The origins of cosmetics trace back to ancient Egyptian and Roman civilizations, where women employed lead-based beauty products. Although lead usage in cosmetics has been discontinued due to its harmful effects, modern branded beauty and personal care products carry their risks. Many commercial cosmetics today are laden with chemicals, posing potential dangers over the long term. This revelation might come as a surprise, emphasizing the need to delve deeper into the potential hazards associated with widely used beauty products.
The Current Scenario
When women shop for skincare and personal care products, many often overlook the label ingredient lists. The assumption is that products marketed after undergoing FDA safety checks can be trusted. However, a surprising revelation emerged – between 2014 and 2018, over 27,000 consumer complaints were filed with the FDA against various cosmetics. Subsequent investigations uncovered a range of adverse effects, from minor to severe, including allergic reactions, hair loss, chemical burns, and even links to cancer. This sheds light on the potential risks associated with seemingly regulated beauty products.
Due to the virtually non-existent regulatory system, the FDA does not have authority over cosmetics companies.
So, here comes the question, “Are we not protected by the FDA?” The answer lies in the process of scrutinization. A U.S. consumer uses ten cosmetics daily on average, and this practice has been found to expose people to more or less 126 different chemicals daily. Worse, most of these chemical compounds have not been tested thoroughly. This unfolds the loopholes in the system.
What is the Threat?
So, what threats do commercial cosmetics pose to the skin and health? According to various research reports, your body regularly absorbs many compounds from the products you apply to your skin’s surface (1). They may also enter your body through inhalation and even unintentional swallowing. Here is a glance at the harmful ingredients lurking in various skin and personal care products:
1. Triclosan
This joint antibacterial agent in soaps and toothpaste is restricted in Canada and Japan as a cosmetic ingredient. This is because it may induce long-lasting toxic effects by creating resistant bacteria in the body and causing endocrine problems (2).
2. Fragrance
From deodorants to sunscreens, almost all cosmetics contain fragrances that may lead to allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress, and low sperm count. Nearly 3,163 different chemicals are used for this purpose, and each product may contain a mixture of 14 hidden compounds on average as the ingredient ‘fragrance’ (3).
3. MI/MCI
Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) are categorized as allergens that are extensively used in skin and personal care products. According to the American Contact Dermatitis Society, repeated topical exposure may result in chronic poison ivy-like rashes and even contact dermatitis (4).
4. Toluene
Your nail polish and moisturizing cream may contain a toluene solvent, a potent neurotoxin. Apart from nausea, breathing issues, and immune system disruption, it is also associated with cancer and developmental damage in a fetus (5).
5. Parabens
Nowadays, almost all commercial cosmetics include parabens in their compositions as preservatives. However, the compounds in this class are known to mimic estrogen, thus causing hormonal dysregulation. Parabens are also widely linked to cancers (6).
6. Endocrine Disruptors
When used in cosmetics, the levels of certain compounds like triclosan, triclocarban, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), phenoxyethanol, resorcinol, phthalates, boric acid, sodium borate, etc. get increased in the bloodstream. As a result, they are directly linked to endocrine disruption in the body (7).
7. Formaldehyde Releasers
Formaldehyde has been recognized as a potential carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute. Besides, it is one of the most common contact allergens, intoxicating the immune system (8). However, compounds like DMDM hydantoin, Quaternium-15, etc., belong to a class of antimicrobial preservatives used in more than 20% of U.S. cosmetics and release formaldehyde in the body (9).
8. 1,4 Dioxane
Like formaldehyde, ingredients like 1,4-dioxane included in cosmetics are also not safe. It is an industrial solvent or foaming agent linked to animal cancer (10).
9. Oxybenzone
While Japan has already restricted the use of oxybenzone in its personal care products, the benzophenone derivative is widely used in American sunscreens as a UV light absorber. It leads to photoallergic reactions and hormonal dysfunction (11).
10. Titanium Dioxide
Being a naturally occurring mineral, titanium dioxide is often used in cosmetics as a thickener or pigment. Though it is considered safe in sunscreen, toothpaste, etc., it may cause cancer when inhaled in powder form (12).
Lenient Scrutiny of Cosmetics
Cosmetics is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry that the FDA oversees. Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, it is authorized to ensure that the commercially available skin and personal care products “do not contain toxic or contaminated ingredients or provide false or incomplete label information.” However, the agency neither defines the safety standards for cosmetics nor has the power to approve their ingredients before the products hit the market. Instead, the ingredients used are totally at the manufacturers’ discretion as they ensure the products launched are “safe and properly labeled.”
Cosmetics are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny that food and drugs go through, even though their contents also enter the body. In some cases, cosmetics are scrutinized as drugs, while others are regulated as medical devices and supplements.
How are Cosmetics Labeled?
As there are no strict labeling requirements by the FDA for consumer products, manufacturers can easily circumvent the entire disclosure of names and quantities of the ingredients included in their products. Moreover, per the current law, no manufacturer must register with the FDA or provide ingredient-related information to the agency. Hence, they claim that disclosing complete ingredient lists on the product labels would reveal their trade secrets.
On the other hand, more than 80,000 chemicals are in use in the U.S., for which federal regulators have specified no safety data. When one or more of these chemical compounds are used as raw materials in cosmetics, the safety of those products can never be guaranteed. In short, skin and personal care products labeled as “gentle,” “hypoallergenic,” etc., are not necessarily safer than others as they may also come loaded with untested chemicals.
Also Read – Know The Ingredients In Beauty Products And Decode Your Cosmetics Labels!
Can the FDA Mandate a Product Recall?
Even after monitoring the market for potential dangers, the FDA cannot issue a mandatory product recall when harmful side effects are discovered. The agency can also not compel manufacturers to report cosmetics-related injuries unless they do it voluntarily, which is undoubtedly self-incriminating. However, if there are many adverse reports about a product in the market, the FDA can investigate and request a recall by the distributor or the manufacturer.
Unfortunately FDA has no legal authority to approve or disapprove cosmetics before they hit the market. FDA can only approve color additives used in cosmetics.
What Can Consumers Do About It?
With the rising popularity of clean cosmetics among consumers, many companies are now focusing on it. But your responsibility does not end with reading the labels of the products. Given below are the ways to stay safe from the adverse reactions of commercial cosmetics:
Stop Using After Side Effects: Once you suffer a bad reaction from a particular product, cease its use immediately and contact your doctor. Further use of any harmful product may worsen your condition.
Lodge Complaints with the FDA: As the manufacturers are not mandated by law to release product complaints to the FDA, the task falls to consumers like you. File health reports with the FDA to identify the products people should be wary of. Here is the link to submit complaints.
Choose Non-Toxic Ingredients: It is always best to stick to non-toxic products containing pure ingredients that are often sourced naturally. There is a wealth of pure products that are likely to be safe for use, and yield added benefits. So, dig into it.
Remember that the FDA has a lot of limitations that hinder its ability to scrutinize a beauty product thoroughly. As such, you need to exercise vigilance when using regular cosmetics. However, even when the FDA is limited in its authority, we, consumers, have the means to affect change, which is precisely how things should be.
Summary –
Beauty is a billion dollar market and everyday consumers are lured by the launch of new products. While brands promise to give you a stunning look and personality, it is interesting to note that not all these products are safe for use and may cause adverse side effects on our health. Some of the commonly used chemicals in cosmetic products include Triclosan, Fragrance, MI/MCI, Toluene, Parabens, Endocrine Disruptors, Formaldehyde Releasers, 1,4 Dioxane, Oxybenzone and Titanium Dioxide. Unfortunately the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no legal jurisdiction to regulate cosmetics products before they are launched. Moreover it doest have the authority to recall a product when harmful side effects are discovered. However as a consumer, you can still protect yourself from harmful cosmetics by following a few steps. You can stop using after experiencing any side effects, lodge a complaint with the FDA and choose products with non-toxic Ingredients.
FDA has detailed FAQ’s on their website related to cosmetic safety and regulations. Check here.
References –
- “Prediction of chemical absorption into and through the skin from cosmetic and dermatological formulations” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Should I avoid products that contain triclosan?” – mayoclinic.org
- “3,163 ingredients hide behind the word “fragrance” – ewg.org
- “Methylisothiazolinone” -ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Is Your Nail Polish Toxic?” – webmd.com
- “FAQ: Parabens and Breast Cancer” – webmd.com
- “Endocrine Disruptors” – niehs.nih.gov
- “Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk” – cancer.gov
- “Cosmetics Preservation: A Review on Present Strategies” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics: A Manufacturing Byproduct” -fda.gov
- “Photoallergy to benzophenone” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Titanium dioxide in our everyday life; is it safe?” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
