A 2022 study in the Journal of Marketing Research examined three product categories where misinformation is prevalent: aluminum in deodorants, fluoride in toothpastes and genetically modified organisms in food. The authors found that debunking myths and correcting misbeliefs surrounding these products could attenuate consumers' reduced willingness to pay for them. They noted this is a "promising finding for policy makers."
See related: Are Reef Safe Claims a Gimmick? Big Lots Sunscreen Lawsuit, Hawaii Ingredient Bans, TikTok Misinformation
Free e-summit: In relation, The Eco Well's free full day conference, the Truth in Beauty E-Summit, sponsored by C&T, will explore misinformation in cosmetics across the industry, from skin and sun to animal testing; and its impacts and strategies to overcome it. The event will be held on Sept. 29, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
[update] Pitch contest: In addition, aligned with the e-summit, BeautySciComm has announced a pitch contest for scientific communicators (read below for more).
"The information presented [during the summit] is incredibly important for any professional in the cosmetics industry to be aware of," noted Jen Novakovich, of The Eco Well. "Misinformation has such a profound impact on the work we do — at this point, everyone should have a basic idea of the information landscape. There is also a lot of misinformation that many industry members have also taken as truth (including cosmetic scientists)."
She continued, "At the end of the day, whoever the viewer, attendees can expect to walk away with a better understanding of what's fact and fiction, and how to better critically assess the information they're presented."
Truth in Beauty E-Summit Agenda
Topics addressed will include the following.
- Skin and Skin Care - Separating Fact from Fiction, presented by Aegean Chan, M.D. @draegeanchan
- Safety - Separating Fact from Fiction, presented by Lisa Navarro, Ph.D., and Anne Chappelle, Ph.D., from Toxicology Education Foundation
- Animal Testing - Separating Fact from Fiction, presented by Barae Jomaa, Ph.D., from Colonial Chemical
- Environmental Impact - Separating Fact from Fiction, presented by Jen Novakovich @theecowell
- Sunscreen - Separating Fact from Fiction, presented by BASF
- Broader Policy Implications of Misinformation for Beauty, presented by the Independent Beauty Association
- The Impact of Misinformation, presented by Andrea Love, Ph.D. @dr.andrealove
- The Information Landscape - the Influencer POV, presented by James Welsh @james_s_welsh
- Good Evidence? presented by Lanesa Mahon @raya.faces
- Cosmetic Claims and their Testing, presented by Rania Ibrahim, Ph.D., from SkinScience Analytics
- Research Fraud, Predatory Journals and Science Integrity, presented by Reese Richardson
- Communicating Science, presented by Jess Stokes-Parish, Ph.D. @j_stokesparish
- Brand Sci-Comm Strategies, speaker TBA
- Challenges of Beauty Scicomm, presented by Michelle Wong, Ph.D. @labmuffinbeautyscience
[update] SciCommer Challenge: Pitch Contest by BeautySciComm Group
Aligned with the Truth in Beauty E-Summit, BeautySciComm will recognize real-world myth busting in beauty in a pitch contest for scientific communicators.
How to Enter the Pitch Contest
Send a 90 sec or less, portrait-configured video/reel explaining a topic related to cosmetic science to the BeautySciComm Group (submit via @beautyscicomm on Instagram or through BeautySciComm.com). The final submission deadline is Sept. 19, 2024.
What SciCommers Win
Winners will have their reel played on the beautyscicomm IG page, during the Truth in Beauty e-summit, and shared by @labmuffinbeautyscience, @theecowell and @cosmeticsandtoiletries on their IG pages.
Two prizes will be awarded, including:
- One-year IBA Membership + 30 min call with Meredith Petillo in an AMA regulatory chat;
- Choice of one-year SCC membership OR 1 online CEP course;
- 30 min mentorship call with Michelle @labmuffinbeautyscience and Jen @theecowell;
- The chance to be profiled in Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine with other prize winner; and
- $250, sponsored by IBA.
The winners will be chosen and announced at the Truth in Beauty e-summit.
