Testing services are essential to bring safe and effect products to the household and personal care marketplace. Happi checked in with leading providers in testing about key issues and how they are helping brands across a variety of sectors to back up product claims with data as well as bring the R&D process to full circle with finished products.

Experts include Craig R. Weiss, president, Consumer Product Testing Company; Tracey Baubie, president and CEO, Comprehensive Research Group; W. Richard Ulmer, chairman and CEO, InVitro International; and Jane Tervooren, co-founder and director, Validated Claim Support.

Responses are listed in alphabetical order by company. 

HAPPI: What current issues are impacting testing services in beauty and personal care and hom care? 

Craig Weiss:The issues impacting our business are both economic and regulatory. With the advent of new tariffs and the uncertainty they have brought, we are seeing many companies being more selective in ingredient selection and which products they want to import or export. The state chemical bans/limitations enacted and proposed greatly impacted our analytical chemistry department. Clients that never worried about heavy metal, residual solvent, nitrosamines and other impurities, are playing catch-up to comply with these limits and bans. Finally, there is MoCRA, many companies are trying to make sure their product safety is substantiated and are waiting for more requirements to be announced.  

Tracey Baubie: In 2025, expectations for transformative changes in testing services due to the Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act (MoCRA) have not materialized. MoCRA aimed to bolster the FDA’s authority over cosmetic safety through new regulatory measures like enhanced registration, labeling and adverse event reporting requirements. However, the industry is instead grappling with significant challenges stemming from economic instability. This instability is primarily driven by rising inflation and variable US tariff policies on imports. For example, tariffs on Chinese imports fluctuated greatly, ranging from 10% to as high as 200%, forcing companies to continually reevaluate their sourcing, packaging and pricing strategies.

Volatile inflation led to increased energy and raw material costs, affecting companies of all sizes. Larger companies may leverage their purchasing power better than smaller or startup businesses. Consequently, manufacturers face tough decisions about whether to absorb these costs, raise consumer prices or adopt a combined approach. This economic turmoil has caused a notable deceleration in testing services in early 2025, as industry leaders work through strategy decisions amid uncertainties, balancing the drive for innovation with the constraints of current market challenges. Nevertheless, as we move into the fourth quarter, some manufacturers are beginning to find their footing and are keen to push forward with new innovations despite these uncertainties.

W. Richard Ulmer: InVitro International has seen newer “issues” impacting the safety testing services business affecting cosmetics, personal and home cleaning/care products in 2025. They’ve been brought on by increased attention from US Government Agencies. FDA attention to “safety” issues has expanded to include more than labeling (claims) into areas such as shelf life/expiration dating and more. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently brought attention to concerns about skin corrosivity associated with adhesives and certain paint components. These concerns from the regulatory world bring customers’ manufacturing as well as formulation areas into our testing world in greater numbers.

Jane Tervooren: One of the biggest challenges testing services face right now is the constant pressure to keep up with new product trends. In beauty and personal care especially, consumers chase after “clean,” “natural” and “sustainable” products; brands are reformulating constantly to meet demand. This means labs are scrambling to validate new ingredients, run additional safety and stability tests and adapt to ever-changing regulatory definitions—what counts as “clean” in one market might not fly in another. It’s a lot of moving parts, and testing services are feeling the squeeze.

Another issue is the tightening of global regulations. Whether it’s stricter EU cosmetics rules, ingredient bans in California, or new requirements in Asian markets, testing labs must stay on top of a constantly shifting legal landscape. This isn’t just about compliance—it affects everything from turnaround times to the types of certifications brands want on their labels. Plus, testing services need to invest in new equipment or expertise just to meet these standards, which drives costs up and slows things down.

Lastly, there’s the rise of fast innovation and “instant” product launches thanks to social media. TikTok trends can make a product go viral overnight, and suddenly brands need it tested, certified and on shelves yesterday. But real testing—especially for things like skin sensitivity or product safety—takes time. Labs are pushed to do more, faster and cheaper, without cutting corners. It’s creating real tension between speed-to-market and maintaining high testing standards, and the industry hasn’t quite figured out how to balance the two just yet. At VCS we will likely pass on a study opportunity if we feel that the timing is unreasonable or the quality of the study will be negatively affected by any number of factors.

HAPPI: What are some requests your company received regarding testing over the past year? 

Craig Weiss: Requests for clinical and invitro safety studies continue to be received to comply with the need for safety substantiation to comply with MoCRA. We also are seeing increases in microbiology testing due to greater amounts of contaminations because of the limiting of usable preservatives. The limiting/banning of chemicals and the associated penalties have seen an increase of testing for residual impurities and heavy metals. 

Tracey Baubie: Over the past year, there has been a surge in the demand for product development aimed at “specialized” subject populations. Historically, research focused more on generalized populations, such as women aged 18-65, participating in studies targeting general concerns like fine lines and wrinkles. However, sponsoring companies are increasingly interested in very specific subject populations, such as individuals with unique physical attributes related to hair, skin, medical conditions or medication use.

I believe this shift is driven by consumer demands for products that cater to their “unique” or “individual” needs. This demand for an increasingly unique subject population, necessarily results in higher recruitment and compensation costs.  

Moreover, we see a growing trend toward “at-home” data collection. Gone are the days when participants were simply required to apply products and maintain a printed diary. Now, subjects are expected to engage in comprehensive in-home data collection processes, including taking images, completing online questionnaires and performing non-invasive instrument measurements at multiple time points throughout a study. While this presents certain challenges, technological advancements are likely to further expand the scope of participants’ at-home tasks in the future.

Richard Ulmer: In 2025, InVitro International had a noteworthy increase in “large dollar volume” suspensions of product in warehouses awaiting “clearance” to ship; in other words, suspected “dangerous goods.” Big name shippers suspected they were involved with mislabeled merchandise from a consumer “danger” point of view. Our ability to deliver accurate test results quickly was called upon frequently.

Jane Tervooren: There’s been a huge surge in interest around microbiome analysis in clinical studies lately, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Focusing on the skin microbiome is a hot topic in clinical studies for some solid reasons. First off, the skin is our largest organ and acts as the first line of defense against the outside world. The microbes living on it—bacteria, fungi, even viruses—help maintain that barrier and keep it functioning properly. So when something goes wrong, like in conditions such as acne, eczema or psoriasis, researchers increasingly look at the skin microbiome to understand if, or how, it’s playing a role.

Another reason there are so many requests for skin microbiome analysis is that it’s non-invasive. You don’t need blood draws or biopsies—you can just swab the skin. That makes it relatively easy to include in a clinical trial without scaring off participants. Plus, with all the buzz around microbiome-targeted skincare and treatments, there’s a real push to connect specific microbes with skin health outcomes. Clinical studies want to see if these connections are legit or just hype, and skin swabs offer a relatively low-cost way to get meaningful data.

Finally, the skin microbiome is super dynamic. It changes based on age, environment, hygiene, skincare products — even your stress levels. That makes it a fascinating area of study because it gives researchers a chance to explore how lifestyle and environment impact health at the microbial level. The more we learn, the more it seems like healthy skin isn’t just about what you put on it, but also about maintaining a balanced and resilient community of microbes living on it. 

HAPPI: Tell us about recent developments at your company and what’s next for 2026? 

Craig Weiss:We recently invested in new instrumentation to test for PFAS, nitrosamines and to comply with the new ISO sunscreen testing. 

Tracey Baubie:To address increasing recruitment costs, particularly for specialized subject populations, our company is leveraging technology to enhance its process of finding, screening and scheduling subject participants. Although this approach requires significant initial investments, we are already witnessing positive outcomes from these new recruitment strategies. These improvements aim to meet the rising demand for study designs that are specifically tailored to distinct subject populations. Looking ahead to 2026, we are focused on further optimizing these technologies to better support our recruitment efforts and accommodate evolving industry needs.

Richard Ulmer: During the past year, InVitro International’s board of directors announced the company was creating a new strategic positioning in its 40th year. The company will remain publicly owned (IVRO, OTCQB), but will be announcing a new strategic direction within the coming year. Our IVRO team is very excited about it.

Jane Tervooren: We anticipate receiving ISO 9001:2015 by year-end. We’re going for ISO certification because we want to continue to improve how we do things as a company. It’s not just about getting a fancy certificate to hang on the wall—it’s about building better systems, improving how we work day-to-day and making sure our customers consistently get quality service. 

Another big reason is trust. ISO 9001 is internationally recognized. Having it shows that we take quality seriously and that we’re committed to continuous improvement. It gives our current and future clients extra confidence in us, and it helps open doors to bigger opportunities—including working with clients who require ISO-certified partners. So really, it’s about growth, reputation and making sure we’re always doing our best work.

Also, keeping up with the latest in bioinstrumentation is a game-changer for us—it’s not just about having the coolest gadgets, it’s about giving our clients real, measurable results. Newer tools are faster, more accurate and often less invasive, which means we can provide better diagnostics, track progress more effectively and ultimately deliver even better outcomes. Staying on the cutting edge also shows our clients that we’re serious about their results and that we invest in the best to support them.

Finally, we’ve always taken pride in our before and after photography; that’s something that sets us apart from the pack. It’s one thing to talk about results—it’s another to show them in clear, consistent, high-quality images. Compelling, visual proof builds trust, shows the impact of our work and sets a standard in the industry. We’ve built our reputation on that level of transparency and attention to detail, and we’re committed to keeping it that way.

Combining attention to quality systems, cutting-edge bioinstrumentation with the best photography in the game means we’re offering the full package—objective data and undeniable visuals. It’s about raising the bar, not just meeting expectations. As we grow and evolve, our goal is to make sure every client knows they’re getting the best tools, the best care and the best proof of progress, all in one place.

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