Have you ever looked at the back of your skin care? Is it like reading a manual on how to operate your computer? Do you rely on the claims on the front of the product? Do you choose your products because the ads say it's the best? Hopefully with this series you will have a better idea of what is inside your skin care products. We are going to start off with just the basic information listed on the back, then later we'll find out what those difficult to pronounce words mean.
The FDA is not only responsible for ensuring the safety of food and drug products but they are also responsible for the consumer safety of cosmetics. Normally when harmful or bad products are brought to their attention then the FDA investigates. The Agency does not require cosmetic manufacturers to list their products or formulas with them, this is done on a voluntary basis only. The Federal Packaging and Labeling Act instated by the FDA in 1977 does require cosmetic manufacturers to list all of the ingredients used in their products. This is why we see a list of ingredients on the back of our skin care products.
The FDA is not only responsible for ensuring the safety of food and drug products but they are also responsible for the consumer safety of cosmetics. Normally when harmful or bad products are brought to their attention then the FDA investigates. The Agency does not require cosmetic manufacturers to list their products or formulas with them, this is done on a voluntary basis only. The Federal Packaging and Labeling Act instated by the FDA in 1977 does require cosmetic manufacturers to list all of the ingredients used in their products. This is why we see a list of ingredients on the back of our skin care products.
You may see two different types of categories for the ingredients. There are Functional Ingredients which help the product to spread easily across the skin, helps keep the product mixed, determines the products texture, and it can help keep the product from spoiling. There are Performance Ingredients which can cause an actual physical change to the appearance of the skin.
Most likely you will actually see Active and Inactive Ingredients listed. Active Ingredients are similar to performance ingredients; they can affect the chemical activity to cause a desired change by its use. Inactive Ingredients are similar to functional ingredients; they do not cause a change but they are necessary for the change to take place.
Federal law states that ingredients must be listed in descending order of their proportion size. You will also notice water is almost always listed first. Most products are made from water and they are considered water-based products. The spreading ingredients are usually listed next, then followed by product thickening and emulsifying ingredients. The last ingredients are normally the performance ingredients, fragrances, preservatives and coloring agents.
Did I completely confuse you? Don’t worry; this article is a first in a series. Before you know it you will be able to decipher the mysterious ingredient lists.
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