[Sarasota, FL, March 11, 2023] – In light of recent alarming discoveries about the presence of the carcinogenic compound benzene in acne treatments, U.S. laboratory, Valisure has filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, calling on the regulator to recall the products. This developing story has professionals at all levels seeking safer alternatives to limit liability while still providing lasting results for their clients.

Paris, France – IBG (Innovative Beauty Group), a leading global beauty solutions provider, is debuting a range of new products at the upcoming Cosmoprof Bologna event, held March 21-24. In Hall 18, at booths E22/F21 and E26/F25 IBG and its brands, Orchard Custom Beauty and FASTEN Packaging, will debut an array of their latest cosmetic formulas, products and packaging that speak to emerging categories in the industry. The product launches come in addition to the companies’ broad spectrum of standard products and packaging solutions and bespoke customized packaging and components. 

Orchard Custom Beauty will be premiering an array of new concepts in various categories including skincare, personal care, home care and baby care: 

• All Terrain Home: A plant-based household cleanser line designed to transform cleaning into a mindful ritual. The range includes an all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent and hand wash, among others. Created with sustainability in mind, the line uses upcycled ingredients and eco-friendly refills, and is available in doypacks or waterless tablets. 

• Little Sailor Baby Care: A baby care line tailor-made for tiny sailors with the most sensitive skin. Products including baby shampoo, body wash and bath and body oils are meticulously crafted with nourishing properties, featuring a selection of mild, natural ingredients that cradle babies in softness and comfort.

• Epic Skincare:A personal care product line created with Gen Alpha and Gen Z in mind. The purpose-driven collection includes products such as body wash, deodorant, a clarifying facial cleanser, and pimple patches, all designed to celebrate users’ authentic selves and make a real difference in self-care routines.

• Mender Home Fragrance:A home fragrance brand with a curated collection of room sprays and diffusers with scents designed to harmonize the mind. Each fragrance in the Mender range is crafted to offer functional benefits for mood and emotions – from enhancing focus and sparking creativity, to providing a serene backdrop for relaxation. 

• Super Nova Hair Care: An out-of-this-world hair care line crafted to transform hair into extraordinary constellations of beauty. From hair treatments to styling products like shine spray and a flyaway hair stick, each product is crafted with cosmic secrets to give users’ hair personalized love and attention, whether mastering a signature look or trying something new. 

• With Grace Skincare: An aging skincare line designed to embrace aging proudly with grace, not erasing life’s imprints on the skin. The product range includes a night cream with retinol, a day face cream with SPF, eye cream and face masks, among others. Formulations revitalize skin using powerful ingredients such as algae complex and peptides. 

Meanwhile, FASTEN Packaging will present its “Innovation Showcase,” highlighting an assortment of its latest packaging concepts including:

• Head-to-Head Hair Care:A range of mono-material, polypropylene (PP) hair care bottles and jars designed with an attached cap. The container and closure being produced at once improves recyclability and reduces material use, yielding an expected 8-percent plastic reduction. Available in various sizes including a 200 ml jar and 240 ml and 500 ml bottles, all sizes can be decorated with embossed branding to eliminate ink usage.

• Prism Palette: A mono-material, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) eyeshadow palette with a full PET hinge, that includes no metal components. The palette features traditional, lightweight tin godets that can be easily disassembled and recycled separately.

• Pebble: A refillable packaging concept designed specifically for concentrated paste formulations. The ability to use waterless or reduced water formulas creates logistic efficiency and therefore saves resources. An easy-to-use twist mechanism allows for precise dosages.

• Sympastik: A luxury, refillable perfume diffuser with a mono-material polypropylene (PP) pump. The all-in-one diffusing soap dispenser features a perfume ring around the top of the bottle which houses an infused gel formula for a long-lasting scent.

In addition, FASTEN will highlight both its bespoke and standard packaging capabilities, with a strong focus on sustainability, emphasizing its commitment to offering design-to-cost solutions that fit any budget.

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About IBG 

IBG (Innovative Beauty Group), a division of the Albea Group, is a leading global beauty solutions provider proudly serving some of the world’s most dynamic mass and prestige beauty brands. Comprised of Orchard Custom Beauty, FASTEN Packaging and Roberts Beauty, IBG applies its industry expertise to support its customers with innovative and responsible custom and turnkey solutions that include design, sourcing, formula development, bespoke packaging and accessories for color cosmetics, skin care, personal care, home care, hair care, and gifts with purchase.

With a global team of beauty experts and a distinctly personal approach, IBG empowers all its clients – from established beauty brands to first-time private label retailers – with strategic partnerships that bring visions to life, and products seamlessly to market. The company has offices in Shanghai, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, the Netherlands, and Paris.

For more information, visit https://innovativebeautygroup.com/.

The Tried & True Acne Preventative: Benzoyl Peroxide

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Despite its longstanding role in acne treatment, benzoyl peroxide (BPO) remains a misunderstood powerhouse ingredient. Join licensed aestheticians Kelsey Duque and Alex Hernández of Face Reality as they dive into the fascinating history of benzoyl peroxide, how it works, and a fundamental understanding of acne. Discover not only how benzoyl peroxide works to prevent acne within the follicle but learn how Certified Acne Experts use the Face Reality Clear Skin Method to introduce benzoyl peroxide into client routines to yield long-term results with minimal irritation. Whether attendees are new to the aesthetics industry or a seasoned professional, this is a do-not-miss webinar!

MEET THE PRESENTERS- Alex Hernández & Kelsey Duque

Alex Hernández, a licensed aesthetician for over seven years, first joined Face Reality’s Clinic as an acne specialist, then became lead aesthetician, managed their Clinic, and then assumed responsibility as lead educator. She oversees professional training, and develops Face Reality’s educational materials, protocols, and classes nationally for the brand’s Acne Professional Program

Kelsey Duque, a licensed aesthetician of over eight years and a certified acne expert for five years. Trained by Laura Cooksey herself, Duque began treating acne clients in the Face Reality Acne Clinic and later played a key role in onboarding and supporting Face Reality’s Acne Expert community. As education development manager and educator, she oversees professional training, and develops Face Reality’s educational materials, protocols, and classes nationally for the brand’s Acne Professional Program

Visibly transform skin with a lightweight clarifying oil. Ideal for all skin types, including oily and combination skins, this non-greasy formula is infused with activated charcoal and black seed oil to visibly reduce the look of uneven skin tone while absorbing excess sebum and leaving your complexion hydrated and soft.
1-888-747-6342  Eminence Organic Skin Care

Combination skin is the most common skin type, and the most commonly mistreated skin at home. It can also be overlooked in a treatment menu. Combination skin can affect people of all ages, from teenage skin to mature skin. It is characterized by an oily forehead, nose, and chin – the area of the face known as the T-zone – with drier areas on the periphery of the face, such as the cheeks. The condition manifests because of overactive sebaceous gland activity in the T-zone, which creates excess sebum, leading to blackhead and pustule formation. At the same time, the area on the periphery of the face has underactive sebaceous glands, resulting in dry, flaky skin and even a compromised skin barrier.   

DAMAGE CONTROL 

This skin type can be greatly affected by the environment, becoming oilier during the summer months due to heat and humidity, while becoming dry in the winter due to wind and lower humidity. This skin type can also result in dehydration, due to improper product use. One study found that participants with combination skin type were 1.63 times more likely to have sensitive skin than participants with neutral skin.1  

The greatest damage a client can do when treating combination skin at home is to use overly drying products that address the oily T-zone yet causes the outer area of the cheeks to become dehydrated. This causes the skin acid mantle to be disrupted and an imbalance in skin’s pH. Skin needs to be within 4.5 to 5.5 acid range levels, so it is essential to use products that help maintain the acid balance in skin.  

Combination skin’s unique set of concerns, which include presenting oily and dry, dehydrated skin at the same time as well as moisture barrier and pH disruption, have been difficult to treat in the past, but new protocols and products are making it possible to create the perfect balance. 

References 

1. Xiao X, Qiao L, Ye R, Zuo F. Nationwide Survey and Identification of Potential Stress Factor in Sensitive Skin of Chinese Women. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020 Nov 20;13:867-874. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S284359. PMID: 33244252; PMCID: PMC7685347. 
2. Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. "Niacinamide: A B Vitamin That Improves Aging Facial Skin Appearance." Dermatologic Surgery, July 31, 2005, 860-65. 
3. Bissett DL, Miyamoto K, Sun P, Li J, Berge CA. “Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin”. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2004, 231–8. 

Skin can benefit from the power of full-spectrum CBD no matter one’s age or skin type. That is because CBD is chockfull of benefits that are well tolerated by most people, and with regular use, these benefits can result in noticeable improvements in the look and feel of skin. CBD skin care should be a staple in everyone’s routine.

CBD REFRESHER

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid found in the hemp plant, which is part of the marijuana family. However, contrary to popular misinformation, cannabidiol does not contain THC, the main chemical in marijuana that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, CBD contains many beneficial compounds that work within naturally existing receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This complex system governs everything from metabolism and pain to immune responses, inflammation, memory, sleep, and many other critical functions.

As winter fades away, the last of the dwindling daylight and colder temperatures can significantly impact people’s moods and energy levels. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), often referred to as “seasonal depression” or “winter blues,” is a recurrent mood disorder that typically sets in during the fall and lasts through the winter. Its symptoms include depressed mood, increased sleep, overeating, and carbohydrate cravings. One distinguishing feature of seasonal affective disorder is its cyclical, seasonal nature, primarily occurring in the winter.1  

MOOD BOOST

Research suggests that there is a potent ally in combating seasonal affective disorder: vitamin D. While vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, is widely recognized for its role in regulating calcium absorption and maintaining bone and heart health, it also plays a crucial role in mood regulation. 

References

1. Rosenthal, N. E., et al. (1984). Seasonal affective disorder. A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy. PubMed 

1. Huiberts, L. M., & Smolders, K. C. H. J. (2020). Effects of vitamin D on mood and sleep in the healthy population: Interpretations from the serotonergic pathway. ScienceDirect 

NCBI 

1. Kerr, D. C. R., et al. (2015). Associations between Vitamin D Levels and Depressive Symptoms in Healthy Young Adult Women. PubMed 

1. Forrest, K. Y. Z., & Stuhldreher, W. L. (2011). Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults. PubMed 

1. Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. NEJM 

Inner mobility is essential for clear, healthy, and glowing skin. The type of movement needed can vary from person to person, but the goal of balancing the exchange of nutrients and waste removal remains the same. Movement relieves restrictions in the connective tissue, softens muscle tension to allow for the free flow of fluids, improves circulation to feed skin with nutrient and oxygen rich blood, and supports skin’s natural filtration system to remove excess fluid and cellular waste. 

OBSTRUCTION, STAGNATION, ACCUMULATION. 

Stagnation does not occur by itself – it is an intermediary, a cause and effect of blockages and accumulations in the tissue. When an obstruction –a tight muscle or tangle in the connective tissue, restricts movement – it leads to stagnation (sluggishness or immobility) within the tissue, which creates an accumulation of excess fluids and wastes that lead to an abundance of skin related issues. Obstruction can lead to “tech neck” and sagging from tight muscles and scar tissue and wrinkles from restriction in connective tissue. The resulting stagnation can cause hyperpigmentation, lack of vitality, and tenderness. The pooling of fluids and wastes (accumulation) leads to puffiness, acne, and dark circles. 

Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools in spa and skin care marketing, particularly social media, creates new opportunities for efficiency, content development, and enriched customer engagement. Leveraging free or paid versions of generative artificial intelligence tools can create a month’s worth of social media posts within seconds – complete with hashtags and suggested images.

THE RIGHT WORDS

It is all about the prompt – how one asks AI tools to generate a request. The more detailed the prompt, the more precise suggested postings become. In fact, AI-generated posts (after modifying with specific spa details or expert names) can even be added into a social media scheduler.

Men are gaining interest in premium skin care. The global men’s beauty market is projected to grow to $110 billion by 2030, while the United States men’s skin care products market is projected to reach $28 billion by 2029, according to a Future Market Insights study.1 A growing demand for antiaging products and skin care formulated for men are some factors in driving market growth, alongside the power of social media, where #mensskincare has over 1.1 billion views on TikTok. It is clear that men and subsegments of this demographic are becoming interested in ways they can enhance their general appearance, improve skin texture, and look younger. 

SIMPLE IS SUCCESSFUL

When it comes to skin care, many male clients prefer minimalistic skin care routines and are hesitant to commit to a multistep product regimen. “We often must start our male clients with one or two foundational products and gradually incorporate more products over time as the client gains trust in the process,” says Joanna Garcia, a licensed aesthetician and director of aesthetics at MedBeautyLA.

References

1. Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (2022, May 13). The men’s skincare products market is projected to reach US$ 28,344.8 MN by 2029: Men’s skincare products industry trends, analysis, forecast. GlobeNewswire News Room. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/05/13/2442635/0/en/The-Men-s-Skincare-Products-Market-is-Projected-to-Reach-US-28-344-8-Mn-by-2029-Men-s-Skincare-Products-Industry-Trends-Analysis-Forecast.html 
2. Experienceispa. (n.d.). https://experienceispa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Industry-Study-FINAL.pdf