Wed, Mar 19, 2025 page3

• Choose cosmetics carefully, FDA says

  BUYER BEWARE: People should use products that are clearly labeled and registered with the cosmetic product platform, and make sure they are not expired, the FDA said

  • By Chiu Chih-jou and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  Makeup users should ensure the cosmetics they use meet health standards and are applied properly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said, recommending five rules to balance beauty with health.

  Makeup products such as eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick and lip gloss are held to stricter health standards than other makeup products, because they are applied close to the eyes and mouth, FDA Medical Devices and Cosmetics Division section head Chang Chia-jung (張家榮) said.

  For example, only Class I colorants can be used in lip and eye makeup products to reduce irritation to lip and eye mucus membranes, Chang said.

  

  A woman applies makeup at a department store in an undated photograph.

  Photo courtesy of Global Mall via CNA

  Microbiological standards are stricter, as the microbial limit for eye and lip makeup is 100 colony-forming units per gram (cfu/g), while the general microbial limit for cosmetics is 1,000 cfu/g, he said.

  When applying eye shadow, it is important to ensure the makeup brush is clean and to avoid touching the brush or product directly to prevent bacterial contamination, FDA examiner Fang Yun-shu (方韻淑) said.

  When applying eyeliner, the pen should not move beyond the root of the eyelashes to prevent applying the product too close to the eyeball, which can cause irritation, Fang said.

  When removing the mascara wand, twist and remove it gently to reduce air and bacteria from entering the product, she said.

  When applying lipstick, clean the lips first to remove any food residue and to prevent bacteria from affecting product quality, she added.

  The FDA recommended five rules for cosmetics that makeup users can follow to balance health and beauty.

  First, choose products that are clearly labeled and that include the product name, directions and shelf life, it said.

  Second, make sure that the product has been registered under the FDA’s cosmetic product platform, it said.

  Third, only use cosmetics on the areas the product is approved for, it said.

  For example, avoid using lip liner on the eyes, it added.

  Fourth, regularly check to see if any products have expired, and fifth, pay practice good hygiene by keeping makeup tools clean and not sharing them with others, it added.

  Test products provided at cosmetic stores are shared between shoppers and must comply with the Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act (化粧品衛生安全管理法), Chang said.

  People should check test makeup to make sure it has not spoiled, and promptly alert a store employee if they find any issues, he said.

  The process of removing makeup is equally important, especially as the eyes and lips are fragile, the FDA said.

  Makeup remover should be poured on a cotton pad and gently applied to the eyes or lips for about 10 seconds to dissolve the makeup before gently removing it, it said.

  Rubbing too hard to try and remove stubborn makeup can pull the skin and cause irritation, it added.

  In related news, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital pediatrician Chiu Hsin-hui (邱馨慧) on Saturday urged people to keep ear piercings clean and dry to prevent infection.

  A 17-year-old student surnamed Chou (周) developed cellulitis and was hospitalized after repeatedly touching his ear piercings, leading to infection, swelling and a fever despite prior treatment, Chiu said.

  A doctor surgically cleaned the infected tissue and placed a drainage tube in the ear cartilage, she said.

  The site was infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chou recovered after two weeks on antibiotics, she said.

  It is a common type of bacterium that grows well in humid environments and mostly appears in surgical wounds or areas with tissue fluid, she added.

  Additional reporting by Wong Yu-huang
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