Safety is the most critical consideration when caring for yourself and your family. Nothing else matters if you can’t believe in a product and rely on it to do what it says. Product safety is a top priority of cosmetics and personal care products companies, and everything they do is grounded in the best science available. In the U.S., cosmetics and personal care products are regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) under the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the Fair Packaging & Labeling Act (FPLA) and the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022.
- How Cosmetics Are Regulated in the U.S.
- Cosmetics and personal care products companies take their responsibility to people and the planet seriously. They are committed to upholding strict FDA regulations and often go beyond what the law requires with additional consumer safety measures.
- FDA Regulatory Oversight
- Strong federal safety requirements exist for cosmetics and personal care products sold in the United States. The law requires manufacturers to substantiate the safety of every product and its ingredients before going to market. The FDA and Attorney General can take action against any company that markets an unsafe product. MoCRA also gives the FDA several new authorities, including initiating mandatory product recalls, to further protect consumers.
- Global Cosmetics Regulation
- Cosmetics and personal care products manufacturers around the world work to develop safe products that help you look and feel your best. While different countries and regions use different measures, they all share one common goal: ensuring products and ingredients are safe and effective.
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
- The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety is an independent, nonprofit scientific body established in 1976 to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients used in the U.S. through Cosmetic Ingredient Review program.
- Consumer Commitment Code
- In 2007, Personal Care Products Council member companies created a voluntary Consumer Commitment Code (Code) to strengthen practices already in place for cosmetics and personal care products companies and incorporate new practices. The enactment of MoCRA made most of these voluntary practices mandatory.
- Cosmetics Ingredient Labeling
- History of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
- Civilizations have used cosmetics for centuries, for example in religious rituals, to enhance beauty and promote good health and hygiene. Learn more about these products from the ancient Egyptians in 10,000 BC through modern developments in the United States today.