Ingredients:News

p-Cymene, Burgeonal group, Silver Nitrate...: the Opinion of the GB HSE

On 2 April 2026, the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), the agency responsible for the CLP Regulation in Great Britain, published its Opinions on the harmonised classification and labelling of several cosmetic ingredients in the GB MCL (Mandatory Classification and Labelling), the equivalent of Annex VI of the European CLP Regulation. Many are in line with the corresponding opinions of ECHA’s RAC, but not all…

Allergens: Canada updates the Cosmetic Notification Form

As announced, Health Canada has just updated its Cosmetics Notification Form to reflect its new “flexible approach” regarding the disclosure of the concentration information of certain fragrance allergens.

CLH classifications: Intention for Climbazole, proposal for Benzylhemiformal

On 1 April 2026, ECHA (the European Chemicals Agency) announced that two preservatives used in cosmetics were the subject of an intention for harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) (for Climbazole) and a classification proposal (for Benzylhemiformal).

IARC classifies Butyraldehyde in Group 2B

On March 27, 2026, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced the publication in The Lancet Oncology of the results of its assessment of the carcinogenicity of Butyraldehyde, a fragrance ingredient.

Restrictions on PFAS in Europe: moving towards a ban with no exemptions for cosmetics

The lengthy process of restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe is entering its final stages. The opinion of the RAC (Risk Assessment Committee) and the draft opinion of the SEAC (Socio-Economic Analysis Committee) of ECHA have now been published, and the public consultation on the latter is open until 25 May 2026.

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...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Sunlight May Enhance Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles skin penetration

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The majority of scientific studies on Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles, used in cosmetic products and especially in sunscreens, conclude that they remai...

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Anti-oxidants and cutaneous pathologies: which prospects for cosmetics?

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The oxidative stress (and the formation of free radicals) is a major factor of aggression against the human cells, and is strongly linked to many skin...

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Hydration: which active ingredients, for which action?

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Hydration, so useful for our skins, so present in cosmetic products sales points, may be improved, thanks to specific active ingredients. There is cur...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Parabens: a new European evaluation

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Indeed, the debate on parabens is far from over! A complementary element to add to their already bad track record: a new evaluation of two of them, to...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Propyl and Butyl parabens: a request for the SCCS opinion

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Propyl- and butyl- parabens: is their safety for use to be evaluated again? Anyway, the SCCS is resquested today to reconsider its previous evaluation...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Nanos: the European definition

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On 18 October 2011, the European Commission proposed a “universal definition of nanomaterials that shall be used for any regulatory purposes”, i.e. an...

Monday, October 29, 2012

Triclosan: the BEUC position

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The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has just released its position on Triclosan. According to this organisation, the use of triclosan needs to b...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Marine Ingredients in Cosmetics: Sustainability implications

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The cosmetics industry is increasingly turning to the sea and oceans in the search for new ingredients. Although many novel raw materials are emerging...

Monday, October 22, 2012

SCCS: 2 new Opinions open for comments

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They have been adopted by written procedure on 12 October 2012, and are open for comments until 15 November. The SCCS has just released 2 new Opinions...

Friday, October 19, 2012

Ethoxydiglycol: a request for the SCCS opinion

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Is DEGEE, or Éthoxydiglycol, a glycol ether, safe when used in spray? Can its maximum use concentration be increased from 1.5% to 2.6% in all cosmetic...