Cosmetics and Personal Care Program

A recent independent study conducted on behalf of NSF found that 48 percent of consumers are concerned about the quality and safety of these products. NSF recently tested several cosmetic products for Good Morning America.

If you use cosmetics or personal care items, you have probably wondered about their safety as well. In response to growing concerns about adulteration, mislabeling and counterfeiting of cosmetics and personal care products, NSF developed the NSF Cosmetics and Personal Care Program. This program helps improve the quality and safety of these products by offering:

• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits to verify that the manufacturer is following both European and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for cosmetic production, testing and customer complaint handling.
• Testing of product samples to verify label claims including “free from” chemicals of concern like bisphenol A (BPA), PABA (p-aminobenzoic acid), sulfates and parabens.
• Screening of products for contaminants like heavy metals and microbiological organisms to verify product safety and quality.

Although many government agencies and major retailers are taking steps to help ensure the safety and quality of cosmetic and personal care products, there are several additional steps you can take to protect yourself.