Compass—Collective Interests

“Spring has sprung,” as they say, and although this may be true for only half the globe, the whole industry is entering the same cycle: travel season. In fact, the wheels of my return flight from In-Cosmetics will have barely touched down when it will be time again to turn around and pack for Suppliers’ Day. Travel season brings with it the excitement of reconnecting with peers and learning what findings in science have piqued their interests.

For example, during the Midwest SCC Teamworks technical symposium held in March, attendees were intrigued by a presentation on epigenomics. Speaker Rebecca James Gadberry explained via Skype to a full audience that whereas genetic traits were once thought to be unchangeable, it turns out there is an epigenome, or “above” genome, that manages their expression, and this entity can be manipulated. According Gadberry, UV radiation, diet, drugs, stress and cosmetic ingredients are among a number of factors proven to trigger chemical influences on gene expression without changing the genes themselves. “Keep learning about this,” said Gadberry, “it’s the wave of the future.”

Another finding of personal interest, which came about due to my experience with tooth sensitivity, comes from the oral care industry. The increased dietary intake of acids, as from soft drinks, has been linked to a higher incidence of tooth erosion and sensitivity. In relation, this edition of Cosmetics & Toiletries examines oral care formulas to address these effects, with an article by Faller. Also, Rigano discusses the components of toothpaste and their functions.

Further, new findings in naturals and sun care are always of interest, especially when combined. In this issue, Tooley et al. describe the development of a water-based titanium dioxide dispersion for natural UV protection. And who isn’t interested in saving time and money? Becker et al. present a novel, time-saving method to pre-evaluate the effects of filler pigments for soft focus benefits in color cosmetics.

We hope the current issue collectively serves your interests. Does it? Please send us feedback!

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