Chemically Safe Hypoallergenic & Cosmetic Safety Issues Beauty on the Safe Side

Chemically Safe Information

Hypoallergenic and Cosemetic Safety Information

Information for my clients about HYPOALLERGENIC COSMETICS from:
US Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Cosmetics and Colors Fact Sheet
December 19, 1994; revised October 18, 2000

"Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic products. Consumers with hypersensitive skin, and even those with "normal" skin, may be led to believe that these products will be gentler to their skin than non-hypoallergenic cosmetics."

"There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labeled as hypoallergenic are not required to submit substantiation of their hypoallergenicity claims to the FDA".

"The term "hypoallergenic" may have considerable market value on a retail basis, but dermatologists say it has very little meaning."

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Cosemetic Safety Information from:
US Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer
November, 1991; revised May, 1995

Allergic Reactions

"Do the preservatives (in cosmetics) pose any safety risk?"

"According to a study of cosmetic reactions conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Groups, preservatives are the second most common cause of allergic and irritant reactions to cosmetics. Fragrances are number one. Although the study is more than 10 years old, the results can still be considered valid today, says Harold R. Minus, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at Howard University Hospital. (for More information on this study, see "Cosmetic Allergies" in the November, 1986 FDA Consumer."

"People who have had allergic reactions to cosmetics may try hypoallergenic or allergy-tested products. These are, however, only a partial solution for some and no solution at all for others."

"'Hypoallergenic can mean almost anything to anybody,' says Bailey."

"'Hypo' means 'less than,' and hypoallergenic means only that the manufacturer feels that the product is less likely than others to cause an allergic reaction. Although some manufacturers do clinical testing, others may simply omit perfumes or other common problem-causing ingredients. But there are no regulatory standards on what constitutes hypoallergenic."

"Likewise, label claims that a product is 'dermatologist-tested,' 'sensitivity tested,' 'allergy tested,' or 'nonirritating' carry no guarantee that it won't cause reactions."

Safety Testing

"Whether driven by altruism, liability, or the bottom line, most companies see the need for safety testing. But safety testing can rarely be mentioned without bringing up the controversy surrounding the use of animals for those tests."

"Many companies have begun to label their products with statements indicating that no animals have been used in testing."

"'As far as we know,' says Neil Wilcox, D.V..M., director of FDA's Office of Animal Care and Use, 'what these companies do is use, for the most part, old reliable ingredients that have proven safe (based on past animal data and a history of safe use) and then test the final product on people.'"

"'There's kind of a fine point here,; says CTFA's McEwen. 'These companies that say they don't test on animals are skirting the issue. Practically every ingredient that's used in cosmetics was at some point tested on animals. Probably a statement like 'no new animal testing; would be more accurate'"

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Beauty on the Safe Side

"Besides never putting on makeup while driving, consumers should follow other precautions to protect themselves and the quality of their cosmetics."

"* Keep makeup containers tightly closed except when in use."

"* Keep makeup out of sunlight; light can degrade preservatives."

"* Don't use eye cosmetics if you have an eye infections, such as conjunctivitis, and throw away all products you were using when you first discovered the infection."

"* Never add any liquid to bring the product back to its original consistency. Adding water or, even worse, salvia could introduce bacteria that could easily grow out of control. 'If it has lost its original texture and consistency,' says McEwen, 'the preservatives have probably broken down.'"

"* Never share."

"* Throw makeup away if the color changes or an odor develops. Preservatives can degrade over time and may no longer be able to fight bacteria."

"'We don't have a hard and fast rule on (when to throw cosmetics out),' says says McEwen. McEwen says makeup can be kept indefinitely as long as it looks and smells all right and the consistency doesn't change. 'It would be difficult to have any kind of bacterial growth and not have it noticeable,' he explains."

"However, Janice Teal, a microbiologist who heads the product and package safety divisions of Avon Products, Inc. disagrees. 'Even after the preservatives have stopped working, you may not be able to see or smell anything different,' she says."

"She agrees with McEwen that there is no absolute date for discarding various various products, but says Avon recommends that consumers throw mascara away after three months. They can keep other makeup products a few months longer."

"'Mascara is our biggest concern because of the wand,' she says. 'Normally, the eye is a good barrier to bacteria, but one slip and that wand can scratch the cornea and introduce all kinds of bacteria.'"

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