Common Allergens and Irritants

One of the most dreaded client complaints is one involving a reaction to product. Potential problems can range from simple rashes to full-blown allergic reactions. Skin reactions to product make...

Published in: Ingredients

Preservatives: Why we need them and why we should not have products without them

Written by: Irena James

There is nothing that causes more grief and dismay to a cosmetic chemist or a formulator than being told which specific preservative to use or being asked to create a...

Published in: Ingredients

The Many Faces of Silicones

Written by: Irena James

Over 50 percent of all new cosmetics introduced globally in the last 10 years contain at least one silicone. Slowly, but surely, silicones are becoming one the most valued ingredient...

Published in: Ingredients

Ingredient Trends to Watch: Energizers, Water-channels and Retinol Alternatives

Written by: Irena James

Skin care ingredient trends have behaved much like fashion trends, with each decade giving rise to particular leanings and inclinations. The 1980s saw an obsession with collagen masks and creams....

Published in: Ingredients

Stem Cell Products in Skin Care: Fact, Fiction, and the Future

Written by: George Taylor, M.D.

Human stem cell science is frequently in the news with stories about how these amazing cells hold promise to treat disease, slow aging and even extend life. There are also...

Published in: Ingredients