The cosmetic ingredient review: a status report

Area of Science:

• Cosmetic Science
• Toxicology
• Regulatory Affairs

Background:

• The cosmetic industry established the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) expert panel in 1977.
• The panel's structure and role were designed to ensure independent and credible safety assessments of cosmetic ingredients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety of cosmetic ingredients.
• To provide clear conclusions on ingredient safety based on available evidence.

Main Methods:

• Expert panel review of scientific literature and unpublished reports.
• Assessment of safety data for individual cosmetic ingredients.

Main Results:

• Reports conclude whether an ingredient is reasonably safe, unsafe, or if evidence is inadequate.
• Significant variability exists in the adequacy of safety assessments reviewed to date.

Conclusions:

• The CIR panel provides structured safety assessments for cosmetic ingredients.
• Ongoing challenges exist in ensuring consistent and adequate safety data for all reviewed ingredients.