Did you know that caffeine carboxylic acid is used in skin conditioners?  Neither did I, until I explored the new database described below. Thanks to ResourceShelf.com , a weekly alert service maintained by an editorial team headed by Gary Price and Shirl Kennedy.  (http://www.resourceshelf.com/ )

The European Commission has launched a new online database of the ingredients used in cosmetic products making it easier for companies to find up-to-date information on substances needed to develop new cosmetics or to improve existing ones.

The new database, called ‘CosIng’ (COSmetics INGredients), replaces the old pdf format list which was one of the most consulted documents on the DG Enterprise website. Using CosIng, businesses and authorities can now check if and how a substance is regulated at EU level, from when and how it has been regulated through the years and what are the opinions of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) which form the basis of this legislation. Companies will no longer have to search through various documents to get the full picture.

The database of 1500 ingredients offers both simple and advanced searches. One can search on CAS#, substance name, or Chemical/IUAC name as well as other pieces of information.

Go to database:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm

– Pat Viele, Physics and Astronomy librarian