Rules and innovation: how makeup formulas evolve

Strictly adhering to regulations and standards is a point of pride for us at Confalonieri: we never cut corners when it comes to the safety and quality of our products, and our clients always know exactly which ingredients we use in our private label pencils. The real challenge lies in staying ahead of the curve, finding innovative solutions even before they are required by laws and regulations: our research and development department is constantly working on this front.

In recent years, for example, there has been a strong focus on reducing plastic use in packaging and products; by 2030, compliance with the new European packaging regulation will be mandatory. At Confalonieri we already have a head start, as we produce exclusively PEFC-certified wooden pencils, but we have also researched and tested various solutions for all the components of our products.

Less and less plastic

For years, we’ve been offering pencil caps made with different recyclable materials, depending on the formula and the desired effect, or with aluminum. Since 2023, we’ve taken it a step further with neutral-colored PCR plastic caps that can be dyed to match customised designs and finishes. This PCR (Post-consumer recycled) plastic is suitable for cosmetics and combines environmental responsibility with aesthetic quality.

Microplastics? We use natural materials

Another important issue is microplastics, which end up in the environment from countless everyday products, including cosmetics. We’ve removed them from our highlighters, replacing plastic-based materials with micro-pearls made of natural mica. Through a special processing method, this mineral becomes nearly transparent, offering extraordinary brightness without altering the colour of the pencil.

Glitter effects usually rely on plastic materials as well, but we’ve found an innovative solution to create cleaner pencils: we use glitter made from cellulose flakes, coated with a sparkling film. The result is just as luminous as usual glitter, but without microplastic, biodegradable and sourced from responsibly managed forests.

Pigments and heavy metals

In recent years, restrictions on heavy metals imposed or recommended by health authorities in various countries have become stricter. In makeup products, a significant portion of these impurities comes from inorganic pigments, so manufacturers have introduced increasingly pure pigments.

Our pencils have always complied with legal limits on heavy metals, but these new pigments offer a valuable opportunity for further improvement. For new formulas, we use only next-generation pigments, but we haven’t stopped there. We're also revising our existing formulas to replace traditional pigments with these new versions. It’s not an instant process, since color payoff differs and each formula must be carefully rebalanced and tested to maintain its performance, but it’s well worth the effort.

Contact us if you’d like to learn more about our made in Italy makeup pencils!