Current opinion on risk assessment of cosmetics

Risk assessment of cosmetic ingredients is a useful scientific method to characterize potential adverse effects resulting from using cosmetics. The process of risk assessment consists of four steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Hazard identification of chemicals refers to the initial stage of risk assessment and generally utilizes animal studies to evaluate toxicity. Since 2013, however, toxicity studies of cosmetic ingredients using animals have not been permitted in the EU and alternative toxicity test methods for animal studies have momentum to be developed for cosmetic ingredients. In this paper, we briefly review the alternative test methods that are available for cosmetic ingredients including read-across, in silico, in chemico, and invitro methods. In addition, new technologies such as omics and artificial intelligence (AI) have been discussed to expand or improve the knowledge and hazard identification of cosmetic ingredients. Aggregate exposure of cosmetic ingredients is another safety issue and methods for its improvement were reviewed. There have been concerns over the safety of nano-cosmetics for a long time, but the risk of nano-cosmetics remains unclear. Therefore, current issues of cosmetic risk assessment are discussed and expert opinion will be provided for the safety of cosmetics.