Chair-elect of NYSCC's thoughts on how formulation platforms impact formulators

CosmeticsDesign spoke with Stacey House, chair-elect of the New York Society of Cosmetics Chemists, about what these types of platforms mean for formulators today.​

Click here to read more about Novi Connect​ and The Good Face Project​.​

Tell me a little bit about what the initial impact of these types of platforms is for formulators.

There are different buckets that we’re able to put these tools in.

You have the regulatory component, you also have the ingredient component, as well as making sure that they're also keeping you up to date on new products that are being released.

I think that it gives visibility to formulators, where yes, of course, we have several platforms that are available, but this is more of a unified approach. It really saves time and helps to manage resources.

What problem would you say these types of platforms are solving?

For contract manufacturers to have the ability to compare restriction lists is very important. Without having to input that data into our own systems, it just gives you a quick reference point, which is instrumental to really getting products out faster.

How does the role of data play into formulators every day lives at the chemists' bench?

Having up-to-date information from the suppliers is very important. There are times when raw material documentation has already been updated, but that wasn't shared with the formulator. That's one area that I think that it impacts, just that speed of delivery.

Making sure that they do have that accessibility, it's pretty key.

But to be able to also have the assessment from a global perspective of how that raw material aligns with many of the regulatory compliances. That’s also a critical aspect.

What role do these platforms play in connecting the formulator to the customer-facing side of a cosmetics business?

It promotes transparency.

When you look at the Good Face Project, not only are you able to get approval seals, but it also helps with brand recognition, which I think is very important for marketing to be able to have that instantaneous connectivity and visibility.

Not only that, but going back to the transparency of having those audits, it gives that extra confirmation and lends itself to a level of comfort.

What else do you think is important for beauty professionals to know about this formulator-platform relationship?

It's not a full package, it's just a tool that is useful to be able to help along the lifecycle of a project.

It's more of that insight, getting that clarity, but it doesn't fill the shoes of a regulatory team.

This is just something that you're able to do a quick assessment with and be able to have an understanding of if you’re hitting the right targets for your customer during development. 

Right now, I just see it as a beneficial tool to have. But there are still a lot of leaves left to turn by not only the formulator but also the regulatory and safety teams.

Is there anything else that you want to add or anything important that you feel we might have missed?

I like the way that the Good Face Project does capture products that are on the market. That's also another interesting opportunity for competitive analysis.

It really helps to showcase not only formulas that have already received compliance, but then it also helps in terms of understanding how to market products. 

There are a lot of other benefits as opposed to just being, a platform for formulators.