The final opinion of ECHA’s Socio-Economic Analysis Committee, published on 1 March, is largely unchanged from its July 2020 draft opinion with regard to microplastic in cosmetic products. That means industry may have to convince EU member state authorities that the restriction proposal has a serious proportionality problem.

House Bill 2325, on a fast track in West Virginia, would bar the state’s Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists from regulating unlicensed individuals’ use or application of “generally available” cosmetic products for paying clients. PGA’s government affairs team provides detail.

Presenting at the Independent Beauty Association’s Cosmetic Technical/Regulatory Forum, Product Integrity Laboratory’s Howard Baker dug into the less-discussed aspects of green packaging that “could damage your brand’s reputation, cause regulatory and legal problems, and severely harm the economics of your business.”

NGO says the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety’s conclusion on methylisothiazolinone in 2020 was among decisions “not in the interest of public health.” However, other assessments highlighted by the group suggest that the Cosmetic Ingredient Review is working as an open forum for public input and discussion.

The beauty titan will increase its stake in DECIEM to 76% in a deal valuating The Ordinary skin-care owner at $2.2bn. Remaining interests will be acquired after three years, according to the announcement.

Dermocosmetics was L’Oreal’s biggest growth story in 2020, benefiting from shifting consumer priorities during the COVID crisis and reinvigorated faith in the recommendations of healthcare professionals. Makeup sales tanked, but that could well reverse with the advent of another Roaring Twenties post-pandemic, L’Oreal leadership suggests.