Abstract
Cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) are prominent in the daily lives of consumers. Unfortunately, there is a long history of toxic chemicals in these products that have caused serious adverse effects. As a result, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) was created to help identify ingredients with safety concerns; this remains the primary source of regulation for cosmetics and PCPs today. No additional requirement exists for federal review of ingredients or adverse event reporting. As a result, questionable ingredients with potential safety issues can still be found in products. With these regulatory deficits, some companies have taken steps to remove unsafe chemicals from their products and promote ‘cleaner’ ones. In addition, resources are available such as the Skin Keep Cosmetics Database, that review ingredients and classify their hazard risk. Knowing the limited regulation of cosmetic and PCPs, it is important for consumers to be knowledgeable about ingredients that may be unsafe or carry risks.
Recommended Citation
Novak, A. Beauty and the (chemical) beast. BUHealth. 2023; 1(1). https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/buhealth/vol1/iss1/7
Beauty and the (Chemical) Beast Infographic