FDA Cosmetics And Makeup Safety Tips
Questions and Answers Regarding
Makeup, Skin Care, and Cosmetics Products Answered by the FDA.
People use cosmetics to look and smell good. These products
can range from eye shadow to deodorants. They can have many
different ingredients. FDA does not test cosmetics before they
are put in stores. The law says they must be safe if used in the
usual way, or the way the label says to use them.
How do makeup, skin care, and cosmetic
allergies start?
Some people may react to
something in a product, For example, they may have itching,
redness, rash, sneezing, or wheezing. Allergies may happen the
first time you use a product or after you have used it more than
once.
Are cosmetic “testers” at
makeup counters safe?
Lots of people use the testers at makeup counters. Testers can
have lots of germs because so many people use them. Do you want
to test a product at the counter anyway? If so, use a new sponge
or cotton swab.
Are cosmetics,
skin care and makeup labels important?
Yes!
Always read them carefully. The law says a label must tell you:
• What the product is.
• If there are things to know about
how to use the product safely.
• How much of the product the
package contains.
• What company makes the product or
distributes it.
Also, if it is sold at retail to consumers,
there must be a list telling what’s in the product. Usually this
is on the label. In any case, it should be in a place where you
can see it when you buy it.
How do
I know if it’s a cosmetic or a drug?
If a
product is meant to keep you from getting sick, make you well,
or change the way your body works, it is a drug. For example,
products to treat dandruff and pimples are drugs. The law treats
them differently from cosmetics. For example, they have
different rules for how ingredients are listed. Some products
are both cosmetics and drugs. For example, a shampoo that is
just for washing your hair is a cosmetic. A product for stopping
dandruff is a drug. A shampoo that is used for washing your hair
and stopping dandruff is both a cosmetic and a drug. It must
follow the rules for both cosmetics and drugs.
I
have seen the term AHA. What does it mean?
AHA is
the short term for alpha hydroxy acid. Cosmetic makers claim
that AHAs lessen wrinkles. They say that they soften other signs
of aging, too.
Many people have had skin
problems after using AHAs. They have sent complaints to the FDA
about:
• Redness
• Swelling
• Burning
• Blisters
• Bleeding
• Rash
• Itching
• Changes
in skin color
Can I use AHA
products safely?
• Protect your skin from the
sun while you are using the product and for a week after you
stop using it.
• Buy only products that contain 10 percent
AHAs or less.
• Buy only products with pH of 3.5 or more.
• Do a test first on a small patch of skin.
• Stop using the
product if you have itching, burning, swelling, or other
problems.
• See your skin doctor (called a dermatologist) if
you have problems.
Safety
tips for beauty
• Follow directions on
the label carefully, including all “Cautions” and “Warnings.”
• Keep makeup closed tight when not in use.
• Wash your hands
before you put on makeup.
• Do not put on makeup while you
are driving.
• Do not share makeup with anyone else.
• Do
not add liquid to makeup.
• Stop using a product if you get a
rash or other problem where you are using it.
• Throw away
makeup if the color changes.
• Throw away makeup if it gets
an odor.
• Be extra careful not to keep mascara too long.
Some companies say three months is long enough.
• Do not use
eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away eye makeup
you were using when you got the infection.
• Keep makeup out
of the sun.
• Do not use spray cans while you are smoking or
near a source of heat. It could also cause a fire.
What should I do if I have a bad reaction
to a cosmetic?
First, call your doctor to
find out how to take care of the problem. You also can report a
problem to FDA. You can find your nearest FDA district office at
http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed_state/Small_business/sb_guide/regions.htm)
or in the blue pages of your phone book.
To Learn More:
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Phone:
1-888-723-3366
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov
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