Tips for Safe Keeping and Use of Cosmetics

The regulatory requirements governing the sale of cosmetics are not as stringent as those that apply to other consumer products such as drugs. Cosmetics and their ingredients are not required to undergo approval before they are sold to the public. Manufacturers may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives and a few prohibited substances, to market a product. Some regulations do apply: an ingredient declaration is required on every cosmetic product sold to consumers. The ingredients must be listed in descending order of quantity. Water accounts for the bulk of most skin-care products, which is why it usually appears first on ingredient lists. Around 40% of manufacturers who want to project an image of responsible product development voluntarily register their products with the Food and Drug Administration.

There are also no regulations requiring cosmetic manufacturers to indicate the shelf life -- the amount of time for which a product is good under normal conditions of storage and use, depending on the product's composition, packaging, preservation -- on the labels of their products.

Voluntary shelf-life guidelines developed by the cosmetic industry vary, depending on the product and its intended use. The shelf life for eye-area cosmetics is more limited than for other products. Because of repeated microbial exposure during use and the risk of eye infections, some industry experts recommend replacing mascara 3 months after purchase. If the mascara dries out, discard it. Do not add water or, even worse, saliva to moisten it, because that will introduce bacteria into the product. If you have an eye infection, consult a physician immediately, stop using all eye-area cosmetics, and discard those you were using when the infection occurred.

Other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf life are certain "all natural" products that may contain plant-derived substances conducive to microbial growth. It also is important for consumers and manufacturers to consider the increased risk of contamination in products that contain non-traditional preservatives, or no preservatives at all.

Expiration dates are only rules of thumb. A product's safety may expire long before the expiration date if it has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored - for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale - may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.

Sharing makeup increases the risk of contamination. "Testers" commonly found at department store cosmetic counters are even more likely to become contaminated than the same products in an individual's home. At home, the preservatives usually have a whole day to kill the bacteria that is inevitably introduced after each use, but the brief time between uses of testers in stores do not allow the preservatives to kill the bacteria. If you test a cosmetic before purchasing it, apply it with a new, unused applicator, like a fresh cotton swab.

• Don't apply makeup while driving. This makes for dangerous driving, and hitting a bump in the road and scratching your eyeball can cause bacteria to contaminate the cut.
• Never share makeup. Use a new disposable applicator when testing products. Ask salespersons to clean container openings with alcohol before applying their contents to your skin.
• Never add water or another liquid to a product to bring back its original consistency. This could introduce bacteria that can easily grow out of control.
• Stop using any product that causes an allergic reaction. Almost all cosmetics can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals. The first sign may be mild redness and irritation. There is no list of ingredients guaranteed not to cause allergic reactions, so if you are prone to allergies pay careful attention to what you use.
• 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 products you were using when you discovered the infection.
• Keep makeup out of sunlight. Light and heat can degrade preservatives.
• Keep makeup 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.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.