Industry Guides: Cosmetics

How do I find industry information for cosmetics?

See also Helpsheet #7 at the McGraw Desk for additional industry resources.

How do I find out about technologies related to cosmetics?

To find definitions, descriptions and technical data in the cosmetics industry, consult ready reference sources such as: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias and Handbooks.

The following is a selection of resources that can be found in the open-shelf reference collection on the lower level of Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL). Call numbers are in brackets after the title. Items with call numbers preceded with “*R-” can be found on the open shelves; numbers without “*R-” must be requested from the Altman Delivery Desk.

Search in the library’s CATNYP catalog or consult with a librarian for more resources.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients [*R-TP983.A55 .W57]
• Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics [*R-QD415.A25 .L48]
• International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook [*R-TP983 .I58]
• Perfumes, cosmetics, and soaps [*R-TP983 .P723]
• Raw Materials of Perfumery [*R-TP983 .P723]

Handbooks

• Chemistry of Fragrances [JSD 99-100]
• Cosmetic Bench Reference [*R-TP983.A2221]
• H & R Buch Parfum [*R-TP983 .Z5 H2]
• International Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook [*R-TP983 .C953]
• New Perfume Handbook [*R-TP983 .G75 McGraw Desk]

What are regulations & standards that I have to follow for the cosmetics industry?

The American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI) defines standards as documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purposes. There are both voluntary and mandatory standards that can also become government regulations.

See SIBL's Science & Technology web page on Standards for additional information.

See also the following for industry specific standards information:

• A.S.T.M. (American Society for Testing Materials) Standards [*R-TA401.A653]
• Colour Index (Society of Dyers and Colourists) [*R-TP910 .S622]
• Cosmetic Regulation in a Competitive Environment [*R-KF3896 .C68]
• A formulary of cosmetic preparations (1991) [JSN 95-92 Vol. 1-2]
• Index and directory of industry standards [*R-T59.2 .U615]
• International Fragrance Association (IFRA) http://www.ifraorg.org/GuideLines.asp

How do I find manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, competitors and other related professionals in the cosmetics industry?

Consult:

1. Trade associations and trade shows
2. Electronic and Print directories to locate manufacturers, suppliers, competitors, wholesalers
3. Industry Directories on SIBL’s home page: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/trade/index.cfm

1. Professional and Trade Associations

Listed below is a selected list of associations, including their Web sites and major publications where appropriate:

• American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) www.aocs.org
• Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) www.cir-safety.org
• Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association: http://www.ctfa.org/
• European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (Colipa) http://www.colipa.com/
• Fragrance Foundation www.fragrance.org
• Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors: www.icmad.org
• International Fragrance Association (IFRA) http://www.ifraorg.org
• New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists www.nyscc.org
• Society of Cosmetic Chemists: http://www.scs.org.uk/

General reference sources for additional associations:

• Encyclopedia of Associations (*R-AS22.E5) also available via the following database: Gale's Ready Reference Shelf (available in the Electronic Information Center (EIC), or from home with a library card at the following Web site: http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home )
• National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States (*R-HD2425.D53 Latest ed. at McGraw Desk)

Tradeshow Resources

• Expocentral.com (http://www.expocentral.com) Trade shows, fairs, exhibitions & conferences info.
• Trade Shows Worldwide (*R-SIBL T394.T723)
• Tradeshow Week Data Book (*R-SIBL T394.T725 )
• TSNN.com - The Ultimate Tradeshow Resource (http://www.tsnn.com/)

2. Use Electronic and Print directories to locate manufacturers, suppliers, competitors, wholesalers:

Electronic Directories

These resources are available in the Rohatyn Electronic Information Center (EIC) at SIBL only. The EIC is located on the lower level of the library. From the Electronic Information Center (EIC) menu, Select ‘Electronic Databases’, then ‘Business Resources’, then ‘Company Directories’.

• Reference USA
  Directory. Provides addresses, sales information, executives, for over 12 million U.S. companies. Searchable by state, city, zip code, and SIC code and yellow page headings/industries such as textile manufacturers. Updated: Monthly. Zip code listing for all 5 boroughs Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island.
• Thomas Register of American Manufacturers & Thomas Register of European Manufacturers (TREM)
  Directories of manufacturing companies. Thomas Register also has a free web site http://www.thomasregister.com and http://www.tipcoeurope.com/ for searching companies; registration is required. Print version of Thomas Register (U.S.) is on lower level Company/Industry Section, call number *R-SIBL T12.T6. This database is not on all networked computers.

Print Directories

Consult SIBL’s home page - Research Guides - Industry Specific Directories for additional resources.

• Cosmetics International Worldwide Directory and Industry Guide [*R-HD9970.5.C67]
• Directory of Drug Store & HBC Chains [*R-HD9666.3.C5]
• Green Book / American Salon. Beauty Shop Supplies Industry [*R-HD9999.B251A44]
• International Directory of Importers. Worldwide Beauty Supplies, Cosmetics & Toiletries Importing Firms [*R-HD9970.5.C67 I5]
• Who's who guide to personal-care [*R-HD9970.5.C67.W4]
• World Cosmetics and Toiletries Marketing Directory [*R-HD9970.5.C67.N67]

How can I keep current with the latest news and information in the cosmetics industry?

• Locate articles trade journals and newspapers in Indexes and Abstracts by formulating a search strategy.
• Search in electronic databases and print indexes for abstracts, full text articles, research reports.
• See also “Best of the Web” or “Internet Sites by Subject” (Technology > Building & Construction) for additional related web sites.

Indexes and Abstracts

An index is a print or electronic resource that provides citations to articles published in periodicals, journals or newspapers. Some are general while others are specific in their subject coverage.

An abstract has all the information provided by an index with the addition of a summary of the article.

Note: For additional information on Indexes/Abstracts: see: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/science/scindexes.htm

Guidelines to formulating a search strategy:

1. Use AND, OR, NOT to combine your keywords: i.e.

   “Revlon and lipstick” will yield articles with both terms
   “perfumes or fragrances” will yield articles with perfumes or fragrances or both
   “toiletries not toilets” will yield articles with toiletries, but not toilets

2. Use truncation or wildcards (usually represented by * or ?) to find terms with similar roots:

   E.g. perfume* with yield articles with perfumes, perfumery, perfumeries, etc.

3. To search a phrase, use quotes: e.g. “skin care”; “hair sprays”
4. To be more specific in a search, limit the search by:

   Language (e.g. English)
   Date (e.g. last 12 months)
   Type (e.g. industry surveys; company overviews)
   Format (e.g. full text)
   Level (secondary; research)

Selected Electronic Databases Related to Cosmetics

These resources are available in the Rohatyn Electronic Information Center (EIC) at SIBL or are available from home/school/office with an NYPL borrowers card  (*) from the library website, (http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home).   See also the Research Libraries listing of online databases: http://www.nypl.org/databases/ for a complete listing of on-site databases.

Note: For additional information on electronic databases, see: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/science/scieic.htm

• Applied Science and Technology Abstracts (EIC)
  Articles. Abstract and Index Database. Locate articles in 390 key English language periodicals in applied sciences. Covers engineering, computers, mathematics, physics, energy related topics, chemistry, and data processing. 1983 - Present. Updated: Monthly. Also available in print 1958 - Present. (*R-SIBL Z7913.I7).
• EBSCOHost (EIC) and (*)
  A family of abstract and full-text databases. Relevant ones include: Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Masterfile Premier, Newspaper Source, Professional Development Collection.
• General Science Abstracts
  Articles. Abstract and Index Database. Locate articles in periodicals covering astronomy, biology, the environment, conservation, health, microbiology and oceanography, and other subjects. 1984 - Present. Updated: Monthly.
• PROMT (Predicast Overview of Markets and Technology) (EIC)
  Articles. Full Text and Abstract Database. Use this database to research companies, the products and technologies they produce, and the markets in which they compete. Includes summaries and full text from nearly 1,000 business and trade journals, industry newsletters, newspapers, market research studies, news releases, and investment and brokerage firm reports. 1994 - Present. Updated: Daily.

The following electronic databases also contains relevant articles/reports regarding cosmetics:

• Business & Company Resource Center (EIC) and (*)
• Environmental Policy Index (EIC)
• General BusinessFile ASAP (EIC)

Selected Print Indexes and Abstracts

• Abstracts in new technologies and engineering (ANTE)[*R-Z7913 .A27]
• Applied science & technology index [*R-Z7913 .I7 1958-Present]
• Current contents. Physical, chemical & earth sciences (CC/PC&ES) [*R-Z7143.C85]
• General science index [*R-Z7401 .G46]

Websites