How to Decipher the Ingredients in Your Cosmetics

Cosmetics are not required to undergo FDA testing or approval before they are sold on the market; FDA regulates them only after they are made available. But there are certain substances that manufacturers are prohibited from using. If you ever wonder just what makes a foundation glide on like silk, an eye shadow iridescent or your lipstick ruby red, look no further than the product's packaging. Such disclosure is mandated by many governments, and gives you the opportunity to weed out products whose ingredients may be incompatible with your skin. It may read like a chemistry report, but it can be deciphered.

What are cosmetics?

The federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act defines cosmetics as "articles intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions." This includes products such as:

• skin-care cream
• lotion
• powder
• perfume and spray
• lipstick
• fingernail polish
• eye and facial makeup
• permanent waves
• hair color
• deodorant
• baby products
• bath oil and bubble bath
• mouthwash

When it comes to cosmetics, it's not easy to be an informed consumer. You can read the labels, but you'd need a Ph.D. in chemistry to decipher the ingredients. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does provide information that can help consumers decide which soap or skin cream is best for them.