Ingredients:News

Consultation in Australia on 4-MBC

On 11 September 2026, the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration), which regulates cosmetic products in Australia, launched a one-month consultation on the conditions of use for the UV filter 4-MBC (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor).

IFRA 52: the end-of-consultation letter

On 31 August 2026, the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) issued its End-of-Consultation Letter on the 52nd Amendment to its Standards, the consultation period for which ended on 12 June.

Capric Acid: intention to amend the CLH classification

On 2 September 2026, ECHA (the European Chemicals Agency) announced Austria’s intention to introduce an amendment to the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) for decanoic acid.

The British SAG-CS has published seven new Opinions

During the summer of 2026, the U.K.’s SAG-CS (Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety), the equivalent of the European SCCS, published the conclusions of its final opinions issued from December 2025 through June 2026. Not all of these conclusions are aligned with those of the European SCCS.

Climbazole: proposal of CLH classification

On 19 August 2026, ECHA (the European Chemicals Agency) forwarded Belgium’s proposal for the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) of Climbazole, a preservative.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Bizarre ingredients in cosmetics: we have not yet seen anything!

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Snails’ slime, snakes’ venom, sperm whale’s vomit, ostrich oil … so many new bizarre ingredients moved up in our anti-ageing elixirs! An animal-based ...

Monday, January 28, 2013

Europe: Methylene glycol explained to consumers

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In June 2012, the European Scientific Committee for the Consumer Safety (SCCS) released an Opinion in which it concluded that methylene glycol, used i...

Monday, January 21, 2013

Europe: the allergens explained to consumers

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The Opinion had caused some buzz and concern among perfumers and cosmetics manufacturers: the European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS)...

Monday, January 21, 2013

ECHA recommends 10 substances for authorization

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For the fourth time, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), responsible for the classification of substances under the REACH Regulation, recommends the...

Monday, January 14, 2013

Nanomaterials: the safety assessment

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On the 6 July, 2012, the SCCS released its Guidance on the safety assessment of nanomaterials in cosmetics. A sixty-two page document, which Clara Arr...

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Nanos: the declaration "à la française"

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Time has gone when nanos shall be declared. Further to the declaration on the European level, as required in the Regulation on cosmetics, another one ...

Friday, January 4, 2013

Nanos: the Regulation in practice (obligations and agenda)

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On 11 January 2013, the on-line portal for notification of cosmetic nano-materials was made operational by the European Commission. Should you hurry u...

Friday, December 21, 2012

SCCS Opinion: Dichloromethane is not considered safe

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Dichloromethane (CAS: 75-09-2), listed as a solvent in the CosIng, is currently restricted to a concentration of up to 35% in cosmetic products. This ...

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Will Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) clear parabens?

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A warning is sometimes enough, when relayed by a buzz shown over and over the world over on the Internet and in media, for "discovering" the undesirab...

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

SCCS : 5 new Opinions open for comments

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They have been adopted during the 17th plenary meeting, on 11 December, 2012, and are open for comments until 1st February, 2013. The SCCS has just re...

Thursday, December 13, 2012

A hair dye involved in a death

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In December 2011, CosmeticOBS-L’Observatoire des Cosmétiques reproduced a piece of information from the UK Daily Mail: a 38-year old woman went into a...

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Trendy, or not trendy preservatives

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The preservatives are the family of cosmetic ingredients that are the most questioned and are media hype, and are also the source of concerns for cons...