CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS
CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS (OVERVIEW) FACTSHEET
A cosmetic is a substance or preparation that is designed to be used on any external part of the human body – including in the mouth – to change the odours of the body, to change its appearance, cleanse it, keep it in good condition, perfume it or protect it.
Cosmetics include soap, shampoo, moisturiser, hair dye, perfume, lipstick, mascara and many other products, but do not include products regulated as therapeutic goods (medicines).
Cosmetics are made from a range of ingredients which are deemed to be industrial chemicals. Industrial chemicals may be either synthetic chemicals or naturally occurring chemicals and these range from ammonium lauryl sulfate (a detergent used in shampoo, cleanser and bubble bath), to lanolin (oil from sheep skin, which is used to moisturise skin, hair and nails) and Blue 1, a dye used to give colour to products.
The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) only regards chemicals to be naturally occurring under certain circumstances of processing. Some oils, extracts and essences of plants or animals may be naturally occurring chemicals, but if they have, for example, been extracted by steam distillation, solvent extraction or have undergone further processing, they are classified as synthetic chemicals.
NICNAS's role
NICNAS regulates all industrial chemicals imported or manufactured in Australia. It assesses chemicals used in most consumer products – including those used in cosmetics – contributing to Australia's regulatory framework to protect the workers who handle them during production/importation and formulation of end products, the people that use the end products, and the environment following use and disposal of the products.
Companies which introduce industrial chemicals – including those used in cosmetics – must register with NICNAS, unless they introduce only naturally occurring chemicals.
To assist in managing industrial chemicals, the
A cosmetic is a substance or preparation that is designed to be used on any external part of the human body – including in the mouth – to change the odours of the body, to change its appearance, cleanse it, keep it in good condition, perfume it or protect it.
Cosmetics include soap, shampoo, moisturiser, hair dye, perfume, lipstick, mascara and many other products, but do not include products regulated as therapeutic goods (medicines).
Cosmetics are made from a range of ingredients which are deemed to be industrial chemicals. Industrial chemicals may be either synthetic chemicals or naturally occurring chemicals and these range from ammonium lauryl sulfate (a detergent used in shampoo, cleanser and bubble bath), to lanolin (oil from sheep skin, which is used to moisturise skin, hair and nails) and Blue 1, a dye used to give colour to products.
The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) only regards chemicals to be naturally occurring under certain circumstances of processing. Some oils, extracts and essences of plants or animals may be naturally occurring chemicals, but if they have, for example, been extracted by steam distillation, solvent extraction or have undergone further processing, they are classified as synthetic chemicals.
NICNAS's role
NICNAS regulates all industrial chemicals imported or manufactured in Australia. It assesses chemicals used in most consumer products – including those used in cosmetics – contributing to Australia's regulatory framework to protect the workers who handle them during production/importation and formulation of end products, the people that use the end products, and the environment following use and disposal of the products.
Companies which introduce industrial chemicals – including those used in cosmetics – must register with NICNAS, unless they introduce only naturally occurring chemicals.
To assist in managing industrial chemicals, the