http://www.cosmeticshelp.com/ind.xml Cosmetics RSS Feeds en-us http://www.cosmeticshelp.com Cosmetics are put on the body to: cleanse it make it beautiful make it attractive change its appearance or the way it looks Cosmetic products include: skin creams lotions perfumes lipsticks fingernail polishes eye and face makeup products permanent waves hair dyes toothpastes deodorants Unlike drugs, which are used to treat or prevent disease in the body, cosmetics do not change or affect the body's structure or functions. http://www.cosmeticshelp.com Fragrances and preservatives are the main ingredients in cosmetics. Fragrances are the most common cause of skin problems. More than 5,000 different kinds are used in products. Products marked "fragrancefree" or "without perfume" means that no fragrances have been added to make the product smell good. Preservatives in cosmetics are the second most common cause of skin problems. They prevent bacteria and fungus from growing in the product and protect products from damage caused by air or light. But preservatives can also cause the skin to become irritated and infected. Some examples of preservatives are: paraben imidazolidinyl urea Quaternium15 DMDM hydantoin formaldehyde The ingredients below cannot be used, or their use is limited, in cosmetics. They may cause cancer or other serious health problems. bithionol mercury compounds vinyl chloride halogenated salicyanilides zirconium complexes in aerosol sprays chlorofluorocarbon propellants hexachlorophene http://www.cosmeticshelp.com A cosmetic maker can sell products without FDA approval. FDA does not review or approve cosmetics, or their ingredients, before they are sold to the public. But FDA urges cosmetic makers to do whatever tests are needed to prove their products are safe. Cosmetics makers must put a warning statement on the front labels of products that have not been safety testing, which reads, "WARNINGThe safety of this product has not been determined." FDA does require safety testing for color additives used in cosmetics. Cosmetics may only contain approved and certified colors. You'll find FDC, DC, or external DC listed on cosmetic labels. FDC color that can be used only in foods, drugs, and cosmetics DC color that can be used only in drugs and cosmetics external DC color that can be used only in drugs applied to the surface of the skin and cosmetics A cosmetic maker also does not have to report product injuries. FDA collects this information on a voluntary basis only. Cosmetic makers that want to be a part of this program send reports to the FDA. Product recalls are voluntary actions taken by cosmetic makers too. FDA cannot require cosmetics recalls. But FDA does monitor cosmetic makers that do a recall. FDA must first prove in court that a cosmetic product is a danger or somehow breaks the law before it can be taken off the market. http://www.cosmeticshelp.com Some products can be both cosmetics and drugs. This may happen when a product has two uses. For example, a shampoo is a cosmetic because it's used to clean the hair. But, an antidandruff treatment is a drug because it's used to treat dandruff. So an antidandruff shampoo is both a cosmetic and a drug. Other examples are: toothpastes that contain fluoride deodorants that are also antiperspirants moisturizers and makeup that provide sun protection These products must meet the standards for both cosmetics (color additives) and drugs. Some cosmetic makers use the term "cosmeceutical" to refer to products that have druglike benefits. FDA does not recognize this term. A product can be a drug, a cosmetic, or a combination of both. But the term "cosmeceutical" has no meaning under the law. While drugs are reviewed and approved by FDA, FDA does not approve cosmetics. If a product acts like a drug, FDA must approve it as a drug. http://www.cosmeticshelp.com Yes, for the most part. Serious problems from cosmetics are rare. But sometimes problems can happen. The most common injury from cosmetics is from scratching the eye with a mascara wand. Eye infections can result if the scratches go untreated. These infections can lead to ulcers on the cornea (clear covering of the eye), loss of lashes, or even blindness. To play it safe, never try to apply mascara while riding in a car, bus, train, or plane. Sharing makeup can also lead to serious problems. Cosmetic brushes and sponges pick up bacteria from the skin. And if you moisten brushes with saliva, the problem can be worse. Washing your hands before using makeup will help prevent this problem. Sleeping while wearing eye makeup can cause problems too. If mascara flakes into your eyes while you sleep, you might wake up with itching, bloodshot eyes, infections, or eye scratches. So be sure to remove all makeup before going to bed. Cosmetic products that come in aerosol containers also can be a hazard. For example, it is dangerous to use aerosol hairspray near heat, fire, or while smoking. Aerosol sprays or powders also can cause lung damage if they are deeply inhaled into the lungs. To find out more about cosmetic safety, check out the FDA's Cosmetics True or False Quiz at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/costf.html and find out how much you really know!