L1: Intro to Cosmetics

Question 1

What are the purposes of cosmetics?

Answer 1

− Beautifying, promoting attractiveness, preserving, or
altering the appearance

− Cleansing, colouring, conditioning, or protecting the skin,
hair, nails, lips, eyes, or teeth

• Physiological
• Physicochemical
• Psychological

Question 2

What are the uses of cosmetics in Ancient Egypt?

Answer 2

• Men used it for mating, fighting and to attract animals during hunting
• Women painted undersides of their eyes with green colour (copper carbonate) and eyelids, lashes and eyebrows black with kohl (lampblack or antimony).

Question 3

How were cosmetics viewed in Greece and Rome?

Answer 3

In Greece and Rome cosmetics reached broad popularity, but it was viewed as extravagant and unneeded by many.

Roman Senate declared the (short lived) law that prevented public exhibitions of cosmetic products

Question 4

How were cosmetics viewed in China?

Answer 4

In China, common people were executed if they were caught wearing nail polish in public (only privilege of the rich).

“Floral imprint” (Princess Shouyang)

Question 5

How were cosmetics viewed in Japan?

Answer 5

In Japan, noble women were forbidden to walk in public without full body cosmetic treatment.

Question 6

How were cosmetics viewed in Europe?

Answer 6

In the Middle Ages 5th - 15th century) it was perceived sinful to wear makeup although there was a revival when crusaders from the Middle East brought cosmetics back from their travels.

The highest class of European society were pale using white powder on their skin (white lead paint, which also may have contained arsenic) (eg. Queen Elizabeth I of England and “the Mask of Youth“) or by bleeding themselves.

Question 7

When was there a boom in cosmetic surgery?

Answer 7

After the First World War, mainly revolved around women and only men if they had been disfigured by the war.

Silicone implants were introduced in 1962.

Question 8

In which year did cosmetics get regulated in the US?

Answer 8

1938

Question 9

Which organisation regulates cosmetics in the US?

Answer 9

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDC).

Question 10

Can cosmetics products, whose ingredients have been tested on animals, be placed in the market?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

What are the general principles for labeling cosmetic products?

Answer 11

• Provide poison control centers with ingredient information and/or adequate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to permit rapid evaluation and treatment of accidental ingestion or other accidental use of the cosmetic product.
• Provide ingredient information ( when requested, ingredient samples to a licensed physician who, in connection with the treatment of a patient, requests assistance in determining whether an ingredient in the cosmetic product is the cause of the problem for which the patient is being treated.

Question 12

What is the definition of a cosmetic?

Answer 12

Article(s) intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and article(s) intended for use as a component of any such articles.

Question 13

What are some unacceptable claims of a cosmetic product?

Answer 13

• To affect the structure or any function of the human body.

- For use in the diagnosis, cure mitigation, prevention or treatment of disease.

Question 14

Which organisation regulates cosmetic products in SG?

Answer 14

Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

Question 15

What are cosmetic products regulated under?

Answer 15

ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)

Question 16

Which cosmetic products are considered high risk?

Answer 16

Those to be applied around the eyes, on the lips, hair dyes containing phenylenediamines and oral and dental care products.