.
Here are some common misconceptions about lotion/massage candles:
- They will burn your skin. Massage candles melt at two degrees above your body temperature, which at 100-102 degrees will not burn skin.
- Massage candles contain candle dyes, which are not skin safe. While there are skin safe candle dyes out there, the majority of massage candles do not contain any dye. If you are concerned, opt for a dye-free massage candle.
- Fragrance oil used in candles is not skin safe. While the oil used to create the fragrance in a home candle is not skin safe, massage candles use body safe fragrances or essential oils to create the aroma in their candles.
- The flame from a massage candle will burn you. While this is definitely true, massage candles are meant to be used after the flame is extinguished. No massage candle requires the flame be lit to use.
- The soy wax that is bought for candle making is not a cosmetic grade of wax. While it is true that soy candles, burnt for aromatherapy purposes and NOT massage, are made from regular soy wax. Any reputable massage candle is made of cosmetic grade, FDA regulated soy wax. All massage candles must meet FDA regulation and list all of the ingredients on their label.
Benefits of cosmetic grade soy massage candles:
- Contain a complex blend of soy and all natural vegetable oils
- Do not contain paraffin or other petroleum-based ingredients
- They burn without releasing harmful toxins into the air
- After use, the candles quickly cool and resolidify
- Because of the natural healing properties of cosmetic grade soy, lotion candles can be used as a manicure/pedicure treatment, massage or daily moisturizer
The massage candle is a versatile product that can provide many therapeutic benefits and can add aroma and ambiance to any setting. However, as is such the case with any new and expanding market, there are bound to be companies in existence that do not adhere to regulations in the industry.
We encourage all consumers, spas, and retailers to do your research before making your massage candle purchases. As with any cosmetic product you use on your body, read the ingredient label and always follow the directions and warning labels.
Tags: lotion candle, lotion candles, massage candle, massage candles, Scandle Candle
Posted in Scandle Candle | 2 Comments »
July 14th, 2010
Whole Foods recently announced their new standard for organic beauty products. But what exactly does this mean for the natural cosmetic/body care industry?
The recent announcement says Whole Foods will only stock cosmetic and personal care products with the word organic on the product label if they comply with the USDA National Organic Program. All of the products must be third-party certified.
Claims on everything from shaving cream to lip balms to soaps have been sold with the “organic” label. Now Whole Foods is leading the way, but wait - there is one problem…….
While true organic companies are happy about getting impostors off the shelves, USDA’s standards were written for food products, not personal care or beauty.
Here is one example of the cons in rushing those fake greenies out -
Say you use mineral salt, which is a natural element in a deodorant or hair product. The USDA doesn’t allow mineral salt, only table salt, in organic food products. But you never made the personal care item for the intention of consuming, right?
And another concern is over the natural preservatives required to give personal products a “shelf life?” I know I cannot go through a bottle of shampoo in a couple of days
What do you think? Did we jump the gun without proper certification processes? Or is this a long time coming?
Tags: beauty regulations, certificying organic, personal care, Whole Foods
Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Skin & Body Care/Treatments | No Comments »
July 13th, 2010
We are so excited to welcome another distrubutor to the Scandle family. As we continue to grow and expand into other countries, I would like to thank all of you for the continued support!
Scandle Body Massage Candles and All Natural Spa Products Now Available in Vietnam.
Since Scandle’s inception in 2005, the company’s unique Body Massage Candles and complementary spa products have become a coveted treatment and retail product with distinguished spas, boutiques, and retailers throughout the world.
“Although the spa industry was almost nonexistent in Vietnam before the turn of the century,” said Christine White, founder and CEO of Scandle, LLC, “the growth in Vietnam’s tourism industry has created a flourishing spa market. We are excited to partner with Anh Em to expand Scandle into this growing marketplace.”
About Anh Em Company- Founded in 2008, Anh Em distributes spa products to five-star resorts and spas throughout Vietnam.
For more information about Anh Em Company contact [email protected] or call 084 919396644 or 084 909711795.
Tags: new di, new distributor, new partnership, Scandle in Vietnam
Posted in Massage, News, Scandle Candle | No Comments »
July 12th, 2010
Years and years ago some of the long-standing beauty companies made their brands known to the common woman through drug and grocery stores.
Well the 80s, 90s and early 2000s saw a rise in “specialty” beauty and the trips to the drug stores were seen as a beauty “faux paw.” Well chalk it up to the recession or people’s budget-friendly mindsets but drugstore beauty is back and high end luxury brands better take note!!
Walmart is now the biggest beauty retailer in the US and according to the 2010 Pink report from The Benchmarking Company, 71% of women shop for beauty and personal care products in Walmart every week.
Walgreens also just announced that its June sales were boosted by a rise in demand for beauty products. I have always been a fan of so-called “drug store” beauty and I think this is great!
If you do not want to brave the Walmart crowds or are not a fan of their controversial business models, Walgreens, CVS, Target, etc. all have stepped up their cosmetic selection and some even carry true green product lines.
So what do you think? Are you a drugstore beauty? Or do you think luxury brands deserve luxury stores?
Tags: budget friendly beauty, drug store beauty, personal care products
Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments | No Comments »
July 9th, 2010
Happy Friday y’all, hope you have a great weekend. I hope the rain will stay away this weekend so we can get to the dog park. With that said, I was doing some research on natural pet care and came across the first luxury skin care made for dogs.
The pet care industry continues to rise despite the economy because more and more people are going out of their way to pamper their pets. From luxury spa treatments to gourmet “barkerys” the industry continues to thrive.
While there is a large spectrum of skin care for dogs with particular skin conditions, the first luxury skin care treatment has just hit the shelves.
It all originated from a natural-based skin product to treat horses and the success prompted the creation of the first essential oil, dog approved skin care spray.
The new skin care spray is made with lemongrass and neem, which has been used for centuries for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is an all-natural repellent for insects and treats skin allergies. And dogs really like the smell of the two essential oils combined
While this new product is only available oversees, it should be hitting American stores soon.
Do you pamper your puppy? What is the best “beauty treatment” you have splurged on for your dog?
Tags: all-natrual pet treatments, dog skin treatments, dog sprays, dog treatments
Posted in Scandle Candle | No Comments »
July 8th, 2010
With all of us cutting back a little on “luxury” I thought it would be great to highlight a unique, wonderful treatment that can cost relatively nothing if you have a shower – steaming.
By all means, if you have a gym or your regular spa/massage center has a steam room, take advantage of it. There are so many pros to steaming; it might get a little long to list them all
A 15-minute steam can open your pores, increase your metabolism and elevate your heart rate. Some spas have incorporated the use of aromatherapy in steam rooms to add additional health and relaxation benefits.
A steam is also extremely beneficial before or after a massage. Not only does a sauna provide relieve for joint pain, muscle tension, poor circulation, inflammation and allergies, it provides detoxification, eliminating harmful toxins from the body.
Dermatologists recommend steaming to help create a healthy, glowing complexion. Serious sweating washes the skin better than soap and water can. It can unlock the pores and cause grime and dead cells to “wash away.” A steam also increases blood circulation to the skin, leading to a healthy glow.
Not only are steams good for your complexion and muscles it also helpful for people who suffer from respiratory conditions like asthma.
Do you steam? Do you have some benefits I forgot? Let me know how you steam clean…..
Tags: steam room, steam treatment, steaming
Posted in Beauty Treatments, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Healthy Living, Home Treatments, Massage, Natural Remedies, Spa, Workout Therapy | No Comments »
