Rules are always there, conventions that we all depend on. Everything in our life, from bedtime to the use of medicine, is regulated in some way. Seeing how pervasive our need for control is and how dangerous industrial chemicals are, one would think that there are many regulations regarding the use of such chemicals in cosmetic products.



Unfortunately, that’s untrue. The few policies out there are really quite inadequate. Governmental organizations have regulated everything, from drugs to driving to many other things. But when it comes to cosmetics, there are essentially no controls. Some pertinent regulations, believe it or not, regulate the regulators from making too many regulations! In other words, lawmakers have far less freedom in cosmetics legislations than in any others.



One standing regulation: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can't ban a certain substance unless the substance is proven to cause damage in a specific cosmetic. Furthermore, it is not permitted to conduct pre-market testing on cosmetic ingredients. Let’s say substance x is in product y, and is known to be a carcinogen. The FDA can't refuse to approve y unless they can find specific evidence x causes substantial problems in y. Basically, although x is carcinogenic, lawmakers cannot move to stop its usage. This is not the only obstacle. Let's say y is passed because the courts thought that the FDA didn't have enough substantial evidence. Once it’s out on the market it can be recalled, but recalling is not the norm, due to the miles of red tape surrounding such attempts. As Americans, we pride ourselves that we are always ahead of everybody in everything, whether it be business, technology, or whatever else. However, when it comes to cosmetics-related regulations, many countries that we disdain as “third-world” are in fact well ahead of America.



Not all hope is lost. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review, a "self-policing cosmetic industry committee", was established in 1976 by the CFTA (Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association), with much encouragement from the FDA and the Consumer Federation of America. Still, as testing is voluntary, not many ingredients actually get submitted for review. As the FDA puts it, "89% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel, FFDA or any other institution.” The free-for-all world of cosmetics poses a danger to everybody. Not just make-up is implicated; men use lotions and shampoos—to name a few products—which contain the same dangerous chemicals. Technologically, we are still fairly unregulated, but even that degree of control would be an improvement for cosmetic legislation. Until then, consumers beware!