Independent Beauty Association

Important legislative update for beauty brands: Vermont has officially become the first state to implement an EPR law for Household Hazardous Waste - and many beauty and personal care products fall under its scope. That means affected brands will need to register their products with the state. Here’s a quick explainer from Maureen O'Dea Brill of IBA Member company, K&L Gates, on what this means for your business. Registration portal: https://lnkd.in/giX5y78z This is one of many fast-moving regulatory developments reshaping the indie beauty landscape. To help brands navigate today’s complex compliance environment, the Independent Beauty Association (IBA) is hosting Cosmetics Convergence: Indie Beauty Compliance, a two-day virtual conference happening November 12–13. Across expert-led sessions, we’ll unpack: • Latest legislative and regulatory developments at the U.S. state and federal levels;  Evolving rules and outlook on cosmetic safety substantiation; • Class action threats and mitigation strategies; • EPR readiness and non-compliance risks; • Key retailer requirements; and • Emerging frameworks for influencer marketing compliance and digital labeling. Register by October 3 to secure Early Bird pricing. Open to all; IBA Members receive additional discounts. Registration and details: https://lnkd.in/gT8QvyAu

Influencers have the capacity to create buzz around certain ingredients that were once completely fazed out in the industry. This clip features insights from John Stanek from CoValence Laboratories. #IBAMemberSpotlight

One of the biggest challenges for indie beauty brands: knowing what you don’t know - and where to go to find answers. Here’s a perspective from IBA Board of Directors member Dee DeLuca-Mattos of ECRU New York #IBAMemberSpotlight Indie beauty brands are facing compliance pressures at a scale and speed never seen before. Navigating today’s complex regulatory landscape can be daunting. That’s why our next IBA Cosmetics Convergence edition will focus entirely on Indie Beauty Compliance, happening November 12–13. Across two days of expert-led programming, Cosmetics Convergence: Indie Beauty Compliance will sharpen your understanding of key issues shaping the industry, including: • Latest legislative and regulatory developments at the U.S. state and federal levels; • Evolving rules and outlook on cosmetic safety substantiation; • Class action threats and mitigation strategies; • EPR readiness and non-compliance risks; • Key retailer requirements; and • Emerging frameworks for influencer marketing compliance and digital labeling. Register by October 3 to secure Early Bird pricing. IBA Members receive additional discounts, and this event is open to all. Find full details and registration here: https://lnkd.in/gnnqtcUv

Science communication has been a longstanding focus for IBA. Over the past three years, we’ve worked to make credible industry information accessible to the public through initiatives like our Truth in Beauty panel series and, most recently, IBA Studio - where members share “brilliantly basic” cosmetic science facts. Next month, we’ll continue this work at Society of Cosmetic Chemists, California Chapter Suppliers’ Day (October 29–30). Join us at IBA Studio to share your insights in conversation with Jen Novakovich of The Eco Well, and don’t miss our Meet the Regulators Day on October 30. Our keynote Truth in Beauty discussion will feature Lyle Burgoon, PhD, ATS, Meredith Petillo, and Jen Novakovich, followed by presentations from regulators addressing the industry’s emerging compliance obligations. Thank you to all the regulators who will be participating as speakers for supporting IBA education. To learn more about our sci-comm initiatives, catch us at The Eco Well’s upcoming Truth in Beauty E-Summit, where IBA will present on industry leadership in science communication. This free virtual conference is an excellent opportunity to explore how misinformation impacts the beauty industry and beyond. Find all the details and registration here: https://lnkd.in/eHr5_Rrj Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), National Advertising Division (NAD), Jennifer Santos, Washington State Department of Ecology, Shari Franjevic, California Air Resources Board, California Department of Toxic Substances Control - Thank you!

What do we mean when we say “economies of scale” and how does it impact beauty product development? Here's an explanation featuring Samantha Burd from Lady Burd Cosmetics. #IBAMemberSpotlight

IBA is proud to be part of The Eco Well’s upcoming Truth in Beauty E-Summit, happening next week. Our session will spotlight industry science-communication leadership, featuring Dr. Akemi Ooka and Meredith Petillo as they share insights from IBA’s Truth in Beauty series and IBA Studio. This free virtual conference is an excellent opportunity to explore how misinformation impacts the beauty industry and beyond. Find all the details and registration here: https://lnkd.in/eHr5_Rrj

This week IBA attended the National Advertising Division (NAD) Annual Conference. Here’s a summary of the key takeaways we left with, contributed by Meredith Petillo and Ryan Nelson from IBA. Thanks to BBB National Programs for an engaging and informative event, and to FTC and this year’s full lineup of expert speakers for their insights. Up next - IBA’s Cosmetics Convergence: Indie Beauty Compliance Edition (Nov. 12–13). Over two focused days of expert-led programming, our fully virtual conference will sharpen your understanding of key compliance issues shaping the industry, including: • Latest legislative and regulatory developments at the U.S. state and federal levels; • Evolving rules and outlook on cosmetic safety substantiation; • Class action threats and mitigation strategies; • EPR readiness and non-compliance risks; • Key retailer requirements; and • Emerging frameworks for influencer marketing compliance and digital labeling. Register by October 3 to lock in the Early Bird rate. IBA Members receive additional discounts, but this event is open to all. Find all the details and registration here: https://lnkd.in/gHZVDYeE

Influencer-brand partnerships are under more scrutiny than ever. From disclosure requirements to shifting consumer expectations, brands and influencers must stay ahead of compliance obligations in an evolving landscape. Here’s a rundown of some of the need-to-know considerations for brands and influencers when navigating these partnerships, featuring Jennifer Santos of the BBB National Programs National Advertising Division (NAD). Recently, the BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD), in collaboration with IBA member The Benchmarking Company, released the Influencer Trust Index: Consumer Insights 2025, a comprehensive study on consumer trust in influencer marketing. Join NAD, The Benchmarking Company, and IBA at the Cosmetics Convergence Fall 2025 Virtual Conference: Indie Beauty Compliance Edition (Nov. 12–13), where they will unpack these findings and address influencer training and certification opportunities through BBB’s new Institute for Responsible Influence. Check out the full Agenda for Cosmetics Convergence Fall 2025 and Register by October 3 to secure Early Bird pricing. IBA Members receive additional discounts. Registration & details: https://lnkd.in/gtfTi7kb

Thanks to FDA Watch for hosting Meredith Petillo, IBA's VP of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, to unpack the FDA’s recent warning letters issued to sunscreen brands marketing “whips,” “mousses,” and other non-standard dosage forms, which the agency says fall outside the scope of the OTC sunscreen monograph and therefore would require new drug approval, or a change to the monograph. The discussion broadened to small business considerations in OMUFA reauthorization, innovation and competitive implications, challenges under the current framework, as well as "foodification" risks in the beauty and personal care space. Tune into the episode here: https://lnkd.in/eQe3zKmg   For more insights and practical guidance on beauty industry compliance in today's extraordinarily complex and fast-moving environment, register for IBA's Cosmetics Convergence Fall 2025 Conference: Indie Beauty Compliance Edition, taking place virtually Nov. 12-13. Find details and registration here: https://lnkd.in/gh8WdwVc   We're pleased to count FDA Watch among Cosmetics Convergence Media Sponsors. Is your business interested in sponsoring IBA? Contact lgill@independentbeauty.org.

Dose makes both the poison, and the benefit. Here's Pushpa Rao with an explanation. #IBAMemberSpotlight