Why You Should Attend The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference
Donna Maria urges soapmaker business owners to attend the 2011 Conference of Handcrafted Soapmakers.
Shea Butter Importer Empowers The Women Of Africa
Donna Maria interviews Funlayo Alabi, co-owner of Shea Radiance, about how her business empowers the women of Ghana by providing opportunities for fair shea butter manufacture and trade.
The Care and Feeding of Your Passion
Donna Maria shares how her passion for making soap and cosmetics led to the Indie Beauty Network, and what you can do to turn your passion into a profitable business.
I'm in Teen Voices Magazine!
Donna Maria is excited to be included in Teen Voices Magazine!
Expand Your Sphere of Influence With Twitter Hashtags
Donna Maria shares how Twitter hashtags can expand your sphere of influence.
Small Business Owners: Embrace Your Legislative Advocacy Power!
For those who may be new here, I am the president of the Indie Beauty Network, a trade organization representing small manufacturers of soaps, cosmetics, candles, fragrances and aromatherapy products. IBN members also make confectionery products and jewelry, and many members provide services to the companies that make products. I am an attorney (though not…
Bad Science and Bad Public Policy Combine to Defeat Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act
Today, I listened to the live testimony given in support of and in opposition to the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act (HB 10-1248). I am told that an audio recording of the testimony will be made publicly available by the Colorado legislature and if so, I will post it when it becomes available. Although…
Costly Confusion in Colorado: The Bubble Bill
A few days ago, I told you about the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, which purports to seek to protect people in Colorado from substances in cosmetics that “cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.” I do not like cancer and I do not want children, born or unborn, to be subject to unnecessary hazards. But…
Oppose the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act
In November, I shared my views as leader of IBN on the FDA Globalization Act of 2009. This post was followed by a second trip to Washington, DC to meet with Food & Drug Administration (FDA) officials and staffers in the House Energy & Commerce Committee. I have also shared my views on President Obama’s…
Safe Baby Products Act of 2009
[An article about this bill was originally published in April 2009 at my old FDA Globalization Act blog. Due to a technical glitch, the article did not transfer here. This is what I recall of that post. Update: 8/11/2010: This post is here for informational purposes only, as the bill seems to have died in…
Personal Care Products Council Charges $1,000 For Access to INCI Names
When I was a cosmetics manufacturer years ago, I joined the Personal Care Products Council (formerly known as the Cosmetic, Toiletries & Fragrances Association). At the time, I lived in Washington, DC and I enjoyed going to their offices from time to time to use their library. I also learned a lot from them about…
Don't Get Caught Napping While Laws Affecting Your Business Are Being Discussed!
I read an interesting post today at the the CPSIA Comments & Observations blog. Maintained by Richard Woldenberg, chairman of Learning Resources, a manufacturer of learning toys and hands-on classroom educational materials, the CPSIA Comments & Observations blog tracks activity with regard to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) implementation of the Consumer Product Safety…
Why I Oppose New Cosmetics Laws That Do Not Contain Exemptions For Small Businesses
Last week, I shared plans to return to Washington, DC on a fact-finding mission with regard to the FDA Globalization Act of 2009 (FDAG 2009). If you have not done so, please read that post for background and context. This post provides a high level overview of what I learned on that trip. (If you…
Campaign For Safe Cosmetics: A New Report
[This post was originally published on my Twitwall on March 12, 2009. I think it is important for context to share it with you at this blog as well. You can see the comments on the original post beneath the post itself.] A 32-page report (PDF) entitled “No More Toxic Tub” has been released by…
Bramble Berry Launches First Indie Bath & Body iPhone Application
I am delighted to announce that IBN member and longtime sponsor of my work Anne-Marie Faiola, CEO of Bramble Berry, Inc., has launched the first iPhone application focused on the independent bath and body care products industry. I think it may even be the first iPhone app in the cosmetics industry, period. I am excited to…
FDA Globalization Act website launches
Donna Maria announces the launch of the FDA Globalization Act of 2009 website at http://www.fdag.org.
Indies On Capitol Hill
Donna Maria shares highlights from her trip to Capitol Hil and FDA to advocate for Indie Businesses regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2008.
Cosmetics Labeling For The Rest Of Us
Interview with soapmaker Marie Gale, author of Soap & Cosmetic Labeling Book.