Sephora.com, Inc.

Who Approves Cosmetics?

Authored by critty.Pinkpurple_thumb
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I am all about becoming an informed consumer (in every area, not just beauty related), so I thought I would do a series of posts about the Beauty industry and products and claims.  I am a giant geek and love to research the why's and the how's and the internal business strategies and tactics.  I love, love, love the beauty industry, but there are some things I think every consumer should know.  First, lets talk about approving products and packaging.

 

I have read online that the FDA approves all cosmetic products and packaging before each product is released.  That is simply NOT the case.  There are thousands and thousands of cosmetic companies (think of all the little mineral makeup companies) and the FDA cannot test every product.  The safety of the product and the marketing materials and packaging are the responsibility of the cosmetic manufacturer.   

Does that mean a mineral foundation you bought from a small company can contain lead?  Absolutely not.  Cosmetic manufacturers are only allowed to use cosmetic grade products that have been approved by the FDA.  So they do not test all of the products, but they have tested all of the ingredients that are allowed to make up the products. You are not allowed to just stick in ay old ingredient.

Sometimes a company can make a product in one country (or Europe), but it is not available in the US because the FDA has not approved an ingredient.  L'Oreal sunscreens with Mexoryl Sx (excellent at protecting from short UVA waves) were available in Canada and Europe for many years before the FDA finally approved it as an ingredient in 2006.  US Beauties would come raid our Canadian shelves of L'Oreal suncreen every summer!   

Cosmetic companies are not allowed to use ingredients that are classified as drugs or make claims that their products will give you drug-like effects.  If the FDA is concerned about a products ingredients, saftey, mislabeled or misrepresents itself as giving drug-like effects, they will take the manufacturer to court.

So although not every single product is tested by the FDA, the ingredients used are safe and if there is a problem, there will be a recall or the manufacturer will be taken to court. 

How did you think cosmetics were approved? Any beauty industry questions you are dying to ask?  Have you heard any conspiracy theories?

Comments


Uhh, I never really thought about it. I just thought that the company tested it. I didn't know that it had to be approved by the FDA.
Posted on Thu Feb 12 07:14:22 UTC 2009 by jackieg02

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