Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Resources for Consumers on Cosmetics

Resources for Consumers on Cosmetics

                        Cosmetics & Pregnancy
          Cosmetics FAQs Home
          Cosmetics
          Resources for You (Cosmetics)
          Resources for Consumers on Cosmetics
          Cosmetics Safety Q&A: ContaminantsResources for Consumers on Cosmetics Cosmetics Safety Q&A: Contaminants
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintFAQs Main Page

Do cosmetics contain harmful contaminants, such as lead? What does FDA do to guard against them?

Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cosmetics must be safe for consumers when used as intended. If a cosmetic is harmful to consumers, it is adulterated under the law, and it is against the law to market adulterated cosmetics in interstate commerce. It doesn't matter whether the safety problem is caused by ingredients or contaminants. Companies and individuals who market cosmetics have a legal responsibility for the safety of their products.

FDA monitors cosmetics on the market to watch for potential safety problems, including potential contaminants. We also stay abreast of scientific research, so that we can be aware of potential problems. We take action against products that do not comply with the law, and against companies and individuals who market them.

These are some of the ways FDA watches out for cosmetics that may contain harmful contaminants:

Inspecting Imports

One way that FDA guards against contaminated cosmetics is by working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection staff to inspect imported products. Because we cannot inspect every shipment, FDA issues Import Alerts to help inspection staff look out for products that are most likely to pose a safety hazard. A number of our Import Alerts for cosmetics warn about products that may contain harmful contaminants. Cosmetics that are found to be unsafe are refused entry into this country.

Inspecting Manufacturers

FDA has issued guidance to manufacturers on how to keep two kinds of contaminants, nitrosamines and 1,4-dioxane, from forming during the manufacturing process. FDA inspectors check to make sure manufacturers are following the proper procedures.

Color Additives

Except for those intended as coal tar hair dyes, each color additive used in cosmetics must be approved by FDA and listed in a regulation that states its permitted use, as well as all specifications and restrictions. These regulations set strict limits on contaminants. FDA sets these limits based on how much of the color additive a person is likely to be exposed to and the routes of exposure under the intended conditions of use. To learn more, see Color Additives and Cosmetics.

To learn more about how FDA evaluates the safety of cosmetics, including potential contaminants, see How FDA Evaluates Regulated Products.

To learn more about potential contaminants and what FDA has done about them, see

1,4-Dioxane
	Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
	Cosmetic Imports and Import Surveillance
	FDA's Cosmetics main page
	Ingredients Prohibited and Restricted by FDA Regulations (includes information on mercury both as an ingredient and as a contaminant)
	Inspection of Cosmetics: An Overview
	Limiting Lead in Lipstick and Other Cosmetics
	Microbiological Methods for Cosmetics
	Potential Contaminants
	Recalls & Alerts
	Warning Letters Cite Cosmetics as Adulterated Due to Microbial Contamination**More Resources:**

Products & Ingredients
	Resources for Consumers
	Science & Research

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      02/25/2022
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 CosmeticsResources for Consumers on Cosmetics

          
                        Cosmetics & Pregnancy
          Cosmetics FAQs
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop