FDA Considers Regulations For Cosmetics

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is considering regulations for cosmetics, which are currently unregulated.

On November 30th, said The Daily Glow, the FDA convened a meeting of cosmetics experts to look at safety issues concerning unregulated makeup and discuss the creation of industry standards and guidelines to help make the popular products safe for women.

Currently, cosmetics manufacturers can use whatever they want to create skin care and beauty products, which means that toxins and other dangerous ingredients might find their way into make-up and lotions, which many women use as part of their daily routine.

For instance, said The Daily Glow, certain cosmetics have been found to contain ethyl glycol—antifreeze—as a primary ingredient, as well as petroleum, which is a derivative of crude oil and is often used as a base ingredient in lip balms and moisturizers. Manufacturers also use formaldehyde to stave off bacteria, mold, and yeast that could grow on cosmetics, said The Daily Glow.

Some argue that because make-up is not ingested it poses less problems; however, toxic cosmetics can lead to skin rashes, infections, and eye irritations, said the FDA, according to The Daily Glow.

Unregulated components, packaging, and preservatives are all points of concern, said The Daily Glow. For instance, if improperly packaged, spoiling can occur which can sometimes not affect the aroma or appearance of cosmetics, but which can lead to adverse reactions.

We’ve long written about issues with cosmetics such as formaldehyde in the popular Brazilian Blowout product and other, similar hair straightening products and the toxin triclosan in Bath and Body Works products and some Dial soap products, as well as in a massive number of consumer cosmetics and hygiene products. Mercury was also reported in certain skin lotion products and bisphenol A and phthalates have posed problems in consumer products generally.

Most recently, we wrote that Johnson & Johnson came under fire for its baby shampoo being found to contain two cancer chemical ingredients considered dangerous to babies. A boycott was urged by the now-controversial product; Johnson & Johnson recently announced it will continue to work to remove the chemicals from its baby products worldwide.

We previously wrote that Johnson & Johnson was asked to publicly commit to eliminating the chemicals from all its personal care products and to commit by November 15. Johnson & Johnson responded by issuing a statement indicating that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are safe and have been approved by U.S. regulators and regulators in other countries.