The United States only bans 11 chemicals in cosmetic products compared to the 1,328 banned by the European Union. The terms, clean, green, and cruelty-free are not regulated by the FDA, making it difficult to know if your cosmetics products are really safe. Every brand defines clean differently, increasing the confusion among shoppers who want safe and effective products.
How To Find Clean Products
So many products on the market contain harsh chemicals that are damaging in the long term. It is important to know what to look for in your products because what you put on your skin has a direct impact on your health.
Know What to Look For
- Learn the difference between helpful and harmful alcohol agents
- Avoid deceptive marketing and unhealthy ingredients.
- Learn about ingredients to avoid
- Learn marketing keywords to guide you
- Know the difference between clean products
- Know the spectrum of clean products and find what works for you
Common themes in the clean beauty movement include safe synthetics, avoiding harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, and steering clear of trade-protected formulas such as fragrance (which brands are not required to disclose the ingredient list for).
References
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (2020) International Laws: Canada. Safe Cosmetics. https://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/regulations/international-laws/
Canva (2021). Stock Photography. https://www.canva.com
FDA (2021) FDA Authority Over Cosmetics: How Cosmetics Are Not FDA-Approved, but Are FDA-Regulated https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/fda-authority-over-cosmetics-how-cosmetics-are-not-fda-approved-are-fda-regulated
FDA (2021) “Organic Products” https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/organic-cosmetics
Government of Canada (2020) Canada Ingredient Hotlist. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredient-hotlist-prohibited-restricted-ingredients/hotlist.html
Harvard Health (2020) Toxic Beauty https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/toxic-beauty#:~:text=Are%20your%20personal%20care%20products%20putting%20your%20health%20at%20risk%3F&text=The%20average%20woman%20uses%2012,makeup%2C%20to%20name%20a%20few.
Melanson, Janice. (n.d) The Story of Cosmetics–What’s Canada’s Story? Prevent Cancer Now. http://www.preventcancernow.ca/the-story-of-cosmetics-%E2%80%93-what%E2%80%99s-canada%E2%80%99s-story/#:~:text=Health%20Canada%20has%20banned%20or,ingredients%20for%20use%20in%20cosmetics.
The Guardian (n.d) US Cosmetics are Full of Chemicals Banned by Europe-Why? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/chemicals-in-cosmetics-us-restricted-eu