Cosmetics are composed of mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources or synthetically created ones. They can also be used to conceal blemishes and enhance natural features such as the eyebrows and eyelashes. Makeup can also add colour to a person's face, enhance a person's features or change the appearance of the face entirely to resemble a different person, creature, or object.
People have used cosmetics for thousands of years for skin care and appearance enhancement. Visible cosmetics for women and men have gone in and out of fashion over the centuries. Some early forms of cosmetics used harmful ingredients such as lead that caused serious health problems and sometimes resulted in death. Modern commercial cosmetics are generally tested for safety but may contain controversial ingredients, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS , formaldehyde releasers , and ingredients that cause allergic reactions.
The European Union and regulatory agencies around the world have stringent regulations for cosmetics. Some countries have banned using animals for cosmetic testing.
Though the legal definition of cosmetics in most countries is broader, in some Western countries , [ which? In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration FDA , which regulates cosmetics, [ 6 ] defines cosmetics as products "intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions.
Cosmetics designed for skin care may be used to cleanse, exfoliate and protect the skin, as well as replenish it, using body lotions , cleansers , toners , serums, moisturizers , eye creams, retinol , and balms. Cosmetics designed for more general personal care , such as shampoo , soap, and body wash , can be used to clean the body.
