US-based SkinTrust Society has announced the launch of its first global standard for the regulation of skin care product testing.
Currently, beauty companies in the US are not expected to have their products evaluated by regulatory or independent authorities, but can instead self-approve their own products internally and voluntarily register them with the FDA.
Therefore, the organisation has developed a comprehensive standard that requires robust product studies to substantiate safety and efficacy.
Brundha Balaraman, founder of the society, said: “It’s time to take the guesswork out of product choices and take control of knowing if they’ve been adequately tested for safety and effectiveness.
“We encourage people worldwide to join our movement by asking store-bought brands to submit their products to the SkinTrust Society for certification.”
With brands gaining approval from the Society, it hopes consumers can feel more informed about the safety of the products they are using.
In a pre-launch survey, 64% of respondents were unsatisfied by terminology used on packaging, for example, ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘natural’.
In addition, 73% of customers were likely or very likely to purchase products with the Society’s approval.