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If you are anything like me you love pondering over which delicious actives to put into your new creation, can't wait to see and feel the latest in packaging and enjoy getting swept away in a sea of perfumery. Well, that is all great but the key to a SAFE and successful formulation is its preservative system. So, whether you are a hobbyist, a market stall holder, an emerging star or a multinational brand owner, it's time to think about the small stuff.

Fullerene - Nano Sponge goodness or sci-fi fiend?

Can skincare actives get any more complex? I remember the days when you could decipher a face cream label over a cup of tea and biscuit without breaking a sweat, how times have changed! These days if you are into high-end skincare you'll need to pull out those chemistry notes, set up a few journal subscriptions and get our your magnifying glass for all of that fine print. I was reading the daily paper (Sydney Morning Herald Monday 6th September) when I came over all goose-bumpy and realised that I'd fell off the wagon, the world had turned without me, I was no longer 'in the know'. Skincare just got scientific and VERY expensive. I'm talking fullerene and I wanted to know more!
So, before we loosen our grip on our purse strings and 'invest' in some hi-tech therapy I think it would be a good idea to take a closer look at this little magic bullet!

It seems perfectly reasonable to want to boycott palm oil and its derivatives as it is palm plantations that are eating into what is left of Indonesia's rain forests and devastating Orang-Utan populations. The picture is grim and the thought of being a part of all that in the name of vanity feels downright wrong. We need to act, but is boycotting palm at a consumer level or banning it from our formulations at a manufacturing level going to solve this environmental crisis?

Is there really a secret to younger looking skin? If there is, then in one word this would be it: exfoliate. And these days there are plenty of new and exciting natural exfoliants available to add to any skincare range and to give you the results you need.

Many of us are familiar with the term antioxidants. While there has been a lot mentioned in the media about the health benefits associated with consuming foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and raspberries, the use of antioxidants in our skincare products is proving to have equally impressive results when it comes to improving the appearance and texture of our skin.

In recent years, the use of vitamins in skincare and haircare products has grown exponentially. This is largely due to the multitude of benefits that vitamins add to any skincare or haircare line, such as improving the texture of the skin, lightening and brightening skin, regenerating cells, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or as a powerful antioxidant.

Just for a moment, stop and have a think about the amount of skincare and beauty products you use each day, or further still, each week.

Even those who try to maintain a rudimentary beauty routine are likely each day to use a face cream, face cleanser, body moisturiser, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and a shower gel. For those who prefer a more detailed beauty regime, this is likely to include facial exfoliating cream, eye cream, hand cream, a body scrub and we haven't even mentioned Makeup products yet.

Millions of consumers around the world are now demanding high quality natural haircare products that care for their hair and are also gentle on the environment. It's a smart time for businesses to start a Private Label Natural Haircare line.

The saying goes that our hair is our "crowning glory" and for many it is our precious hair that bears the stress of the daily use of hair dyes, blow-drying, hair straighteners and chemical styling products such as gels, waxes and hair sprays. These all take a toll on the condition of our hair.

In the past twenty years, Alpha Hydroxy Acids have been hailed for their long-lasting improvement to the appearance of skin and have created a storm in the beauty and cosmetic world.

Now available in many high-end, over the counter, anti-ageing skincare lines, Alpha Hydroxy Acids are also used by SPA and Salon owners and Dermatologists in their highest concentrations for their ability to minimize wrinkles and fine lines, reduce skin dis-colouration and blemishes and soften the appearance of scars while creating a smoother, finer, younger looking texture to the skin.

So right about now I guess that you are thinking "what is a quat"? It's a perfectly reasonable question but it has a perfectly complicated answer thanks to those pesky chemists and their INCI names. However, with a little patience we can get to the bottom of this...