November 14, 2011
When I found my first gray hair as a 20-something, I was in shock. I wasn’t even old enough to rent a car in most states, but there, against my espresso brown strands was a gray hair that could be spotted from miles away. Of course I thought, if someone handed me a pill to rid myself of these aging grays, I would swallow it instantly, no questions asked. So imagine my delight when I heard that L’Oreal is developing that very pill with plans to release it around 2015.
Here’s the thing–drugs that work to enhance your appearance are by no means new. But with the long approval process these drugs go through, many are beginning to second-guess the process.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate these types of “cosmetic drugs” in the same way as medical drugs. A drug that is used to treat heart disease or cancer undergoes the same process as one to lengthen eyelashes. This is to ensure safety no matter what the substance is. So here’s the question, should we be prioritizing the medical drugs? Does the FDA need to re-evaluate their system? What do you think?
June 15, 2011
Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens. These new policies will likely change how consumers buy and use non-prescription sunscreens.
Why the new regulations? Under the prior rules, sunscreens almost exclusively addressed protection against the sun’s UVB rays, not skin-cancer-causing UVA rays. Today, there is enough data and information to establish a standard broad-spectrum test procedure that measures protection from both UVA and UVB radiation. Under these new requirements, consumers will have more information on which sunscreens offer the most protection from sun exposure that can increase one’s risk of skin cancer.
While you may see changes earlier, these new regulations won’t completely take effect until next summer (2012). In the mean time, remember that spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early aging. The FDA wants to remind you in order to reduce these risks, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply every two hours.
Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens. These new policies will likely change how consumers buy and use non-prescription sunscreens.
Why the new regulations? Under the prior rules, sunscreens almost exclusively addressed protection against the sun’s UVB rays, not skin-cancer-causing UVA rays. Today, there is enough data and information to establish a standard broad-spectrum test procedure that measures protection from both UVA and UVB radiation. Under these new requirements, consumers will have more information on which sunscreens offer the most protection from sun exposure that can increase one’s risk of skin cancer.
While you may see changes earlier, these new regulations won’t completely take effect until next summer (2012). In the mean time, remember that spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early aging. The FDA wants to remind you in order to reduce these risks, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply every two hours.
June 23, 2009
With rising concerns over the environmental issues, the beauty industry is seeing a rise in “green” products. The terms “natural” and “organic” are being thrown on labels everywhere we look, but what does it all really mean? It is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks these products to become an informed consumer.
Natural
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, there is no actual definition of “natural” pertaining to beauty products. Technically, a product can claim to be natural if it has ingredients derived from plants, algae or minerals. Most products can fall into this category. The FDA says, “There is no list of ingredients that can be guaranteed not to cause allergic reactions, so consumers who are prone to allergies should pay special attention to what they use on their skin.” The bottom line is: if you want products free of synthetic chemicals, don’t just trust the label. Read the ingredient list and look for anything out of the ordina ry.
Organic
The term “organic” implies that the ingredients are not genetically modified, and don’t have any chemicals, additives, preservatives or artificial scents/colors. The important thing to know here is that there are 4 levels of organic certification, so don’t be fooled by any marketing schemes. For example, label that says “made from certified organic ingredients” means that it has some organic ingredients, but can be mostly inorganic.
Products that are 100% organic will have a USDA seal. If you don’t see the seal, look for signs of false advertising! In particular, read the ingredient list for any long, unpronounceable words. If the product only meets lower standards of certification, it may not have the qualities you are looking for in your organic products.
|
|
