Beauty on the Safe Side: Beauty Supply Safety

Margots Day Spa offers these tips for using Beauty Supplies and Beauty Products safely:


  • Serious injury from makeup is a rare occurrence, according to John Bailey, director of FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors. But it does happen. Good common sense and a few precautions can help consumers protect themselves against hazards associated with the misuse of beauty supplies.
  • Never drive and apply makeup. Not only does it make for dangerous driving, but hitting a bump in the road and scratching your eyeball can cause bacteria to contaminate the cut and could result in serious injury, including blindness.
  • Never share beauty products like make up. Always use a new disposable applicator when sampling products at a cosmetics counter. Insist that salespersons clean container openings with alcohol before applying their contents to your skin.
  • Never add liquid to beauty supplies to bring back its original consistency. Adding other liquids could introduce bacteria that can easily grow out of control.
  • Stop using any beauty product or beauty supply that causes an allergic reaction.
  • Throw away makeup if the color changes or an odor develops. Preservatives degrade over time and may no longer be able to fight bacteria.
  • Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away all beauty products you were using when you discovered the infection.
  • Keep beauty supplies out of sunlight. Light and heat can degrade preservatives.
  • Keep beauty supply containers tightly closed when not in use.
  • Never use aerosol beauty products near heat or while smoking because they can ignite. Hairsprays and powders may cause lung damage if inhaled regularly.

If using AHA and BHA products:

  • Test any AHA/BHA-containing product on a small area of skin before applying to a larger area.
  • Avoid the sun when possible.
  • Use an effective sunscreen when using an AHA-containing product, even if you haven't used the product that day.
  • Follow use instructions on the label.
  • Do not exceed recommended applications.
  • Do not use on infants and children.

 

From http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/398_cosm.html