The European Union (EU) in Europe and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States are the two agencies responsible for examining and ensuring the safety of products that reach the consumer. The FDA is set up to protect consumers from products, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and dietary supplements that are deemed unsafe or ineffective. The European Union "establishes safety, health and environmental protocols" for its citizens. A CE mark on a European product indicates that a product is certified and has met the EU's safety standards. Europe has always been the leader in the beauty industry. That said, they have stricter laws and regulations on the safety of product ingredients (and procedures) that pose a potential risk of toxicity, and as a result, have banished more beauty products than the U.S. The latest statistics show the FDA has restricted the use of approximately 10 ingredients. What does this tell us? Stay tuned while we explore the world of beauty gone wild.
