Knowledge Is Change

The lack of education given to consumers from the FDA and manufacturers’ on the side effects of cosmetics causes a lack of transparency regarding consumers’ unregulated products. Customized cosmetics have been popular especially since they are presented to consumers as more options and alternatives that can be used in a product. Since consumers can customize products they have the unlimited ability to change ingredients, fragrances, and textures that apply to their desired type of skin and expectations. Buyers may be satisfied with their products and feel safer using them yet in reality there are close to no safety precautions taken. According to Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology’s article” Consumers’ lack of understanding of customized cosmetics made on the spot and implications for regulations and controls,” safety was not verified previously except in the case that all the products were limited to the combinations previously tested.” Since there are so many variations to create a customized cosmetic product, not all the combinations are tested. This can lead to allergic reactions, breakouts, dry skin, or even lead long-term effects. Lack of public knowledge is what drives the cosmetic industry to cover up all the frightening ingredients they put in cosmetic products.

Curology is known for the personalization of its products by giving customers a questionnaire to help identify what skin type and skin concern a customer has. The hefty prices of these products have no time to be tested for safety by manufacturers meaning there are no regulations or testing on the active ingredients. Not only are these companies falsely advertising products to be better quality and healthier but influencers or the companies themselves never discuss the truth about cross-contamination of these products. The main idea of customized products is to make the customer feel in control of the ingredients in cosmetics but in reality, there is less control than consumers expect. Most products that these companies sell, especially moisturizers and wash-off products have the same base ingredients. These customized cosmetics have been beneficial for some and nightmares for those who experience allergic reactions, breakouts, and irritated skin. According to Nature’s article “The US FDA states that cosmetics need not be sterile; however, cosmetic products must not be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms,” pathogenic microorganisms are organisms that can cause diseases. Even though there is a regulation for organisms present in these cosmetics there have been organisms found in these products. These organisms that have been found have been linked to health problems due to contamination that can lead to” nose, eyes and throat” irritations. Customers of these products are in danger without any knowledge of possible contamination and horrific side effects that are a result of a product not being tested for safety.

Most customers of cosmetics view international products as more effective and regulated. Europe is known to have stricter regulations on food and even cosmetics in general. What is surprising is that there is minimal effort to regulate cosmetics that are personalized by both the US and Europe. The article “The Regulation of Personalized Cosmetics in the EU” published by MDPI stated that there is “regularly calibrated and standardized” when it comes to protecting consumers from contamination and trained people who manage these machines. No safety precautions are made to ensure the mixers of active ingredients are safe for humans and will not cause any allergic reactions when combined. The Cosmetic Product Notification Portal is a form of regulation Europe uses for” submitted prior to placing the cosmetic product on the market.” People who use these products are encouraged by social media and influencers to use these personalized products to achieve clear skin. Lack of interest from consumers leads to no urge for manufacturers and the FDA to input more safety regulations and completely eliminate the use of hazardous ingredients. 

In Korea’s dermatology clinic there was a survey on cosmetic knowledge given to patients who came to the clinic. There were 1,000 participants that answered 43 questions about their knowledge of cosmetics.  About 70% were females and the other 30% were men and of the 1,000 patients that participated about 72% had an education of college or higher. Korean beauty is popular and is at the forefront of the skincare industry. In the Koreamed article,” Knowledge and Behavior Regarding Cosmetics in Koreans Visiting Dermatology Clinics” results from the survey showed that about “79.2% purchased cosmetics without checking ingredients, and 85.7% were unaware of the all-ingredient-labeling regulation.” This may seem surprising to some since Korea’s overall are known for being invested in their skincare regimens. The lack of knowledge of cosmetics is not only affecting Asia but among consumers of cosmetics worldwide. 

In the Maiya Devi Girls college in Chitwan there was a survey given to a total of 70 females 34 were juniors and 36 were seniors. These girls were questioned about their knowledge of cosmetics they use such as makeup, sunscreen, nail polish, and skin lightening creams. The study’s results according to the Journal of Chitwan Medical college stated that ”98.6% got information about cosmetic products from television.” Social media and ads seem to be the origin of reasons why young girls purchase cosmetics in the first place. The cosmetic industry for that reason has the freedom to make any claims they desire. Most of the participants had some sort of knowledge about the ability of cosmetics to result in irritated skin and even skin cancer. These young girls may have some knowledge about cosmetics, yet it seemed like that was not enough for them to stop using products that can be detrimental. Ads for cosmetics pop up on social media platforms, television, and even billboards making them impossible to ignore. Beauty standards are skyrocketing and young girls are willing to do anything to keep up with expectations even if it costs their health. This generation more than any other needs to focus on not only educating themselves about the dangers of cosmetics but push the cosmetic industry to make strict regulations and make products safe. 

References 

Kim, H. W., Seok, Y. S., Lee, H. G., Song, M. K., & Rhee, M. S. (2021, June 29). Consumers’ lack of understanding of customized cosmetics made on the spot and implications for regulations and controls. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021001197 

Kim, H. W., Seok, Y. S., Cho, T. J., & Rhee, M. S. (2020, January 31). Risk factors influencing contamination of customized cosmetics made on-the-spot: Evidence from the National Pilot Project for Public Health. Nature News. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-57978-9 

Eixarch, H., Wyness, L., & Sibanda, M. (2019, May 5). The regulation of personalized cosmetics in the EU. MDPI. Retrieved April 1, 2022, from https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/6/2/29 

Cho, S., Oh, S., Kim, N. I., Ro, Y. S., Kim, J. S., Park, Y. M., Park, C. W., Lee, W. J., Kim, D. K., Lee, D. W., & Lee, S. J. (2017, March 24). Knowledge and behavior regarding cosmetics in Koreans visiting dermatology clinics. Annals of Dermatology. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1095840 

Shrestha, R., & Shakya, J. (2017, February 2). Knowledge regarding adverse effects of selected cosmetic products among higher secondary level girl students, Chitwan. Journal of Chitwan Medical College. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JCMC/article/view/16685