page
F r e q u e n t l y A s k e d q u e s t i o n s
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
Cosmetics and
Your Health
Q: What are cosmetics? How are
they different from over-the-
counter (OTC) drugs?
A: Cosmetics are products people use to
cleanse or change the look of the face
or body.
Cosmetic products include:
• Skin creams
• Lotions
• Perfumes
• Lipsticks
• Fingernail polishes
• Eye and face make-up products
• Permanent waves
• hair dyes
• Toothpastes
• Deodorants
Unlike drugs, which are used to treat
or prevent disease in the body, cosmet-
ics do not change or affect the body's
structure or functions.
Q: What's in cosmetics?
A: Fragrances and preservatives are
the main ingredients in cosmetics.
Fragrances are the most common cause
of skin problems. More than 5,000
different kinds are used in products.
Products marked “fragrance-free” or
“without perfume” means that no fra-
grances have been added to make the
product smell good.
Preservatives in cosmetics are the sec-
ond most common cause of skin prob-
lems. They prevent bacteria and fungus
from growing in the product and pro-
tect products from damage caused by air
or light. But preservatives can also cause
the skin to become irritated and infect-
ed. Some examples of preservatives are:
• Paraben
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Quaternium-15
• DMDM hydantoin
• Phenoxyethanol
• Formaldehyde
The ingredients below cannot be used,
or their use is limited, in cosmetics.
They may cause cancer or other serious
health problems.
• Bithionol
• Mercury compounds
• Vinyl chloride
• Halogenated salicyanilides
• Zirconium complexes in aerosol
sprays
• Chloroform
• Methylene chloride
• Chlorof luorocarbon propellants
• Hexachlorophene
Q: What is the role of the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) in
the cosmetic industry?
A: A cosmetic maker can sell products
without FDA approval. FDA does not
review or approve