Marketer hype surrounding their latest anti-aging products is to be expected; it’s been going on for years. But I did a double take while reading an article in The Sun in which a UK dermatologist suggested that eating a thin-crust pizza loaded with “lots of tomato and veg” is ideal for sun protection.

Her advice appeared under the headline, “Why Pizza Stops You Burning.” Of course, Domino’s Pizza UK picked up the article, posted it on Facebook, and now there are probably a few thousand pasty-faced Brits walking around Piccadilly Circus munching Sicilian slices, confident that they’re protected against UV.

As we say here in New Jersey, “Fuhgettaboutit!”

One industry supplier took umbrage with the Domino’s campaign and urged me to retweet a retort calling for the pizza maker to kill its pizza/sun protection campaign. But really, who’s to blame here? Was it Domino’s for exploiting some free press with a tongue-in-cheek FB campaign? Or maybe it was The Sun for publishing the bad advice in the first place? No, I’ll point the finger at the dermatologist who uttered that quotable quote in the first place. You can’t blame a pizza marketing department for picking up a story and running with it—that’s what they’re paid to do. But you can blame an MD who really ought to think before she gets in front of a reporter.

Luckily, you won’t find such outrageous comments in our coverage of the active ingredients market that begins on p. 81. Here, derms and marketers offer up some intriguing thoughts on effective anti-aging ingredients. In addition, we’ve published a long list of new active materials from leading suppliers to help you create anti-aging products that deliver on their promises.

Also this month, we report on the resurgent professional hair care segment, the newest trends in personal care packaging and the dynamic green ingredients category.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Happi…why not kick back and peruse it with a slice of veggie pizza? Just remember to wear your sunscreen—those porcinis won’t save you from the ravages of UV!

[email protected]