A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, 7th Edition: Complete Information about the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients Found in Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals

Everything you need to know about the safety and efficacy of cosmetics and cosmeceuticals.

Is it a cosmetic? A drug? A nutrient? It’s becoming more and more difficult to tell the difference with the cosmetic companies combining the three. And unlike with food additives, the FDA has little control over what goes into the products that claim to make you look more beautiful–even though cosmeceuticals (cosmetics that purport to have druglike benefits) have skyrocketed into a multibillion-dollar industry.

So before you slather on that “wrinkle-reducing” cream or swallow a “skin-rejuvenating”vitamin, find out what’s in your health and beauty products with A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. This updated and expanded edition gives you the facts you need to protect yourself and your family from possible irritants, confusing chemical names, and the exaggerated claims of gimmicky additives. With 800 new ingredients found in toiletries, cosmetics, and cosmeceuticals–everything ranging from shampoo to shaving cream, bath lotions to Botox–this alphabetically organized guide evaluates them all, and includes targeted information for children and for people of color.

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients is more indispensable than ever to anyone who cares about the health of themselves and their loved ones.

Reports on the origin, function, and possible effects of specific preservatives, acids, buffers, humectants, colorings, flavorings, and processing agents found in cosmetics.

Cosmetics, according to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, improve appearance whereas a drug diagnoses, relieves, or cures a disease. In the late 90s, cosmetic companies came up with the term cosmeceuticals for cosmetics that have drug-like benefits. Although these hybrid products now line store shelves, the FDA still does not recognize the term and has largely neglected to control what has turned out to be a multibillion-dollar category. As the race to find new ingredients for cosmetics continues, might manufacturers be marketing potential cancer-causing products for your wrinkles? At last report there were only two people assigned to this lucrative industry, and cosmetic and fragrance companies are now required to tell the FDA whether an ingredient is safe or not.

In this updated seventh edition of A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, you'll learn about what has changed in the cosmetics industry in the last four years. With more than 800 new cosmetics added, as well as frank discussions of current industry trends, this new edition lets consumers make educated--and potentially life-changing--choices in their cosmetics use.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

RUTH WINTER, M.S., is an award-winning author of thirty-seven books. Visit her at BrainBody.com or IngredientBlog.blogspot.com.