Global Beauty Industry Laser Focused on Digital and Consumer Trends, International Collaboration and Other Key Topics at Personal Care Products Council’s 122nd Annual Meeting


More than 400 industry leaders are gathered this week in Palm Beach, Fla., to eye future business trends, address business opportunities, discuss issues facing the industry globally, and to elect new officers.

“Industry thought leaders from across the globe come to our Annual Meeting to set priorities, consider industry challenges and opportunities, and to collaborate on ways to continue to provide safe, innovative products to families around the world,” said Council President and CEO Lezlee Westine. “We are thrilled with the line-up of impressive speakers and thought-provoking content and continue to hear why this meeting is such an important annual event,” she said.

The 2016 line-up of speakers includes: keynote speaker, John Gerzema, author, strategist and consultant; guest speakers: Bruce Mehlman and David Castagnetti, Partners at Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas; Eva Press, US Group Lead, Consumer Packaged Goods, Facebook; Greg Coleman, President of BuzzFeed; Sebastian Tomich, Senior Vice President, Advertising & Innovation, The New York Time and Amee Chande, Managing Director for the UK of the Alibaba Group.

The Council unveiled its new Economic and Social Contributions Study, which reinforces that the global beauty industry significantly contributes to America’s economic strength, provides professional opportunities for women, supports meaningful social and environmental programs and meets the needs of American families. In addition, Westine highlighted the Council’s work with policymakers and key stakeholders to introduce bi-partisan cosmetics reform and pass of the federal microbeads bill.

The Council also announced the re-election of Board Chair Thia Breen, Group President of North America for The Estée Lauder Companies.

“Over the past year and under Thia’s leadership, our association has achieved many imperative strategic goals—from working with policymakers and key stakeholders on the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 to promoting our industry’s commitment to product safety, quality and innovation. We continue to focus on our companies’ commitment to consumers,” said Westine.

In her speech to members, Breen stated, “2015 was a positive year for us and underscored the importance of working collaboratively to make progress,” said Breen. “Our goal is to build on that momentum in 2016 so that we can inspire a beautiful future for our customers, our industry, and our communities around the world.”

The Council also elected the following officers:

Vice Chairs:

George Calvert, Chief Supply Chain and R&D Officer, Amway

Karen Fondu, President, L’Oréal Paris

Alex Keith, President Global Beauty, Procter & Gamble

Secretary: Robert Candelino, VP Marketing/General Manager Haircare, Unilever

Treasurer: David Holl, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mary Kay Cosmetics

The Council Responds to LA Times Article that Inaccurately Reported on Microbeads


Dear Editor:

In response to the Feb. 9 article in the Los Angeles Times, “Plastic microbead pollution harms oysters,” I want to respectfully correct the record by pointing out that microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products are at most a very small contributor to plastic litter found in water.

Personal care products companies are committed to making products that are safe for both consumers and the environment. Our industry actively supported federal legislation that will phase out plastic microbeads in personal care products next year. The bill, which received bipartisan support, was signed into law in December.

Studies and scientists report that removing microbeads from products will have at most a minimal, if any, benefit to the environment. Yet, your article and headline incorrectly focus on microbeads in our products as key contributors to marine pollution. We all want to preserve our environment, but any activity should be driven by facts and sound science.

Beth Lange, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist, Personal Care Products Council

Washington, D.C.

Statement by Personal Care Products Council and Consumer Healthcare Products Association In Response to FDA’s Draft Guidance on New Sunscreen Ingredient Data Requirements


“Today, the Personal Care Products Council and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association submitted comments in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Over-the-Counter Sunscreens: Safety and Effectiveness Data Draft Guidance for Industry (Draft Guidance).

“The science of ingredient safety evaluation is a highly technical, multifaceted, and rapidly evolving field.  The Draft Guidance outlines FDA’s current thinking on the kinds of data it needs before the Agency can approve a new sunscreen ingredient.  However, with few exceptions, FDA’s thinking is not reflective of the current state-of-the-art ingredient safety assessment framework recognized and used by the majority of health authorities worldwide.  

“It is because of these significant differences, and the importance of providing consumers with a wide variety of sunscreen ingredients, that we have asked FDA to hold public meetings or workshops to allow further discussion to attempt to reconcile these differences.

“Every day our industry’s research and development scientists strive to advance sunscreen formulation technology to create sunscreens that families enjoy and trust to help protect them against the harmful effects of the sun, including skin cancer and premature skin aging.  FDA must keep up with technology in order for companies to offer Americans new and innovative sunscreen products. We believe that this greater choice will encourage sunscreen use and further protect the public.

“The goal of the Sunscreen Innovation Act, passed in late 2014, is to modernize and streamline FDA’s process for reviewing sunscreen ingredients that have already been on the market in other countries for at least five years.  However, the manner in which FDA reviews sunscreen ingredient safety needs updating. FDA should use a state-of-the-art safety assessment framework that is science-based, flexible to advances in toxicological and medical science, and used by regulators and authoritative scientific bodies around the world.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the Skin Cancer Foundation and health care professionals worldwide all emphasize that using sunscreens is a critical part of a safe sun regimen.  The dangers of sun exposure are clear and universally recognized by public health professionals and dermatologists. The National Institutes of Health Report on Carcinogens identifies solar UV radiation as a ‘known human carcinogen.’ A single bad burn in childhood doubles the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

“Our goal is to provide Americans with access to a wide variety of safe and innovative sunscreens to use as an important part of an overall safe sun program.  Our hope is that in finalizing the Draft Guidance, FDA revises its position to reflect the current science of ingredient safety assessments.”