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Lethal Dose 50 What it means to you,
                           and other things you need to know!

Cosmetic warnings

• WARNING: The Surgeon General has determined that the consumption of this product, which contains alcohol, during pregnancy can cause mental retardation and other birth defects.
• WARNING: Drinking this product, which contains alcohol, impairs your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery.
• WARNING: This product contains alcohol and is particularly hazard ous in combination with some drugs.
• WARNING: The consumption of this product, which contains alcohol, can increase the risk of developing hypertension, liver disease, and cancer
• WARNING: Alcohol is a drug which may be addictive.

The term "cosmetic" means (1) articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and (2) articles intended for use as a component of any such articles; except that such term shall not include soap.
-- FD&C Act, Sec. 201 (i)

• Imidazolidnyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea
• Common Preservatives that can cause contact Dermatitis. Considered toxic.
• Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Parabens
• Common Preservatives used to extend shelf life. Considered toxic.
• Petrolatum
• A mineral oil jelly that can produce photosensitivity (sun damage), and prevent the body's own moisturizing mechanism.
• Propylene Glycol
• May be a synthetic petrochemical mix and can cause allergic and toxic reactions. Considered toxic.
• PVP/PVA Copolymer
• Petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays and other hair products. Particles can be a lung irritant.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Synthetic substance shown to cause eye irritations, skin rashes, allergic reactions, hair loss and scalp conditions.
• Stearalkonium Chloride
• Used in hair conditioners and creams and causes allergic reactions. Originally developed as a fabric softener ingredient. Considered toxic.
• Synthetic Colors
• Many are believed to be cancer causing agents and should be avoided along with hair dyes. They are labeled as FD&C or D&C followed by a color and a number.
• Synthetic Fragrances
• There can be as many as 200 ingredients in a fragrance. The product label will only state "Fragrance" and no listing will be made on any ingredient that compose the fragrance. Fragrances can cause a variety of illnesses from rashes and headaches to dizziness and vomiting.
• Triethanolamine (TEA)
• Causes allergic reactions such as dryness of hair and skin, eye problems and could be toxic when absorbed through the skin.

The cosmetic industry is full of terms that are misleading to the uninformed consumer. When you see the term "rich emollient" you do not know what the product is rich in. "Moisturizer" is another confusing term, you may think that moisture is being added to the skin. Actually, a moisturizer puts a protective layer over the skin to allow the skin to retain its own moisture. When a product says its "penetrating" it basically means it will form a dry film on top of the skin and gives the feeling the product has disappeared or "penetrated" into the skin. We need to be careful when making assumptions about what a product can do.

Some products on the market are perceived as cosmetics but may actually be classified as drugs. If a product affects the body's structure or function, then it is a drug. Two examples of drugs that many of us consider as a cosmetic product are anti-perspirants and anti-dandruff shampoos.

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating cosmetics under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act . The FDA does not require cosmetics be tested before they reach the consumer, or require a disclosure of their formulas and safety data. The government is responsible for proving a product is harmful or ineffective. The FDA has a great responsibility to assure cosmetics are safe and effective, but with a small budget and staff, and a huge marketplace, they may not be able to function in a manner that is in our best interest. It would seem more logical to require a manufacturer to prove the safety and effectiveness of their products being used by consumers than to expect a government agency, using taxpayers money, to prove a product isn't safe and effective. These cosmetic companies obtain profits from the sales of their products and have an ethical obligation to the people using their products.

In a 1978 report to the Congress of the United States by the Comptroller General, published by the General Accounting Office, it was stated: Cosmetics including makeup, baby lotion, powders, hair dyes, toothpaste, perfume, bubble baths, mouthwashes, hairsprays and deodorants can pose health hazards to consumers. Three methods of exposure that can create toxic effects include ingestion, inhalation and absorption.

A review of information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Cancer Institute, the World Health Organization, and the Environmental Protection Agency indicated approximately 125 ingredients being used at that time in cosmetics were suspected of causing cancer, with 25 suspected of causing birth defects and 20 may cause nervous system effects such as headaches, drowsiness and convulsions. Many different exposure methods and animals were used for these conclusions, however 12 ingredients were known to cause cancer in humans. As of 1978, there were at least 25,000 different cosmetics formulations comprised of 8,000 cosmetic and fragrance ingredients.

A 1970 study of skin on skin absorption of nine organic chemicals demonstrated the bodies capacity to absorb up to 43% of the applied dose over a 5 day period.

Primary immediate recognizable injuries caused by cosmetics include irritation of the skin and allergic reactions.

We use cosmetic products on a daily basis applying small quantities of all types of synthetic chemicals to our bodies. Many of these chemicals are being absorbed through the skin when applying creams, lotions, deodorants and hair dyes, ingested when used in toothpaste, mouthwashes and lipsticks, and inhaled with aerosol sprays for hair care and spray deodorants.

Although the amount of toxic or hazardous ingredients may be small in a product, we do not know the long term, accumulative effects of daily exposure to all these chemicals.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this web site does not in any way replace or supersede the information on the product labeling or other regulatory requirements. Please refer to the  product labeling.