About Me

Who I am

I’m Marie Gale. I’ve been involved in the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry for more than 25 years, and I started out the same way most of you did — making product at home and selling it.

I joined the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild in 1998, served on its Board of Directors, and was President from 2004 to 2009. I’ve stayed involved ever since.

I didn’t set out to become the labeling person. I started researching the rules because I needed to label my own products correctly, and I couldn’t find a straight answer anywhere. The more I dug into the regulations, the more I realized that just about everyone else was running into the same problem. And, as it turns out, I actually like reading regulations. (Yes, I know — that’s a little weird.)

So I started writing things down in plain English.

The books

That plain-English writing eventually became my first book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, published in 2008. It’s now in its fourth edition, updated for MoCRA, which came out in 2025. It’s sold well over 100,000 copies across the four editions, which still surprises me.

Other books followed as the need came up:

300 Years of Natural Soap and Cosmetic Recipes (2011)
Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters (2012)
Navigating the Rules and Regs: A Practical Guide for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters (2022)
Complying With MoCRA: A Guide for Cosmetic Handcrafters (2024)

What I do the rest of the time

I’ve been writing at MarieGale.com since 2007. There are now over 300 articles there on labeling, regulations, MoCRA, good manufacturing practices, ingredients, and state requirements. All of it is free, and it stays free.

I started doing label reviews and one-on-one consulting around 2012, and I still do both.

I host MoCRA Monday, a twice-monthly Facebook Live on regulations, and I serve on the HSCG’s Policies, Procedures and Bylaws Committee. I speak at industry conferences and to maker groups, lavender growers, and anyone else who asks and has people who need to hear it.

And I’m in the Facebook groups, answering questions. Not as marketing — I’ve just never been able to watch someone get told something wrong and scroll past it.

Every label review, every question, and every conversation has taught me something about where people actually get tripped up. All of that went into building Compliance Advisor.

One thing I’m not

I’m not an attorney, and I’m careful about that distinction.

What I give you is detailed regulatory information and practical guidance — what the regulations actually say, what they mean for your product, and what to do about it. That’s not the same thing as legal advice. If a question genuinely needs a lawyer, I’ll tell you that instead of guessing at it.

On a more personal note

I live in Clearwater, Florida, with my husband, Jere, who has been my partner and best friend for 27 years. We’re close enough to a large chunk of family that we actually get to see them, which I really like. Most of the time, I work from home, with the thoughtful assistance of our two cats, Goblin and Gremlin (who are aptly named).

I’m a Scientologist, as is Jere. We set aside time each week for study, and we volunteer locally for social betterment programs. I mention it here simply because it’s part of who I am. It has nothing to do with your labels. You’re just welcome to know who you’re dealing with.

In whatever spare time is left over, I research my family tree — a project I’ve been picking at for about 50 years now and will probably never finish — putter around the house reorganizing things that were probably perfectly fine the way they were, fuss with the plants, and sew, or at least try to.

I’m always happy to hear from you

If you have a question, a suggestion, or an idea for something you think would be useful, tell me. I read everything that comes in.

The contact form is the fastest way to reach me.