FDA Calls for Consumer Input on Cosmetics | The Healthy Beauty Project -by Todra Payne

Have you ever bought a product and had a less than stellar experience? I don’t mean a little stinging sensation or the color wasn’t quite what you were hoping for. I’m talking patches of hair in the sink or a skin rash that wouldn’t go away for DAYS?

Well, now’s your chance to be heard. The US Food and Drug Administration put out an SOS calling consumers to report to their office with any adverse reactions they have with cosmetics. This includes makeup, skin care, hair removal creams, permanent makeup and fragrance.

Buyers are also asked to report weird smells or off colors in cosmetics they purchase because it may signal spoilage.

Linda Katz, MD, director of the agency’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors said, “Even though these products are widely used, most don’t require FDA approval before they’re sold in stores, salons, and at makeup counters.”

Disconcerting, isn’t it. She also said we consumers are one of the FDA’s most important resources when it comes to identifying problems.

I know you’re probably thinking the above statement must be a misprint. Cosmetics aren’t regulated by the FDA??? Not really. Instead, the cosmetics industry regulates itself through the Cosmetics Ingredients Review (CIR). Yeah. I know. Moving along.

Another interesting part of this equation is this: You can also report a product/brand for leaving out ingredients or giving inaccurate information. Hmmm. How would the average consumer know that without conducting lab studies?

And even more perplexing, we’re not sure what the FDA will do once you report a problem to them. Perhaps if enough buyers have problems with the same product, the FDA will issue a warning so other consumers are made aware. The FDA lacks the power to pull cosmetics off the shelves, even if there is a problem. Remember the Brazilian Blowout fiasco?

I want the power to enforce a citizen’s arrest. Who’s with me?

In the industry newsletter that announced this call to action by consumers (the reporting, not a citizen’s arrest), the link to MedWatch6, the department handling consumer complaints, was not included. After ten minutes of digging around the Internet, I was able to find the exact link (instead of the FDA’s general website link).

Here it is:  https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm

You’ll be asked to include your age, gender and ethnicity (so they can spot trends), along with information regarding any medical treatment that was needed, along with your complaint.