Thursday, February 4, 2010

France taking the lead in making sense of cosmetics claims

It's been a busy and hectic start to the year at Queen Cosmetics especially given the snow which made actually getting to our rural HQ nearly impossible (thanks must go out to friends of Queen for the loan of a Jeep which saved the day and meant at least two of us could keep things moving!). The combination of more online orders because people were holed up at home and had time to surf and shop and the fact that the postal service was seriously disrupted meant some anxious days wondering if anything was getting through to our customers. Like the rest of the nation, we've seriously had enough of extreme winter weather!

The beginning of the year coincided with a nice write-up in Good Housekeeping Magazine's Beauty News pages where our Medicated Cleansing Lotion was tipped. "Gentle cleansers are best and one I always recommend to sensitive-skinned friends is Queen Medicated Cleansing Lotion from little-known brand Queen Cosmetics". See below for the full spiel.

Good Housekeeping. Feb 2010 cropped

Here at HQ, we are working on developing a number of new products, including a night cream for dry sensitive skin, and on a general launch of a cream which  we make for an individual client who has been using it for three years. We have trialled it over the last six months with other customers and it is proving excellent for those with very dry sensitive skin which doesn't respond well to rich, heavy creams. It's very light and easily absorbed but provides excellent moisturisation and protection. Do call us and ask about our Special Formulation Moisturiser on 01342 312 739 if you want to sample the cream.

Elsewhere in the cosmetics world, we were really interested to read in SPC Magazine (see it online at www.cosmeticsbusiness.com) about some new rules being brought in in France regarding the claims that cosmetics' manufacturers make for their products. The ARPP, a non-governmental body that enacts and enforces rule governing advertising professionals in France, has validated a set of rules which means that a product claiming to be natural will have to have no less than 95% natural or naturally derived ingredients and can only be called organic if 100% of ingredients are from organic farming.

Says SPC: "What's more it's going to put a stop to the infuriating free-from culture that has stigmatised so many cosmetic materials. Phrases like 'paraben-free' or 'without silicones' will be out and perhaps such ingredients may even be able to hold their heads up high again."

Whether or not other countries will follow suit is not yet known but let's hope so.

Late Winter offers will be launched soon so visit www.queen-cosmetics.com to keep up to date!

The Queen Team