Have you ever wondered what would happen if nobody regulated cosmetics products...? Here's our thoughts...

In our modern society, there are regulatory bodies in several countries that provide frameworks for cosmetic products. They exist for one main objective – to safeguard the safety of these products so that consumers could use them at ease. For example, the HSA in Singapore and the EU are regulatory bodies designed with this purpose in mind.

With regulations to ensure that cosmetic products are labeled and restrictions are placed on certain substances, consumers can have a better understanding on what are in these products. Thus, without the regulatory bodies, consumers would then be easily overwhelmed by the numerous ranges of cosmetics and yet be oblivious to the potential dangers in them.

In a world without cosmetic regulations and where cosmetic companies are allowed to engage in self-regulation, it is highly likely that safety standards will be compromised. Given that companies are profit-driven, profits would be prioritized over safety of the customer. Small companies, hoping to garner a share of the pie, may flood the market with goods that have not undergone rigorous testing to prove their safety and results.

To give an example, cosmetic companies may sell eye shadows with lead content so long as there is a demand in the market. Self-regulation can also mean no regulation. In such cases, cosmetic companies may not see it as their ethical responsibility to answer to the safety of their customers. On the other hand, they may give misleading information to their customers through false advertising claims.

Figure 1: Unsubstantiated product claims to mislead consumers

Currently, there are websites that sell traditional kohl products such as eyeliners. They claim that their products are free of lead (KohlQueen, 2006). However, Health Canada has issued a public advisory in September 2005 informing consumers about the potential exposure to lead through traditional kohl (Chang, 2005). Therefore, without regulatory bodies, consumers would be misled by the claims of such sellers.

Figure 2: Aswad Kohl Powder, a mascara which has been blacklisted by Health Canada, is advertised as being lead-free at KohlQueen.com.

Generally, the lack of formal regulations, such as laws, does more harm than good. Without them, cosmetic companies are free to manipulate ingredients in products without concerns about health. They are also not required to state them. Ultimately, consumers suffer from allergies and various health problems that would bring about rising health costs.

Figure 3: Allergies brought about by cosmetics

To illustrate, we shall provide the example of coal tar. Coal tar is currently a restricted substance but is used in common cosmetic products.

Figure 4: Coal Tar Soap

Many coal tar derivatives are carcinogenic and contain certain toxic substances like naphthalene. They can be found in many hair products like shampoo and hair dyes. They can also be made into coal tar soaps, medicated shampoos to kill off and repel head lice, treatment shampoos for dandruff. (Wikipedia, 2006).

Coal tar can also be found in hair dyes. Studies have linked women who use permanent hair dyes over a long period of time to bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. For this, if there are no laws governing the use of coal tar in these hair products, consumers would be at higher risk of getting these diseases (Connealy, 2006).

Furthermore, if the manufacturer allows the use of coal tar in eyelash dyes, consumers would be at risk of getting eye injuries, which include blindness and in serious cases, and even death (Connealy, 2006). Consumers may also suffer from potentially severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headache, nausea, fatigue, nervousness and a lack of concentration.

Therefore, with no regulations, it is obvious that consumers’ lives are at peril. They may end up suffering without compensation because manufacturers cannot be held liable for the problems that their products generate. All these can bring about incredible health costs to the economy due to the overwhelming presence of cosmetic products in our everyday lives.