Ingredients that should not be in your cosmetic or skincare products

Ingredients for cosmetic and skin care are generally not subject to FDA premarket approval authority.   This means that cosmetics and skincare products do not have to go through vigorous safety testing before reaching the market.  However, FDA regulations do prohibit the use of some substances and restrict the use of others because of safety concerns or environmental factors.
The following is a list of ingredients that are specifically prohibited or restricted from being used in cosmetics and skincare products.  For complete details, please refer to the regulations 21 CFR, Parts 700.11 through 700.35. 

• Bithionol. The use of bithionol is prohibited because it may cause photo-contact sensitization (21 CFR 700.11).
• Chlorofluorocarbon propellants. The use of chlorofluorocarbon propellants (fully halogenated chlorofluoroalkanes) in cosmetic aerosol products intended for domestic consumption is prohibited (21 CFR 700.23).
• Chloroform. The use of chloroform in cosmetic products is prohibited because of its animal carcinogenicity and likely hazard to human health. The regulation makes an exception for residual amounts from its use as a processing solvent during manufacture, or as a byproduct from the synthesis of an ingredient (21 CFR 700.18).
• Halogenated salicylanilides (di-, tri-, metabromsalan and tetrachlorosalicylanilide). These are prohibited in cosmetic products because they may cause photocontact sensitization (21 CFR 700.15).
• Methylene chloride. The use of this substance in cosmetic products is prohibited because of its animal carcinogenicity and likely hazard to human health (21 CFR 700.19).
• Vinyl chloride. The use of vinyl chloride is prohibited as an ingredient of aerosol products, because of its carcinogenicity [21 CFR 700.14].
• Zirconium-containing complexes. The use of zirconium-containing complexes in aerosol cosmetic products is prohibited because of their toxic effect on lungs, including the formation of granulomas [21 CFR 700.16].
• Prohibited cattle materials. To protect against "mad cow disease," cosmetics may not be manufactured from, processed with, or contain, prohibited cattle materials.  However, prohibited cattle materials do not include pure tallow and tallow derivatives, hides and hide-derived products, and milk and milk products.  [21 CFR 700.27, as amended].

The following ingredients may be used in cosmetics, but only under the restrictions stated in the regulations:

• Hexachlorophene. Because of its toxic effect and ability to penetrate human skin, hexachlorophene (HCP) may only be used when an alternative preservative has not been shown to be as effective. The HCP concentration of the cosmetic may not exceed 0.1 percent. HCP may not be used in cosmetics that in normal use may be applied to mucous membranes, such as the lips [21 CFR 250.250].
• Mercury compounds. Mercury compounds are readily absorbed through the skin on topical application and tend to accumulate in the body. They may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, or neurotoxic manifestations. The use of mercury compounds as cosmetic ingredients is limited to eye area cosmetics at concentrations not exceeding 65 parts per million (0.0065 percent) of mercury calculated as the metal (about 100 ppm or 0.01 percent phenylmercuric acetate or nitrate) and is permitted only if no other effective and safe preservative is available for use [21 CFR 700.13].

In general, if you see any of the above chemicals in a product ingredient list, avoid the product at all cost.  For more information and to learn more about FDA regulation on cosmetics and skin care products see http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/default.htm.

Thanks for reading.

Connie

Connie@cherruby.com