On this end-of-year wrap-up, Thomas Myers, president and CEO of the Private Care Merchandise Council (PCPC), outlines the developments that may carry the business into 2026 and what producers and suppliers ought to prioritize subsequent.
CDU: Trying again on 2025, what do you see as probably the most defining developments for the cosmetics and private care business, whether or not in coverage, client developments, or world market dynamics?
Thomas Myers: 2025 has been a defining 12 months for our business. First, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) just lately introduced a proposal so as to add bemotrizinol (BEMT) to the over-the-counter sunscreen monograph as Usually Acknowledged as Secure and Efficient (GRASE). This regulatory milestone marks the primary new UV filter authorised as GRASE in the US in greater than 20 years, a vital development for the cosmetics and private care merchandise business and customers.
The passage of H.R. 5371 was one other main milestone, securing full-year funding for FDA. This motion ensures that the company has the required sources to safeguard public well being and foster innovation.
The laws additionally reauthorized the Over-the-Counter Monograph Consumer Price program by 2030, together with new language from the SAFE Sunscreen Requirements Act, permitting FDA to think about broader scientific proof for sunscreen security and efficacy—a vital step in strengthening pores and skin most cancers prevention and advancing non-animal testing strategies.
Additionally, H.R. 5371 included devoted funding for FDA to implement key provisions of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022, enabling FDA to proceed constructing the infrastructure essential to help a modernized regulatory framework for cosmetics.
Earlier this 12 months, PCPC welcomed the introduction of the SAFE Sunscreen Requirements Act, a bipartisan effort to modernize U.S. sunscreen regulation by streamlining the approval of recent UV filters. This progress improves entry to science-backed solar safety and helps alternate options to animal testing.
We additionally recommended the reintroduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act, a vital transfer towards ending new cosmetics testing on animals and accelerating the usage of cutting-edge, humane security assessments—advancing our business’s long-standing objective of cruelty-free innovation.
On the worldwide stage, commerce continued to form our market panorama. The US-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA) performed a pivotal position in preserving built-in North American provide chains and harmonized requirements. Commerce inside the area reached $10.1 billion and a 39% improve since 2020, underscoring the significance of those frameworks in driving competitiveness and innovation.
Shoppers additionally continued to affect our business’s path: Sustainability, ingredient transparency and digital engagement more and more formed product improvement and labeling. On the identical time, expectations for eco-conscious packaging and customized experiences pushed corporations to evolve shortly.
Collectively, these developments inform a transparent story: our business is not only responding to regulatory change and moral imperatives; we’re main with innovation, incomes client belief and positioning ourselves for continued progress within the 12 months forward.
CDU: As MoCRA implementation continues, what have been the most important classes discovered for producers and suppliers, and the way is PCPC working with FDA to make sure easy and sensible compliance in 2026?
Thomas Myers: PCPC and our member corporations absolutely help MoCRA as a result of it ensures a contemporary, science-based regulatory framework for cosmetics. As MoCRA implementation progresses, we proceed to observe the upcoming guidelines on perfume allergens and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Additionally, noting that the just lately handed H.R. 5371 mandates a report back to Congress on ongoing rulemakings associated to GMP and perfume allergen labeling. Considered one of our high priorities is making certain that the FDA supplies clear, well timed steerage so companies of all sizes can comply. We’ve outfitted our members with sources to navigate these adjustments and stay in shut dialog with FDA to help sensible and well timed steerage.
A lot of our member corporations have already met key MoCRA necessities, equivalent to facility registration and product itemizing necessities, which, based on FDA’s itemizing since December 18, 2023, are 12,049 and 784,270, respectively. We proceed to observe the regulatory course of to make sure the foundations stay clear and workable.
CDU: Sustainability expectations now lengthen past packaging to full value-chain transparency. How is PCPC serving to corporations credibly talk progress with out falling into “greenwashing” traps?
Thomas Myers: A number of PCPC member corporations combine sustainability into your entire lifecycle of their merchandise, together with ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and end-of-life issues. Our work focuses on sharing finest practices, clarifying evolving regulatory expectations and equipping members with sources to judge the environmental and social impacts throughout the total product lifecycle.
We additionally present boards to help member corporations with packaging-related points, for instance, our Packaging Job Power, the place we advance member priorities on state Prolonged Producer Duty (EPR) legal guidelines.
A lot of our member corporations proceed to execute clear, complete sustainability methods. For instance, one such firm publicly experiences every part from the water supply utilized in its formulation to carbon emissions offsetting, mapped out in its sustainability report.
CDU: Innovation stays the lifeblood of this business. What rising applied sciences or ingredient developments are you most enthusiastic about heading into 2026, and what position does PCPC play in supporting accountable innovation?
Thomas Myers: A number of forces proceed to outline the place magnificence innovation is headed, together with transformative applied sciences and evolving ingredient approaches. Mixed, they mirror an business that’s science-driven, world and values-oriented.
On the expertise facet, we’re seeing progress throughout a number of areas like biotechnology and digital analysis and improvement (R&D). Biotechnological instruments, together with precision fermentation, are enabling extra sustainable and scalable sourcing of high-performing elements.
On the identical time, machine studying (ML) and different AI-enabled platforms help many alternative facets from early-stage ingredient design to predictive security assessments and customized product improvement. Blockchain purposes are rising as effectively, with promising use instances in supply-chain transparency and lifecycle evaluation that may strengthen sustainability and belief.
Constructing on the momentum of the latest FDA approval of BEMT, the primary UV filter authorised in additional than 20 years, we hope and anticipate to see simplified regulatory pathways that enable extra trendy UV filters to be proposed and authorised by corporations for inclusion in sunscreens within the U.S.
As a part of the regulatory approval course of, a major space of scientific development is New Method Methodologies (NAMs) and Subsequent-Technology Danger Evaluation, which PCPC continues to advance and advocate for each technological progress and regulatory acceptance.
Enhancements in vitro, in silico, and exposure-modeling instruments—together with ML-supported strategies—are offering extra human-relevant info and serving to guarantee security assessments that don’t depend on animal testing. Our engagement with world regulators is centered on making certain these approaches are match for goal, scientifically strong and harmonized to profit each business and customers.
CDU: Workforce improvement and variety stay top-of-mind throughout industries. How is PCPC serving to to arrange the following era of leaders and guarantee equitable development alternatives throughout the wonder and private care sector?
Thomas Myers: We’re dedicated to rising expertise and shaping the way forward for magnificence and private care merchandise. We create alternatives to be taught, lead and join for business professionals at each stage of their profession. By means of schooling, networking and energetic committee engagement, we assist the following era of leaders construct abilities, discover mentors and contribute to the regulatory and scientific work that retains our business robust.
We’re proud to acknowledge rising stars with packages like our Early Profession Microbiologist Award, which elevates rising scientific expertise shaping product security and innovation. We additionally rejoice leaders who champion inclusivity and push the boundaries of innovation throughout magnificence and private care with our signature Madam C.J. Walker Award. By nurturing expertise pipelines and supporting profession development, we guarantee our business stays vibrant, aggressive and reflective of the customers we serve.
CDU: Should you needed to summarize your outlook for 2026 in a single phrase, what wouldn’t it be, and what offers you probably the most optimism about the place this business is headed?
Thomas Myers: In a single phrase: Innovation with impression, driving jobs, U.S. financial development and offering secure, high quality merchandise in 2026.
Our business will proceed to play a vital position in supporting jobs, contributing to the financial system and offering secure, high quality merchandise in 2026. The success of the cosmetics and private care merchandise business is made doable by the dedication of consultants throughout science, regulation and security who generously share their information and experience to strengthen our business.
On the identical time, their innovation and technological developments are shaping a dynamic future, increasing what’s doable when it comes to security and efficacy, and elevating the merchandise we convey to market. Shoppers could be assured within the significant progress we’re making right now and the robust, accountable business we’re constructing for tomorrow.
