Chapter 2 - Introduction to Cosmetics

Question 1

What is the definition of cosmetics?

Answer 1

Substances or products used to enhance or alter the appearance or fragrance of the body

Question 2

What are the general uses of cosmetics?

Answer 2

(1) Beautifying, (2) Increasing attractiveness, (3) Preserving, (4) Altering the appearance

Question 3

What are the 3 main changes of cosmetics?

Answer 3

(1) Physiological - Body processes
(2) Physiochemical - External changes
(3) Psychological - Mind, feeling good

Question 4

What is cosmetics used for 30,000 years ago?

Answer 4

Colours applied to skin to attract the animals they hunt

Question 5

Why did women in Egypt paint their eyes 4000 years ago?

Answer 5

Green (copper carbonate) on the undersides of their eye - ward of evil
Black kohl (lampblack or antimony) for eyelids and eyebrows - prevent diseases

Question 6

What were the laws/rules that govern the use of cosmetics in (1) Greece and Rome, (2) China and (3) Japan?

Answer 6

(1) Roman senate declared a short-lived law, disallowing the use of cosmetics
(2) Common people were executed if they used cosmetics as it is only reserved for the rich
(3) Noble women were not allowed to walk in public without full body cosmetic treatment

Question 7

What is the story behind ‘Floral imprint’

Answer 7

Princess Shouyang slept and the flowers grew over her giving a floral imprint

Question 8

How are the lower classes and higher classes people differentiated?

Answer 8

Lower classes - darker, work involves exposure to sunlight

Higher classes - light, pale skin with the use of lead paint (arsenic)

Question 9

What happened to Queen Elizabeth I of England?

Answer 9

She applied very thick layer of lead paint that the skin could not breathe, eventually leading to her death

Question 10

In the 19th century, where was cosmetics sold in Europe and America?

Answer 10

Pharmacies

Question 11

What are the large names that started selling cosmetics in the 19th century and 20th century? (3 names)

Answer 11

John kiehl (1851)
Helena Rubinstein (1907)
Elizabeth Arden (1910)

Question 12

When was silicon implants introduced?

Answer 12

The year 1962, after the first world war

Question 13

What is the harmful chemical that African Americans use in the 1920s to appear whiter

Answer 13

Hydroquinone - suppressed the production of melanin in the skin

Question 14

When was cosmetics short in supply?

Answer 14

1939 - 1945 during the second world war.

Question 15

When did western women decide to go without cosmetics because of feminism

Answer 15

1960 - 1970

Question 16

When were the sales of cosmetics regulated in the US?

Answer 16

The year 1938, by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDC)

Question 17

In the US, when was ingredient classification and product labeling made compulsory?

Answer 17

The year 1966

Question 18

What happened in the year 1976 in Europe?

Answer 18

Cosmetic Directive placed the responsibility of the product on the cosmetic manufacturer

Question 19

When was testing of ingredients on animals prohibited in Europe?

Answer 19

The year 1991

Question 20

When was the testing of the final products on animals prohibited in Europe?

Answer 20

The year 2003

Question 21

How does the list of ingredients used in a cosmetic product need to be listed?

Answer 21

In descending order of predominance by weight

Question 22

What is the difference between a drug and a cosmetics

Answer 22

Cosmetics - for beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance
Drug - Use for diagnosis, cure, mitigation, prevention or treatment.

Question 23

What is the classification of cosmetics?

Answer 23

(1) Baby products, (2) Bath preparations, (3) Eye makeup preparations, (4) Fragrance preparations, (5) Hair preparations (non-colouring), (6) Hair coloring preparations, (7) Makeup preparations, (8) Manicuring preparations, (9) Oral hygiene products, (10) Personal cleanliness, (11) Shaving preparations, (12) Skin care preparations, (13) Suntan preparations

Question 24

Why is removing bacterial harmful for oral hygiene?

Answer 24

More prone to infections, remove smells is better not bacteria

Question 25

In Singapore, who oversees the safety issue for cosmetics products?

Answer 25

The Health Science Authority (HSA)
Cosmetic products are under the Health Products Regulations which is a subsidiary of the Health Products Act. Asean Cosmetic Directive (ACD) harmonize the standards and requirements

Question 26

What are the regulations of HSA for cosmetics?

Answer 26

(1) Inform HSA the product they intend to sell by submitting cosmetic product notification
(2) Ensure no prohibited substances
(3) Label ingredients, country of manufacture, batch number, expiry date (<30 months)
(4) Name and address of responsible company in Singapore
(5) Precautionary health warnings

Question 27

What is the shelf life of cosmetics?

Answer 27

Must complete before 3 years

State if before 2 and half years

Question 28

What is hypoallergenic?

Answer 28

Less likely to cause allergic reactions

Question 29

Why is ‘natural’, ‘organic’, ‘contain no preservatives’ or ‘100% herb’ cosmetics not necessarily better?

Answer 29

Cosmetic products not intended to treat or prevent health problems. It only tells you that it has a shorter shelf life.

Question 30

What are the key responsibilities of the person responsible?

Answer 30

(1) Submit product notification
(2) Ensure product safety
(3) Recall unsafe products
(4) Report product defects and adverse effects
(5) Submit safety and technical information when requested by HSA

Question 31

What are the high-risk and low-risk cosmetics?

Answer 31

High-risk - Eyes, lips, hair dyes containing phenylenediamines (Hair dyes) and oral and dental care
Low-risk - Skin whitening, moisturizers etc