Grateful for “Normal”


By Keech Combe Shetty
Board Chair, Personal Care Products Council, and
Executive Chair, Combe, Inc.

It’s hard to believe we are in our second year of a pandemic. Millions of people have been directly affected by COVID-19 with too many lives tragically lost. Many of us have been unable to spend time in person with our family and friends, denying us valuable connections we all crave. Some of us have struggled through working from home while supporting our kids as they navigated online learning. Others have jobs that required them to continue to show up in person, creating a new set of challenges.  

As Thanksgiving approaches, it feels like the right time to embrace and be grateful for our new “normal,” for a brighter future. Many of us will finally be together again with our loved ones, instead of through a screen. While COVID is still with us, and we have a long way to go before we can move past this pandemic, we’ve come a long way and it feels good!

As an industry, we have much to be thankful for. We’re extremely grateful to the front-line workers, medical professionals, nonprofit and relief organizations that have continued to help those who have struggled over the past year. We’re grateful to all cosmetics and personal care product employees for their loyalty, dedication and hard work that has kept our companies running. And we are incredibly thankful to our valuable consumers for continuing to trust our products to safely enhance their wellbeing.

Author William Arthur Ward said, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” We can all look for ways to be grateful in our daily lives. To find joy in ordinary routines.

On behalf of PCPC and our member companies, I thank you and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you can take some time to celebrate the common days in your life, thank those around you who made a difference over the past year and a half, and make plans for a happy and healthy holiday season ahead. I believe many good opportunities are in our future.

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on Benzene and Body Spray Products


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Washington, D.C. – “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is aware of the study reporting the presence of benzene in some antiperspirant and deodorant body spray products. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), benzene is formed from both natural processes and human activities and can be present at low levels in the environment. Benzene is not an intentionally added ingredient in body spray products; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as product manufacturers, are aware that it may be present in food and drug products at very low levels. The FDA offers guidance on the level of residual benzene in drug products in its companion document for the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), and PCPC strongly supports the FDA’s guidance and activities in monitoring for conformance to these recommendations. 

“PCPC and its member companies are firmly committed to ensuring consumers have access to cosmetics and personal care products with ingredients that have been thoroughly tested for safety and follow the requirements of the law. There is nothing more important than safety. If our consumers can’t believe in a product and rely on it to do what it says, then nothing else matters.

“Deodorant and antiperspirant products and their ingredients must be shown to be safe before they can be marketed to consumers, like all cosmetics and personal care products. In the U.S., cosmetics are regulated by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). All cosmetic products and ingredients are subject to the same safety requirement under the FD&C Act: They must be safe for consumers under labeled or customary conditions of use. In addition, antiperspirants are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and must comply with all other requirements listed in the OTC antiperspirant monograph. Companies and individuals have a legal responsibility to ensure their products and ingredients are safe for the intended use.

“For more information about our industry, our products and the ingredients used in them, please visit www.cosmeticsinfo.org.”

###

Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $499.6 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

Karin Ross Promoted to EVP of Government Affairs


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:                    

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Karin Ross Promoted to EVP of Government Affairs
Industry Veteran Will Lead U.S. Public Policy for the Beauty and Personal Care Sector

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) announced today the promotion of Karin Ross to executive vice president of Government Affairs, the organization’s top U.S. advocacy officer.

“For more than a decade, Karin has been an integral part of PCPC. Her counsel has been critical in navigating our efforts at the state level, particularly in California, where she established an effective grassroots coalition and strong relationships in Sacramento,” said Lezlee Westine, PCPC’s president and CEO. “At a time when every industry is facing uncertainty and challenges post pandemic, we are very fortunate to have someone as experienced and well respected as Karin. I am confident she will excel at leading our efforts with the administration, government agencies, Congress and state policymakers,” Westine said.

Ross has directed complex policy issues throughout her career. She has a long history overseeing multi-stakeholder engagement across the nation working to achieve public policy goals. She regularly testifies before state officials and serves as an industry spokesperson on key legislative issues.

In her new role, Ross will lead all U.S. advocacy and legislative issues and policy developments that impact the beauty and personal care industry at the federal and state level. Ross will harness her expertise at the state level as many issues start there before making their way to Capitol Hill. She will remain a tireless advocate for PCPC’s 600 member companies – leading cosmetics, fragrance and personal care products manufacturers and suppliers.

“I’m honored to continue representing this dynamic industry – some of the most trusted and beloved brands in beauty and personal care today. I will continue to enhance our efforts to ensure our members can provide the safe and innovative products consumers rely on every day,” said Ross.

Ross earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and has completed professional education programs at the Public Affairs Council Institute and the State Government Affairs Council.

###

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. Founded in 1894, the Council’s more than 600 member companies manufacture, distribute, and supply the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the U.S. As the makers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day, from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, lipstick and fragrance, personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

For more information about cosmetic and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.cosmeticsinfo.org.