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 In this section:

                Cosmetic Products

Cosmetic Products

                        Aromatherapy
          Cosmetic Tanning Products
          Disposable Wipes
          Hair Products
          Makeup
          Nail Care Products
          Soaps & Lotions
          Tattoos, Temporary Tattoos & Permanent Makeup Home
          Cosmetics
          Cosmetic Products & Ingredients
          Cosmetic Products
          Soaps & LotionsCosmetic Products Soaps & Lotions
  
  	
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    PrintLotions, soaps, and other cleansers may be regulated as cosmetics or as other product categories, depending on how they are intended to be used.

Cleansing products, many of which are marketed as “soap,” may be cosmetics or drugs regulated by FDA, or consumer products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, depending on how they are made or how they are intended to be used. For example, soaps and cleansers marketed as “antibacterial” are drugs.

Lotions intended to make people more attractive are cosmetics. But, if they’re intended to affect the structure or function of the body, or for a therapeutic purpose, such as treating or preventing disease, they’re drugs, or sometimes they may be both cosmetics and drugs. For example, sunscreen products are drugs under U.S. law. So are skin protectants, skin bleaches, and treatments for skin conditions such as acne, eczema, or rosacea.

Some lotions are both cosmetics and drugs, and must meet the requirements for both categories. Lotions that are intended both to moisturize the skin and protect users from the sun are just one example.  To learn more about the differences, see “Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?).”

The resources below provide safety and regulatory information about soaps and lotions.

Product and Ingredient Information

Alpha Hydroxy Acids
	Aromatherapy
	Beta Hydroxy Acids
	Color Additives and Cosmetics
	Fragrances in Cosmetics
	Nanotechnology and Cosmetics
	Parabens
	Soap: FAQs
	Sunless Tanners & Bronzers
	Thigh Creams
	Wrinkle Treatments and Other Anti-aging ProductsMore Safety and Regulatory Information

“Cosmeceutical”
	FDA Authority Over Cosmetics
	Information on Over-the-Counter Drugs: Includes sunscreens and other nonprescription drug products, such as antimicrobials, skin protectants, and treatments for acne and other skin conditions)
	Reporting a Problem
	Small Businesses and Handmade Cosmetics: FAQs
	View More Guidance and Regulation Information

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      02/25/2022
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 CosmeticsCosmetic Products

          
                        Aromatherapy
          Cosmetic Tanning Products
          Disposable Wipes
          Hair Products
          Makeup
          Nail Care Products
          Soaps & Lotions
          Tattoos, Temporary Tattoos & Permanent Makeup
 
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