A question about what FDA regulates

[lwjohnson]

My friend and I are considering starting a bath and body company. Do you have links to the FDA guidelines regarding this?

I know that the FDA regulates cosmetics, but what about lotions and soaps?

I'll be googling for answers, but if any of you have tried and true links with this info, I'd appreciate it.

My biggest concern is that my husband is a chemist for the FDA and any company that we own or invest in can only sell up to 20% product that is regulated by the FDA. This may keep me out of the bath and body business for good, lol.

Thanks!

Edited to Add: Husband is not much help with this, in case any of you are wondering, lol. His lab does not deal with cosmetics and drugs. He only tests food. So his knowledge of the regulations regarding cosmetics, etc, is pretty basic.

 

[lwjohnson]

Ok, so far, I've been reading on this website, and this is what I think I understand...

Cold process soap is neither a cosmetic nor a drug, unless you make a claim (i.e. moisturizing) that would put it under the category of cosmetics. So CP soap would not be regulated by the FDA.

All of the other bath and body products (lotions, scrubs, m&p soap) are considered to be cosmetics, and would be regulated by the FDA.

Sound right?

 

[Tabitha]

Yes, that sounds right.

Here are a few links:
http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4212

 

[lwjohnson]

Thanks!!

 

[carebear]

yes to cosmetics & lotions
no to soaps, but only REAL soaps - if it contains synthetic detergents (as do many MP soaps, but not all) then it's not soap and it is regulated

Which brings to mind that Philly is adding SLS (or was it SLSa) to her soaps which makes them NOT soap and thus she would need to follow the rules... But she's gone so it matters not, I guess.