More than a handbook

Cosmetics im the water…it is a volume filled with experience: Il Manuale del Cosmetologo is a compendium of the Italian know-how in cosmetic technologies and manufaturing. Published by the Italian Editor Tecniche Nuove, the second edition of the Manuale del cosmetologo has been totally revised from the first edition of 2007. The aim of this new edition, expanded in its contents, is to give a multidisciplinary overview of product development and production in cosmetic industry, including the EU specific legislation, fundamentals of strategic marketing, an analysis by categories of cosmetic ingredients and a review of the criteria for formulation of cosmetic products. The volume also covers with putting into production and manufacturing problems; a section on quality management systems is also included. This handbook offers more than the basics of that cultural baggage and expertise which formulating chemists in industry and university need to enhance their skills and knowledge in personal care and cosmetic formulation development. The book launch by Giovanni D’Agostinis and Elio Mignini, the authors of the volume.

Mr Mignini, why do you decide to publish this revised version?

Elio Mignini
Elio Mignini

The evolution of cosmetic legislation, technologies, raw materials has changed the reference frame for the cosmetic industry. The 1223/2009 Regulation entered into force in 2013 all over the EU. Furthermore, there are new classes of cosmetics, e.g. natural and organic products, that require innovative formulating technologies and ingredients: we believe it is important for formulating chemists to know that kind of development. The book contains also a close examination about all the formulation techniques.

What do the added chapters talk about?
We completely revised the chapters about cosmetic techniques, including both formulating criteria and manufacturing processes, so that each class of cosmetic products has been covered. The section on decorative cosmetic products, in particular, offers a comprehensive look at what goes into developing and manufacturing make-up products, a key factor of Italian know-how. We have seen this volume as a guide to provide formulating chemists with a tool that could help them in the product management. For that purpose we meant to supply not only a set of formulation criteria but also to treat topics like marketing, putting into pruduction, good manufacturing practices, quality control, and packaging too.

D'Agostinis
Giovanni D’Agostinis

Who is the target audience of this handbook, Mr D’Agostinis?
Everybody who deals with both cosmetic R&D and products manufacturing in beauty and personal care companies. The novice, who is at the beginning of his career in the cosmetic industry, will arm himself with much more than the basics of formulating, ingredients and product management knowledge. The seasoned veteran of the cosmetic industry will complete his skills, broadening out technical knowledge about specialized fields of formulating cosmetics. Developing different classes of cosmetics, in fact, needs to be approached in a very different manner, using various technologies. Furthermore, it needs to look beyond the strictly formulative aspects, considering also manufacturing processes, marketing and marketplace features. The reader will gain a comprehensive vision of cosmetic products.

In formulating cosmetics, laboratory experience is very important. What is the meaning of a handbook?
Over the years there have been a strong scientific and technological development in the cosmetics industry: we think that formulating chemists need to be updated to improve their own ability to create innovative cosmetic products. Moreover, in this project we involved an impressive ensemble of Authors, selected for their scientific literacy, years of experience and significant expertise: everybody always has something to learn from masters. Cosmetic formulation is the art of put together ingredients in a wise way; this regards not only the development of some formulas but also how they are put into production: steps, times, temperatures and a lot of other factors that actually influence the quality of a product. Page by page, the authors have been able to transmit that kind of knowledge.

by E.Perani