U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Cosmetics and Colors       December 2000
True or False: How Smart are You About Cosmetics?

Most cosmetics are safe if you use them correctly. But there are some things to be careful about. Check out our special Cosmetics True or False quiz and find out how much you really know! After you finish, find out how to get your special Smart Consumer certificate!

  1. FDA MUST APPROVE ALL COSMETICS BEFORE THEY GO ON THE MARKET.

  2. USING MASCARA THE WRONG WAY CAN CAUSE EYE INJURIES AND INFECTIONS - EVEN BLINDNESS.

  3. IT'S FINE TO USE HAIR DYES ON YOUR EYEBROWS AND EYELASHES. AFTER ALL, THEY'RE HAIR TOO.

  4. TATTOOS USED TO BE PERMANENT, BUT NOW LASERS ARE AN EASY, RELIABLE WAY TO ERASE THEM.

  5. "CRUELTY FREE" OR "NOT TESTED IN ANIMALS" MEANS THAT NO ANIMAL TESTING WAS DONE ON THE PRODUCT AND ITS INGREDIENTS.

  6. "Hypoallergenic" triple-header

    1. IF A PRODUCT IS LABELED "ALL NATURAL" OR "ORGANIC," IT'S PROBABLY HYPOALLERGENIC.
    2. EVEN IF A PRODUCT IS LABELED "HYPOALLERGENIC," IT MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANCES THAT CAN CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS.
    3. CHOOSING PRODUCTS WITH THE CLAIM "DERMATOLOGIST TESTED" IS A WAY TO AVOID AN ALLERGIC REACTION OR OTHER SKIN IRRITATION.

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