​The recent headlines in cosmetic safety and regulations, including FDA alerts on banned substances in nail products and efforts in the EU and France to curb PFAS. Updates on talc and recalled products are also noted.

The FDA has identified 2 tattoo inks contaminated with bacteria harmful to human health through samples collected as part of routine surveillance activities.

The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended Church & Dwight modify the claim, “It’s a better mouthwash. I guarantee it,” to clearly disclose his relationship with the company.

Following a challenge brought by The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), National Advertising Division (NAD) found that Essor Group, Inc. provided a reasonable basis for claims that its Boka toothpastes are made with Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA).

The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended Oral Essentials discontinue its Lumineux mouthwash “Microbiome Safe” claim.

The US FDA recently announced a plan to replace animal testing in the developmental phases of some antibodies and drugs with more human-relevant alternatives.  While supporting the FDA’s decision, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) argues that these human-relevant testing methods have long existed and that the plan to phase out animal testing methods should be applied to more industries — such as personal care — not just antibody and drug testing.

Biodegradable cosmetic ingredients are becoming more popular amid climate change concerns and increased focus on how traditional personal care products impact environmental and consumer health. The industry’s move toward biodegradable ingredients has the potential to meet rising ecological demands while achieving sustainability goals.

As consumers increasingly place value on efficacy and value, and as social media platforms become the go-to venue for product discovery and education, before-and-after imagery is more important than ever.

The beauty and personal care sector is undergoing significant shifts, creating compelling divestment and acquisition opportunities.

Scalp care is no longer just a niche—it's a movement paralleling sophisticated skin care regimens, positioning scalp health as equally essential.

Medical Press reported a team of researchers has discovered that activated hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), which are critical for hair regrowth and repair in adults, need a "protector protein" called MCL-1 to function properly. Without it, cells undergo stress and eventually die, leading to hair loss; these findings were recently published in Nature Communications.

Newer (neuro)endocrine mediators such as melatonin, oxytocin, melanocortin peptides or endocannabinoids may further enrich the endocrine toolbox for interventions against skin and hair aging.

Findings from the randomized controlled trial showed that supplementation inhibited the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 and MMP-3), which degrade collagen and elastin, thereby helping preserve extracellular matrix integrity.

Personal care brands are turning to jojoba oil and its derivatives once again as a renewed focus on multifunctionality, sustainability, and sensory refinement brings this plant back into the spotlight. Brands are responding to consumer demand for gentle, effective, and ethically sourced ingredients by incorporating jojoba oil across hair care, color cosmetics, and exfoliation.

A recent study published in the scientific journal Cosmetics found that combining oral probiotics with topical ectoin and sodium hyaluronate significantly improved visible signs of skin aging.