HOW TO PREVENT COUNTERFEITING OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Duplicating brand designs, perfumes, beauty products, perfumes and others is a major headache for companies which lose sales and government  loses tax.  Resulting costs to businesses of counterfeit and pirated products add up to as much as US4 650 billion a year.
 

Experts team under Sir Fraser Stoddart has now developed next generation fluorescent inks that will present a formidable challenge to counterfeiters. Images printed from these new inks display colors that depend on a type of built-in “molecular encryption” and become visible only when viewed under ultraviolet light. Each user can select individual ink recipes, so even the inventors will not be able to mimic the protected fluorescent tag.

Not only that, the fluorescent ink is also sensitive to the surface on which it’s applied. For example, an ink blend that appears orange on standard copy paper appears as green on newspaper. This phenomenon means that this new type of fluorescent ink can be used to identify different papers.

Skin care companies can set their parameters, thus generating thousands of color combinations via different settings. The individual secret ink recipe can be printed out via ordinary ink jet printer onto a label or other tag. It’s impossible to reverse engineer the process without comprehensive knowledge of the encryption settings. C

So here’s how it works : a luxury brand manufacturer would pick a secret setting for its proprietary ink and print out a tag for each product, using the ink invisible under normal light. Then each end consumer that buys the product can view the printed tag under UV light to make sure it matches up with the color they’re expecting. Counterfeiters will be out of luck since essentially this process can’t be mimicked.

The global counterfeit trade is flourishing, causing huge losses to brand companies. At Herbally Radiant we are witnessing unethical marketing claims by counterfeiting players which misleads consumers. In the case of skin care products, more and more online suppliers are indulging in such practices.

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IMPORTANT REGULATION FOR SAFETY OF PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

MUCH NEEDED REGULATORY PROVISION FOR SAFETY OF CONSUMERS - PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS SAFETY ACT 2015

In a timely initiative, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins have introduced regulatory provisions under proposed Personal Care Products Safety Act for the safety of consumers. Consumer and health advocates are concerned about the use and concentration of some chemicals in personal care products, and Herbally Radiant has been highlighting the need to address this issue.

For example, ill effects from use of ingredients like formaldehyde and propyl paraben have been recorded in many studies. FDA would evaluate five ingredients every year to determine their safety, and would issue guidelines for their restricted use, or exclusion from the products.

The first set of chemicals for review includes:

• Diazolidinyl urea (used as a preservative in a wide range of products including deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath and lotion)
• Lead acetate (used as a color additive in hair dyes)
• Methylene glycol/formaldehyde (used in hair treatments)
• Propyl paraben (used as a preservative in a wide range of products including shampoo, conditioner and lotion)
• Quaternium-15 (used as a preservative in a wide range of products including shampoo, shaving cream, skin creams and cleansers)

The Personal Care Products Safety Act would also:

• Provide the FDA the authority to order recalls of certain personal care products that threaten consumer safety.
• Provide the FDA the authority to require labeling of products that include ingredients not appropriate for children and those that should be professionally administered. Complete label information, including ingredients and product warnings, would also be required to be posted online since approximately 40 percent of personal care products are purchased over the Internet.
• Require companies to provide contact information on their products for consumers and report serious adverse events to the FDA within 15 days, including death, hospitalization and disfigurement. Health effects that could have resulted in hospitalization without early intervention would also be required to be reported.
• Require manufacturers to register annually with the FDA and provide the agency with information on the ingredients used in their personal care products.
• Direct the FDA to issue regulations on Good Manufacturing Practices for personal care products.

To fund these new oversight activities, the bill would authorize the FDA to collect user-fees from personal care products manufacturers similar to what is done for medications and medical devices.

This is reported to be the first attempt in 75 years, to introduce regulatory mechanism for safe and effective personal care products. Europe has already in place a robust mechanism to prevent potentially risky ingredients being used in cosmetics.

Herbally Radiant uses USDA certified natural healthy ingredients properly labelled on each product. Its anti-aging and anti-acne range, viz., Rejuvenating-Radiant and Clean, are the safest and most effective products in the market, with excellent customer reviews. It therefore underlines the need for other brands also to label ingredients on each product so that consumers are able to make informed choice for the right product, and FDA can ensure necessary control.

BEWARE OF MISLEADING CLAIMS OF INDOOR TANNING

There have been numerous cases where indoor ultra-violet tanning was linked to serious skin problems, including increased risk for skin cancer. Herbally Radiant has been advising its customers to avoid indoor tanning, especially if their skin is sensitive or has any allergic condition.

The New York Atty Gen Schneiderman has filed lawsuits against Portofino Spas and Total Tan Inc, accusing both of false advertising in order to promote indoor tanning as a “safe way” to reap many benefits, and failure to provide required warnings to consumers.

Schneiderman accused Portofino and Total Tan of irresponsible business practice that seeks to rake in profits by misleading the public about the safety of their services, and warned that advertising and marketing cannot be used as a tool to confuse and endanger consumers.

Even WHO has added indoor tanning to its list of most dangerous forms of cancer-causing radiation and placed it in the highest cancer risk category. US Surgeon General issued a warning report earlier advising against ultra-violet light exposure for tanning which increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer – that is responsible for 9,000 deaths in US every year, besides lost workdays and huge medical costs.

Attorney General has issued warning notices to many others who are offering tanning services without informing customers of the risks involved. To help educate the public and raise awareness of the harms by indoor tanning, the Attorney General’s office has released a brochure on indoor tanning safety, and opened helpline:1-800-428-9071 for more information.

Similar misleading and unverifiable claims being made by skin care brands also falls in the same category. These brands should also be advised to abstain from making unsubstantiated misleading claims. Consumers must know of the risks of  so-called  “new” or “magic” skin care products, as well as counterfeit products, advertised as “amazingly effective”, but without genuine scientific evidence to back such claims.

SYNTHETICALLY PRODUCED INGREDIENTS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Earth Day reminds us about the eco-friendly business practices. Fortunately, there has been steady rise in popularity of natural personal care products. Encouraged by the growing business trend, some big corporate bodies have looked into the possibility of using synthetic biology for production of natural ingredients which go into several cosmetic products.

Uniliver and Ecover have incorporated the synthetically produced algae oil into manufacture of soaps. More corporate players are looking into synthetic production of lavender and patchouli.

However, the impact of such synthetically produced natural ingredients will have to be watched carefully in the coming years.  Since these important ingredients for beauty products might not be grown in organic manner, the consumers  themselves will need to monitor their efficacy and side effect, if any.

The growing trend of using the organic products is also under watchful eyes of government agencies which have set clear standards as to which natural products can be labelled as ‘organic’. In a recent class suit to be heard by SC of Quebec, Vogue International is reported to be agreeing to a settlement under which it “will not use the word ‘organic’ to promote the sale of any hair or skin care products. .. unless such product contains at least 70 per cent organically produced ingredients”.

Unlike US, Canada and Europe, where use of organic labelling is well regulated, there are many brands elsewhere, especially the on-line suppliers, who do not feel obliged to follow the internationally acceptable standards for quality and safety. According to USDA stipulations, only those products which have no less than 70% organic ingredients can use the label ‘organic’ or ‘made with organic ingredients’.

The safest and reliable skin care products would, therefore, continue to be those which contain natural ingredients. Herbally Radiant, which specializes in the use of herbal (plant and flower) extracts has been experimenting with different combinations of natural ingredients and essential oils to constantly enhance their effect, especially the anti-aging (Rejuvenating andRadiant) and anti-acne (Clean) range of its products. These help skin to regain its lost shine and texture, and strengthen skin’s immune system to protect it against external pollutants.  The total effect is amazing rejuvenation of skin.

ALOE-BASED EYE LOTION WITH LAVENDULA & BLUE GREEN ALGAE TAKES CARE OF UNDER EYE AREA

Among the premature aging signs, the area under the eye begins showing signs of dullness. Dry skin around eyes is known to cause noticeable wrinkles and lines, making it difficult for women with this condition to apply makeup.

Dry flaking skin under the eyes can be attributed to the lack of moisture and hydration of the skin. This can be due to frequent washing or bathing, dietary or drinking reasons, or even environmental factors. Dryness in winter does aggravate this condition. It is also often attributed to adjustments and changes in humidity levels, and extreme sun exposure. When humidity levels are low, moisture contained within eye skin easily evaporates, resulting in under-eye skin that is not only dry but flaky.

Direct sun exposure removes moisture from the eyes. Indoor heating and air conditioning can have similar adverse effect.

Since the area around eyes is most delicate part of facial skin, it is very important to avoid applying any lotion or formulation with harsh chemical ingredients. Select affordable, thick under-eye cream containing natural ingredients which are good moisturizing agents. Good dry skin remedies include vitamin E and fish oils which replenish body’s natural oils.

By limiting showers, using mild soaps, and avoiding excessive scrubbing of sensitive areas, you can protect your skin. Also avoid rubbing motions after washing the face, which can cause immediate irritation and over-drying of the eyes. After each shower, apply good moisturizer to the body and special cream made for the under-eye area.

Drinking plenty of water can greatly assist in the prevention of dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, the entire body suffers from lack of moisture, especially the skin under the eye.

One should eat foods that are rich in antioxidants as these will help get rid of free radicals and toxins that dehydrate the skin around the eyes and enhance appearance of dark circles. We have also seen that lack of adequate sleep also results in formation of dark areas under the eye. Similarly, too much coffee or such beverages also affect this sensitive area.

Using a humidifier within your home, especially in dry winter season, is one of the best ways to prevent dry itchy skin. When outside the home, away from the moisture provided by the humidifier, apply a sunscreen with a protection level of 30 or above.

If you don’t have the time or budget to search for best eye cream, see if there might be a few ingredients already in your pantry. Cut up slices of cucumber or potatoes these are known to help soothe not just dryness, but also puffiness around the eyes. Natural oils like almond, grape seed and olive oil can be used as a substitute for the eye creams that you may not be able to procure. Gently massage a small amount of the oil around the eyes and wait until it gets absorbed into the skin. You will immediately notice that the skin around your eyes will feel more hydrated and nourished!
Some dermatologists say that signs of tiredness around the eye areas are often due to sluggish microcirculation, and with tiredness or aging, blood and lymph microcirculation around the eyes may slow down. The very thin skin around the eye contour readily reveals the marks of poor vascularization or inadequate lymph drainage. This is what provokes the appearance of signs of shadows or puffiness.

At Herbally Radiant, after testing with several plant extracts and organic ingredients, we created an amazing Aloe-based formulation. Together with lavendula, blue green algae and other natural ingredients, this Eye Cream has received excellent reviews from customers who have experienced disappearing fine lines, under eye puffiness and dark circles. 

HOW TO REDUCE LINES AND WRINKLES IN MOST EFFECTIVE GENTLE WAY

Most visible signs of aging are emerging lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. Often changes in skin (epidermis, dermis, sweat glands, hair follicles, blood vessels and fat), are related to environmental factors (like sun exposure), genetic makeup, nutritional food, lifestyle, including regular physical work-outs.  Aging skin thus appears thinner, more pale, and clear (translucent) and begins to show pigmented spots, liver spots especially in sun-exposed areas.

The appearance of the face and neck typically changes with age. Loss of muscle tone and thinning skin gives the face a flabby or drooping appearance. In some people, sagging jowls may create the look of a “double chin.”

Changes in the connective tissue reduce the skin's strength and elasticity, leading to leathery, weather-beaten appearance more among those spending time outdoors. The blood vessels of the dermis become more fragile. Sebaceous glands produce less oil as you age. Men experience a minimal decrease, usually after the age of 80. Women gradually produce less oil beginning after menopause. This can make it harder to keep the skin moist, resulting in dryness and itchiness, and growth of skin tags, warts and other blemishes appear more commonly among older people. 

Aging skin repairs itself more slowly than younger skin. Wound healing may be up to 4 times slower. Your skin also dries out and loses the underlying layer of fat so that your face no longer has a plump smooth surface. To some extent, wrinkles cannot be avoided. However, sun exposure and cigarette smoking are likely to make them develop more quickly. The number and size of blotches and dark spots on the face increase as well. These pigment changes are largely due to sun exposure.

As you age, your skin begins to produce less oil, making it drier and loose. There are cosmetic procedures that can reverse this problem, but they’re all pretty invasive and require weeks of recovery time. It is important to understand the difference between topical agents that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and those that actually tighten the skin and reduce sag. Most of the time consumers begin a regimen consisting of only anti-wrinkle creams that only help smooth out wrinkles but not actually tighten the skin. One must therefore follow “anti-aging” course. Special serums, which contain tiny molecules of rich nutrients are able to penetrate deep through the skin, creating better effect.

At Herbally Radiant, with our long experience of manufacturing most effective skin-friendly anti-aging formulations, we have discovered excellent herbal extracts which produce amazingly wonderful anti-aging effect. Our top of the range anti-aging formulations:  Rejuvenating and Radiant (Cleanser,Toner, Serum and Cream) for different skin types (dry, combination and oily) contain a combination of herbal and other natural extracts. Most of these ingredients have been used by people in different countries to maintain their youthful skin. Full of antioxidants that boost body’s ability to produce collagen, elastin and other important skin molecules, these are the best options for consumers who wish to begin anti-aging treatment for themselves.