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Free, Fragrance Free, salicylate free or Hyoallgernic Cosmetics here
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Cellulite Treatment Options
The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual: The Smart Guide to Healthy, Beautiful
Skin and Looking Good at Any Age
Learn about Cosmetic Ingredients at DERMAdoctor


A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients : Fifth Edition
Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me
Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary
What's in Your Cosmetics?: A Complete Consumer's Guide to Natural and Synthetic Ingredients
FDA Consumer: Clearing
Up Cosmetic Confusion
Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association
FDA/CFSAN
Cosmetics--Hypoallergenic
FDA/CFSAN - Cosmetics
Labeling Manual

Allergic to the Twentieth Century: The Explosion in Environmental Allergies--From Sick Buildings to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Living With Environmental Illness

Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes, 2nd Edition

Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
ES&T Online News: Germ fighter works as endocrine disrupter
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Cosmetic Definitions
There are no standard, official
definitions for cosmetic terms such as "natural" and "hypoallergenic".
The FDA established official definitions but they were overturned in court.
Cosmetic companies can use words and phrases on cosmetic labels to mean
anything they want. It is up to the buyer to check the ingredients and try
to determine for themselves if the product meets their needs.
Cosmetic terms
and common meanings:
- Alcohol Free
Usually means that the product contains no ethyl alcohol
(or grain alcohol). The product may still contain other alcohols, such as
cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl, or lanolin, which are known as fatty alcohols.
- Cruelty Free
Implies that the product has not been tested on animals.
Some companies use this to mean that the finished product has not been
tested on animals but they may do testing of new ingredients. For more
information about how to determine the status of a product, please read
our article on
Animal Testing.
The products recommended in our
cosmetic and
supplement databases are produced by companies that do not test on
products or ingredients unless required by law.
- Fragrance Free
The product typically has no odor. Ingredients that are
considered to be fragrances may still be added to mask any offensive odor
produced by the raw ingredients, but not enough to impart a noticeable
scent.
We offer a special option in our product listing that returns
Fragrance Free products. This option also includes products that are
Unscented.
- Hypoallergenic
Products are usually less likely to cause
allergic reactions because they often exclude ingredients that are known
to cause allergies. There are no scientific studies required to
substantiate this claim. Likewise, the terms "dermatologist-tested,"
"sensitivity tested," "allergy tested," or "nonirritating" carry no
guarantee that they won't cause skin reactions.
We offer a special option in our product listing that returns
Hyopallergenic products. This option also returns products that
are allergy tested.
- Natural
Usually means that ingredients are extracted directly from
plants or animal products rather than created synthetically.
- Noncomodogenic
Used for products that do not contain common pore-clogging
ingredients that could cause acne.
- Shelf Life (Expiration Date)
A date listed on the package that indicates the length for
which a product will be good if it is stored properly. It is only a
rule of thumb and the product may expire before the listed date if it is
not stored and handled properly.
- Unscented
Usually means that no fragrance ingredients have been
added, not even to mask other ingredients.
We offer a special option in our product listing that returns
Unscented Cosmetic products. This option also includes products that
are Fragrance Free.
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