With temperatures steadily rising across the United States, many people are adding this seasonal must-have to their daily skincare routines and vacation packing lists: sunscreens.

Whether it’s using a daily moisturizer and lip balm with SPF or applying a sunscreen head-to-toe before laying poolside, there are a few common misconceptions about sunscreen products that all consumers should know to help them maintain healthy and safe sun habits all year long.

Myth 1: Sunscreens are just for the summer.

This is a big myth. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), sunscreen should be worn every day if you will be outside because even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin.

Myth 2: New research says that sunscreens are unsafe.

Recently, there’s been some unfortunate confusion about the safety of sunscreens and some sunscreen ingredients. We know from a diverse body of research that sunscreens are critical to protecting your skin from sun damage and reducing the risk of skin cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even mentions that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently mentioned in a new journal article on sunscreens that the results of the Agency’s study should not cause anyone to refrain from using sunscreen. We and groups like the American Academy of Dermatology, the Skin Cancer Foundation, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and many others agree.

Myth 3: I only need to apply sunscreens once, right before going outside.

False! It’s really important to reapply sunscreen, especially after swimming or sweating. CDC recommends reapplying sunscreen if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

Myth 4: I should apply sunscreen after I finish my morning skincare routine.

A number of medical professionals recommend using a broad spectrum sunscreen product with SPF 30 or higher, for example a daily moisturizer with SPF to streamline your skin routine. This type of daily moisturizer can be applied underneath your makeup, for many cosmetics companies develop products with sunscreens for incidental, daily sun exposure. For beach use/recreational use, sunscreens are recommended to be applied 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every 2 hours.

Myth 5: Sunscreens are bad for the environment.

There’s been a bit of conversation and confusion about the impact of sunscreen on the coral reef, specifically. Coral reef degradation is an important environmental issue that we all take very seriously. The causes for coral bleaching have been addressed by scientists around the world who say that it can primarily be attributed to pollution, climate change and overfishing.

Myth 6: Sunscreens are only important for those with fairer skin tones.

Not True! Everyone, regardless of their skin type should make sunscreens a part of their daily skin protection routine. Skin cancer isn’t discriminatory—many skin cancers are linked to UV radiation and protection from the sun is important to avoid skin damage. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to prevent sunburn, reduce the signs of aging on your skin and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

Myth 7: Sunscreens are the only way to protect your body from the sun.

Wearing sunscreen—and reapplying every two hours after swimming or sweating—is just one very important part of a safe sun regimen. Other ways that you can protect yourself from the sun include:

• Avoiding the sun during the peak hours of 10am – 4pm
• Wearing sun protective clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses
• Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days
• Seeing your health care professional every year for a skin exam

We have additional information about the science and safety of sunscreens here on CosmeticsInfo.org.

We also encourage you to visit the following websites:

https://www.skincancer.org/prevention

https://www.cancer.org/research/infographics-gallery/skin-cancer-prevention.html

7 Sunscreen Myths Debunked by Beauty Scientists最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

With Halloween fast approaching, you might be considering the use of some face paint with your or your children’s costumes. Luckily, face paint is regulated the same as your everyday cosmetics – but there are some things to keep in mind when purchasing and using Halloween makeup in order to keep you and your family safe.

1. Use the right kind of paint. Halloween makeup is made to be used on humans, and like all cosmetics, it is regulated by the FDA. This means it has been formulated and tested for use on skin. However, this only applies to paints meant for use on the human body. Be sure not to use any paints that aren’t specifically marked as safe for use on the skin, as those paints aren’t made to be safely slathered on your skin.
2. Test products beforehand. Although products created for use on human skin are tested, people can be allergic to nearly anything. To be sure you aren’t allergic to any of the products you want to use on your skin for Halloween, test a swatch beforehand. The FDA recommends putting a small amount of the product on your arm first. Any swelling, redness, or irritation that develops around the application could be indicative of allergy.
3. Be gentle with eyes. Although face and body paints are safe for the skin, your eyes are very sensitive and oftentimes require more attention. Some products that are perfectly fine to be applied to the skin can irritate the eyes, so be sure to read the label to confirm the product has been formulated for use in the eye area.
4. Be careful with glowing cosmetics. There is only one luminescent (or glow-in-the-dark) color approved for cosmetic use by the FDA – this greenish-whitish-yellowish color is created from luminescent zinc sulfide. Be sure this is the only glow-in-the-dark cosmetic you use, and do not use it near your eyes.
5. Be safe with your cosmetics. As with your everyday cosmetics, read the instructions on novelty makeup carefully and take note of any warnings for its use, apply with clean hands and don’t use any product if it has an off smell or is discolored. When in doubt, throw it out!

For more tips to keep your beauty products safe, check out this helpful article.

Although Halloween is supposed to be scary, using makeup and face paint shouldn’t be. If something is to be put on your body, always choose products made for cosmetic purposes and use them as labeled. By following these tips, you can stay worry-free about the products you use this Halloween. Happy trick or treating!

Halloween Face Products: How to Choose Them and How to Use Them最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that the value of trade-related counterfeit goods amounts to $461 billion annually across the globe. The proliferation of counterfeit products is a very real problem, posing potential health risks for consumers who purchase and use these products from unreliable vendors.

At a minimum, counterfeit cosmetic and personal care products may be ineffective because they lack key ingredients that make these products safe and effective.

But the real risk lies inside these counterfeit products, as they may contain dangerous ingredients. According to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, counterfeit cosmetics and personal care products pose “a safety risk for consumers, due to hazardous or banned alternative ingredients being incorporated into formulations.” There is no way to know where the ingredients come from, whether they are safe, and whether the manufacturing practices meet government standards for good manufacturing practices.

In April 2018, the Los Angeles Police Department confiscated counterfeit makeup that tested positive for animal feces. And in 2016, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized counterfeit pharmaceutical and personal care products with an estimated value of $73 million. And… that’s just what they were able to find.

When fake and potentially hazardous products enter the marketplace, they undermine confidence in the safety and effectiveness of authentic products, while putting people’s health – and possibly their lives – at risk.

Cosmetics and personal care products companies are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and products go through six critical steps before they make it to store shelves. The first step is purely focused on confirming the safety of the product, and then comes a clinical evaluation to test effectiveness. Microbiology tests keep you safe from harmful microorganisms that could spoil the product, and stability is checked so you know your product will remain safe through its shelf life. Process development ensures quality control, and then the supply chain is ironed out and the product can be sold.

This process of product development is vital to ensuring the safety of personal care products. Counterfeit products circumvent these vital steps, leading to many health risks. If you want to keep your products safe, trust the process, trust the science, and don’t buy counterfeit. Purchase your personal care products from a reputable vendor.

To learn more about the product evaluation stages and other processes behind personal care product development, click here.

Counterfeit Cosmetics: Too Good to be True?最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

It may seem small, but paying attention to the shelf life and expiration date of your cosmetics and personal care products is important.

The shelf life of a personal care product is the period of time a manufacturer recommends their product is best to use. Like the food in your refrigerator, it’s important to take certain precautions in order to keep your cosmetics from degrading faster.

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind as you spring clean your make-up bag and personal care products collection:

1. Throw away products that smell bad or have changed color
2. Don’t dilute products with water or re-use applicators without washing them, because those actions could allow potentially harmful microorganisms to contaminate your products
3. Don’t share cosmetics
4. Tightly close containers and jars after use
5. Don’t sample cosmetic products unless clean applicators are used
6. Replace applicators frequently or use disposable make up applicators

Shelf life should be taken as a general rule of thumb, so don’t ignore signs of spoilage in your cosmetic just because it has not reached its expiration date yet. When deciding whether or not your cosmetics are still safe to use, be sure to read the instructions on the packaging and look for signs of potential contamination to help keep your products safe to use.

However, your products likely won’t spoil right away either, as cosmetics often have helpful preservatives which can keep certain bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms out of your products.

6 Tips to Keep Your Beauty Products Safe最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a chemist to understand the ingredients in your everyday products. In fact, understanding product labels is easier than it seems.

Let’s break down the ingredient label of a product you probably have on your bathroom shelf – lotion.

Different beauty products have varying ingredient lists, but one factor is consistent: safety. U.S. regulations under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act ensure that the cosmetic ingredients and products you rely on are safe. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating cosmetics and personal care products.

Before a tube of lotion or bottle of shampoo makes it to your home, it goes through stringent testing by researchers at cosmetics and personal care products companies. Even if you can’t decipher every line of an ingredient list, you can rest assured that the products you love are held to the highest standards of safety and quality. And you can always review the label to learn which ingredient is used more than another. Ingredients higher up on the label exist in larger amounts—you’ll note that water is commonly the first ingredient listed on a label.

Want to learn more about the story behind the label? Check out our in-depth guide to cosmetic ingredient labeling. If you’re still curious, our A-Z Ingredient list can answer your ingredient questions from acacia catechu gum to zinc pyrithione.

Reading the Label of Your Favorite Beauty Product最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

If you’ve washed your hands, put on mascara, or applied lotion today, you’ve likely used a product that contains preservatives.

Preservatives are a ubiquitous and necessary part of thousands of cosmetic products, but many people would be hard-pressed to say what they actually do. And although there has been a lot of discussion about the role of preservatives in personal care products, the actual purpose of these ingredients is often missing from the debate.

To summarize: Preservatives are ingredients that protect products against the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Since bacteria, fungi, and yeast naturally occur on our skin, in the air, and in our water, you expose your cosmetics to these elements every time you use them. To keep these products from becoming harmful, many contain preservatives.

Did you know? Parabens are identical to an acid that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables.

What would happen if our personal care products didn’t contain preservatives? For one, products could become moldy, discolored, or develop an unpleasant smell. Microbial growth in products used around the eyes and skin can cause serious health problems like infection or irritation.

Our products would look and function very differently without preservatives. Check out this video to compare products with and without preservatives.

How Preservatives Keep Cosmetics Safe最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

Have you ever wondered how to read the label on your daily moisturizer or wanted to know more about the history of cosmetics? That’s why the Personal Care Products Council and its member companies created CosmeticsInfo.org.

For nearly a decade, CosmeticsInfo.org has been an in-depth resource for consumers who want to learn more about the science behind cosmetics, personal care products, and their ingredients. It provides factual science-based information on cosmetics and ingredient safety.

This blog was specifically created to be a helpful resource as you explore CosmeticsInfo.org and all it has to offer. Here, you’ll learn about educational videos and infographics, in addition to the more than 1,850 ingredients we’ve organized by product category to help demystify the science of beauty.

As a consumer, you have a right to know what ingredients are in the products you use and love. From toothpaste to lipstick, we’re here to guide you through common questions.

The Science & Safety Behind Your Favorite Cosmetics Products最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

What’s more is a recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) survey of 1,000 people between the ages of 18-29, indicated that nearly one-third of respondents said “getting a tan was more important to them than preventing skin cancer.”

How did we get here?

Social media is rife with false claims that safe sunscreen ingredients are more harmful than UV rays, sunscreen is unnecessary, the sun does not cause skin cancer, cooling down the skin can prevent sunburns and that more time outside results in fewer sunburns. This tanning misinformation is causing confusion and concern, while putting people’s health and safety at risk.

According to the AAD, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, a rising number largely attributed to more time in the sun and insufficient safe-sun practices such as seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing and regularly applying sunscreen. Despite this, the youth tanning trends have gained traction on social media.

The bottom line on sun safety

The science is clear: children, teens and adults should follow the advice of scientific and medical professionals and limit UV exposure and use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Consumers have many sunscreen options to choose from – sticks, lotions, sprays, gels – to meet different preferences and needs. Ultimately, the best and safest sunscreen option is the one consumers use regularly to help minimize the risk of skin cancer and sunburns.

Misinformation May Increase Risks to Young Adults Seeking “Perfect Tan”最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

Such creams leave no oily finish, though they provide an even, adherent base for face powder, which when dusted on top of a foundation provides a peach-skin appearance.

Many ingredients are needed to provide the characteristics of a good face powder: talc helps it spread easily; chalk or kaolin gives it moisture-absorbing qualities;

magnesium stearate helps it adhere;

zinc oxide and titanium dioxide permit it to cover the skin more thoroughly; and various pigments add colour.

Heightened colour can be provided with rouge, which is used for highlighting the cheekbones;

the more modern version is the blusher, which is used to blend more colour in the face.

Small kits of compressed face powder and rouge or blusher are commonly carried by women in their handbags.

Foundations, face powder, and rouge最先出现在Abi Global Trade。

The basic step in facial care is cleansing, and soap and water is still one of the most effective means.

Cleansing creams and lotions are useful, however, if heavy makeup is to be removed or if the skin is sensitive to soap.

Their active ingredient is essentially oil, which acts as a solvent and is combined in an emulsion (a mixture of liquids in which one is suspended as droplets in another) with water.

Cold cream, one of the oldest beauty aids, originally consisted of water beaten into mixtures of such natural fats as lard or almond oil, but modern preparations use mineral oil combined with an emulsifier that helps disperse the oil in water.

Emollients (softening creams) and night creams are heavier cold creams that are formulated to encourage a massaging action in application;

they often leave a thick film on the face overnight, thus minimizing water loss from the skin during that period.

Hand creams and lotions are used to prevent or reduce the dryness and roughness arising from exposure to household detergents, wind, sun, and dry atmospheres.

Like facial creams, they act largely by replacing lost water and laying down an oil film to reduce subsequent moisture loss while the body’s natural processes repair the damage.

Skin-care preparations最先出现在Abi Global Trade。