Teach Soap

Hello everyone! First post here!
I am working on creating a skin care line to sell online as well as at retail facilities like Farmer's Markets and so on.
I've read about Etsy's (and the FDA's) stance on making medical claims about homemade products.
I've read the blog post on Bramble Berry regarding this and all of it's comments.
I still do not understand, however.
How are we suppose to describe a product's use without using medical claims/language?
For example I am planning on making a breastfeeding balm specifically meant to sooth and heal sore nipples while also edible and safe for infants to consume. I see several of those types of products for sale on Etsy... and while some have very vague descriptions, others go more in detail and say it is meant to heal cracked skin and what it's ingredients specifically do. From what I read about the FDA wording issue, this isn't allowed... or is it? I want my descriptions and labels to be in compliance with Etsy's terms and the FDA's rules but I also want my customers to know what my products are meant to do and why I used the ingredients that I did. How do you guys make this happen? Could you give a few examples of descriptions you have used for products meant for specific things? I wish the terms/rules were more clearly and plainly spelled out so there isn't room for interpretation or confusion... but as it stands it is very confusing for people starting out!

The word "healing" makes it a medical claim. Soothe is ok. I would not go by what other Etsy sellers write. Some are WAY over the top with medical claims. I don't make any. I don't want the FDA to come after me. There are some heavy fines involved if you get caught and I won't go there.
Tell what the product is for, list your ingredients and have the shopper make their own mind about what the product does or doesn't do.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Yep, like Irena said, healing is making medical claims. Saying that the ingredients in the products "heal" anything is also making an implied medical claim.

We recently discussed something similar not too long ago
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9263&hilit=heal

Canada is great about telling exactly what is okay & is not okay on claims:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/ind ... eng.php#a2
Even though those are meant for Canada Health guidelines, they are very similar to the FDA's guidelines as well, just more straight forward.

You can say that your product moisturizes, creates a moisture barrier, protects from dryness, etc. The thesaurus is very helpful for finding the right wording.

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Genny

I work for a cosmeceutical/pharmaceutical company and I’m waiting for this book to come out in January:



There's a lot going on this upcoming year with sunscreen claims and other issues with weight statements.

Also, the FDA has pretty clear outlines on its website:

Green Tea, Citric Acid and Caffeine are all known as antioxidants and you can state that, but you can’t claim that it will reduce the signs of aging, help combat free radicals, fight cancer or reduce inflammation.

One thing that you can do is site medical journals on the benefits of an ingredient. Like, if you have something with Green Tea (Polyphenol), you can direct your marketing material to an abstract or journal that sites the benefits of Green Tea.

Marie Gale has a book you might be interested in> http://www.lotioncrafter.com/soap-cosme ... eling.html

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.