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Tzu Jui Yu Kristen Foster CO150 November 22, 2013 Challenge Cosmetics Reliability In Japan, cosmetics for women are part of social life and a way of showing politeness and respect to others. In some western countries, cosmetics help women to establish their professional look. In Taiwan, where I come from, men, women, and children use cosmetics products, such as sunscreen or body cleaning products to prevent the sub-tropical UV radiation treat in order to live in a more healthy life. I have years of experiences applying sunscreen since the geographic condition tends to offer Taiwanese 365 sunny days a year, where people enjoy the sunshine weather but the sunburn. In stores, cosmetics are covered in fancy bottles with eye pleasing words that describe how effective the function is and how beautiful your skin will be after using the products. I always drown in the sea of these magical bottles that claim to hand you the beautiful by purchasing their products. However, some people may often experience the unpleasant irritation when they pick up the wrong cosmetic products. The itchiness, the burning, and the redness, all these allergen reaction to skin are described as contact dermatitis in dermatology. Personally, I describe it as regret and ignorant. In many societies, putting cosmetics on skin seem to be a normal daily basis routine.

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Yet, most people are not aware of the potential risk of toxic chemicals that may lead to a range of health issue from mild skin irritation to death condition. Therefore, I am writing to argue that contact dermatitis from cosmetics can be prevented by consumer education and the implementation of consumer protection laws regarding cosmetic ingredients in countries such as America and Taiwan where cosmetics are widely used. A survey from PR Newswire Association New Survey Results Indicate There's more to Makeup Use than Meets the Eye" showed almost half of the women in America wear at least one cosmetic product before they leave the house. Another 2013 survey from Mint.com reported an average spend of $15000 on makeup over lifetime. Most people apply cosmetics on daily basis and the Environmental Working Group Top Tips for Safer Products stated 90% of the ingredients regularly used in the U.S. cosmetic industry have never been evaluated for safety. Moreover, cosmetic products are usually tested in a small population (Nigam). Many science based experiments revealed that the toxic chemicals that cause contact dermatitis are added to daily used cosmetics. For example, a peer reviewed article from Thailand reported fragrance and preservatives in cosmetics are commonly used chemicals that cause allergen or skin irritation. Mercury is the most common allergen in Asia (Boonchai). Another example from EWG's Skin Deep points out that Vitamin A is an essential nutrient but not necessarily safe for use on skin. The consumer education is essential because most of them are not aware of risky

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ingredients and correct usage of cosmetic products. Mariann Flyvholm, who has her expertise in Toxicology and Pharmaceutics reported that an acute toxicity named BHT is used as antioxidant in cosmetics and its safe concentration range from 100 to 1000 ppm. However, there are 7% of cosmetics are over 10,000 ppm (342).This claim is supported by another scholarly article that different concentration of ingredient cause different results (Nigam). Yet, not only the problematic products but also the inappropriate usage causes adverse reaction to skin (Mehta). A research found that the consistency behavior of makeup consumers are not aware of that different products may still contain the same toxic leading to contact dermatitis (Boonchai). As mentioned in the previous paragraph from Environmental Working Group researchers, vitamin A , a widely used chemical in sunscreen, lotions, and makeup, under sunlight exposure breaks down to produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and hasten skin lesions and tumors in lab animals( Environmental Working Group). Apparently, some consumers may suffer inevitable pain through the lack of sufficient background knowledge of unsafe chemicals. Others may be aware of the risky chemicals in the bottles from the stores so they decide to make their own products. Several well-known YouTube celebrities and blogger such as Redmon, Stefanie Kushnerand and Michelle Phan claimed their DIY products to be natural and organic. However, most of these recipes did not undergo testing in a scientific based experiment. The important safety rules and the dangerous changes of chemical property that require to be informed to the audience in order to make toxic free

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cosmetics products are not mentioned in any of these tutorial videos. For example, the DIY cosmetics usually lack the preservatives which may cause germs to be introduced into products later use (Domestica). Therefore, the knowledge of expiration dates and refrigerate processes are crucial to homemade products users. Several sources pointed out that cosmetic companies make no effort on informing the consumers of detailed ingredients in their products. For instance, the chemical identification and percentage content is not listed and accessible to consumers and most seem to be based on non-confidential information, which facilitates the compilation of exposure lists giving trade names for products(Flyvholm 344).The consumers have no idea of the degree of information that reveal to them. Furthermore, who define the so called normal concentration? Of course not the person who pays for it, which it should be. As mentioned before, some chemicals are safe to use only under certain concentration. However, no one seems to define or test through the results of chemicals in cosmetics. Some of the cosmetics consumers may argue that none of the products that they use have ever given those allergies or skin irritation so it must be safe. Although, in a short run, the products seem to be fine with its low concentration of toxin and no obvious symptom is diagnosed does not mean it is 100% safe for a long term. Janet Gray from Breast Cancer Found reported that under the federal laws in the U.S. there are a variety of chemicals that are allowed to be added in the cosmetic products that

Yu 5 might cause cancer, infertility or birth defects. (Janet Gray) Federal law does not have a strict limitation on chemicals in cosmetics. The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) claimed that cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA regulation. Also, FDA noted that cosmetic firms are responsible for substantiating the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing. There is no watch dog when it comes to cosmetics. A myth or stereotype may come to the consumer s mind. The more expensive the products are, the less likely it contains toxic substance. The U.S. FDA found lead in lipsticks made by famous cosmetic brands, such as Covergirl, LOreal, Revlon, and even a $24 dollars Dior Addict (InStyle.com). The content matters, not the price tag. However, the federal law does not take immediate action on removing toxic products from the market. A number of toxic chemicals are discovered in cosmetics, and more truth of dangerous substances are still waiting to be uncovered. At the moment that we pray to see more actions to be taken by the government, as consumers, we should get our feet wet in the knowledge of risky cosmetic products in order to reduce undesired health conditions and shop smart. With the implementation of consumer protection laws regarding cosmetic ingredients and consumer awareness, plenty of health issues regarding toxic cosmetics can be prevented.

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Works Cited Boonchai, Waranya, Rasthawathana Desomchoke, and Pacharee Iamtharachai. "Trend of Contact Allergy to Cosmetic Ingredients in Thais over a Period of 10 Years." Contact Dermatitis (01051873) 65.6 (2011): 311-316. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. Flickety, . "Mediawiki." How to Ensure the Safety of Homemade Cosmetic Preparations. Mediawiki. Web. 26 Oct 2013. <http://www.wikihow.com/Ensure-the-Safety-of-Homemade-Cosmetic-Preparations >. Flyvholm, Mari-Ann, and Torkil Menn. "Sensitizing Risk of Butylated Hydroxytoluene Based on Exposure and Effect Data." Contact Dermatitis (01051873) 23.5 (1990): 341-345. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Gray Janet. Chemical in Cosmetics. Breast Cancer Fund.(2012) Web. 12 Oct. 2013. Redmon, Christine. DIY: How to Make All Natural Lip Balm. Youtube. 29 November. 2012. Youtube. Web. 17 October. 2013. InStyle.com, . "What's Right Now! news." Report: Women Spend an Average of $15,000 on Makeup in Their Lifetimes. InStyle.com, 17 Apr 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2013. <http://news.instyle.com/2013/04/17/women-makeup-spending-facts/>.

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PR Newswire Association, . "New Survey Results Indicate There's More to Makeup Use Than Meets the Eye." In response to study, The Renfrew Center Foundation launches national campaign, "Barefaced & Beautiful, Without & Within," during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. PR Newswire Association, 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 26 Oct 2013. <http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-survey-results-indicate-theres-more -to-makeup-use-than-meets-the-eye-140012233.html>. RS, Lanigan. N.p.. Web. 26 Oct 2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12396675>. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, . "Cosmetics."Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 6 May 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2013. <http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm 137224.htm Domestica, Eliza . "Four Simple Tips to Help Keep Homemade Cosmetics Safe." Eliza Domestica. Eliza Domestica, 08 August 2012. Web. 10 Nov 2013. <http://www.elizadomestica.com/cosmetics/four-simple-tips-to-help-keep-homemadecosmetics-safe>. EWG's Skin Deep, . "Top tips for safer products." . Environmental Working Group, n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2013. <http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products/>.

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Kushner , Stefanie. "Olive Oil: DIY Natural Make-Up Remover." modernmom. Mom, Inc., 3 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Nov 2013. <http://m.modernmom.com/blogs/stefanie-kushner/olive-oil-diy-natural-make-up-rem over>.