Abstract

The LMC Cosmetics Conference on 7 February 2019 offered a multi-faceted look at various areas in the cosmetics industry. The first presentation provided information, among other things, on the current MOSH/MOAH problem in cosmetics products. It examined the scientific background and presented the regulatory authorities’ viewpoint on this topic. The next presentation explained how plant-based raw materials are harvested and evaluated. It quickly became clear how many hurdles must be overcome between the raw material concept and the raw material ready for usage. Afterwards, participants in the auditorium learned interesting facts from the field of microbiology – antimicrobial cosmetic products, their product claims, effectiveness testing and differentiation from other legal areas. The special lecture on corporate values in the cosmetics industry highlighted the relevance and added value of clear, concise and individual corporate values. It was followed by an overview of the current market developments, trends and boundaries in the field of natural cosmetics. Participants learned that there is still no set legal definition of the term “natural cosmetics”, meaning that consumer expectations and reality are often at odds with one another. The excursus on focal points of examinations during regulatory inspections offered a different perspective on the topic. Clear emphasis here was placed on the importance of a comprehensible and complete safety report. And finally, interesting case examples from the LMC Service GmbH illustrated which situations can lead to discontinuation of the safety report and what factors should be taken into consideration early on in the product development phase.