Cosmetics and Medicated Cosmetics

Cosmetics Definition and Classification

• Cosmetics are articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, sprayed on, introduced into, or applied to the human body or any part for cleaning, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance.
• Cosmetics only clean, beautify, alter the appearance, add fragrance, or stop the development of bad odor, but do not prevent or cure physical ailments or pathological conditions of the body.

Types of Cosmetics

• Medicated Cosmetics: products used as cosmetics but also used to treat or prevent diseases, or affect the structure or functions of the human body, e.g., anticaries toothpaste, hormone creams, acne lotions, and bleaching creams.
• Misbranded Cosmetics: cosmetics with false labeling, lacking required information, or having misleading containers.
• Adulterated Cosmetics: cosmetics containing poisonous or deleterious substances, decomposed substances, or prohibited color additives.

Stability and Safety of Cosmetics

• Stability: the ability of a formulation to remain within defined physical, chemical, microbiological, therapeutic, and toxicological specifications until the end of the recorded date, under specified storage conditions.
• Microbiological Testing: attention should be paid to the microbiological integrity of the formulation during the development phase, with professional advice from a well-trained microbiologist.
• Safety Testing: the product must be safe under conditions of use and misuse, with a combination of careful formulating, good background data, and adequate testing.

Classification of Cosmetics by Application

• Cosmetics for the Skin: powders, creams, deodorants, bath and cleansing preparations, make-up, suntan preparations
• Cosmetics for the Nails: nail polish and polish removers, manicure preparations
• Cosmetics for the Hair: shampoos, tonics, hair dressings, hair waving preparations, shaving media, depilatories
• Cosmetics for the Teeth and Mouth: dentifrices, mouthwashes
• Eye Products: border products

Cosmetics and Drugs

• The distinction between cosmetic and drug products is based on their definitions.
• FDA defines drugs as articles recognized in the official pharmacopoeia, national formulary, or any supplement, or articles intended for use in diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of diseases, or articles intended to affect the structure or any function of the body.
• Borders in relation to drugs and cosmetics:
  • Cosmetics must be preparations, not devices or toilet articles.
  • Cosmetics include cleansing agents, but do not include toilet and bath soaps.
  • Cosmetics are generally used upon the human body, hence room deodorants and air refreshes are not cosmetics.