The active ingredient is the chemical that makes the product effective, and the manufacturer must have proof that it's safe for its intended use. For products that are both drugs and cosmetics, the regulations require that active ingredients be listed first on these products, followed by the list of cosmetic ingredients in order of decreasing predominance. Before products with both a cosmetic and drug classification can be marketed, they must be scientifically proven safe and effective for their therapeutic claims. If they are not, FDA considers them to be misbranded and can take regulatory action. The ingredient list on a cosmetic container is the only place where a consumer can readily find out the truth about what he or she is buying.
Consumers can check the listing to identify substances they wish to avoid.
And becoming familiar with what cosmetics contain can help counter some of the alluring appeal showcased elsewhere on the product. And spending the time to read it may be all that is needed to protect ourselves from hurting our skin. But the ingredient list, although a mandatory requirement on cosmetics, is also the most difficult part of the label to understand. Bailey admits that most of us don't recognize the names of the ingredients listed because there are thousands available to chemists creating a wide variety of products. But there's no way to change that, he says, and still accurately identify the substances that are used.