Expert QA: Are Your Beauty Products Safe?
By Julie Edgar
Is the battalion of eyeshadows and mascaras, moisturizers and lipsticks, conditioners, hair relaxers, deodorants, perfumes, and exotic serums on your cosmetics shelf a pretty little minefield of potential health risks?
It’s probably worth your time to check out the labels on your cosmetics against the list of ingredients the FDA has deemed off-limits, lest your quest for gorgeousness lead to an unsightly rash or itchy eyes, or worse.
Cosmetics makers need to meet FDA labeling and packaging standards – they must include a list of ingredients – but beyond that, it’s up to you to avoid products that might turn a vision of loveliness into ugliness. The FDA urges us to look at labels and to report any bad reactions to the agency.