Cosmetics are items which are used to enhance the appearance or scent of a person. The term cosmetics includes many substances such as makeup, lotion, perfume, deodorant, hair color, bath products, and many more items. Unlike the food and drug industries, the cosmetics industry is not closely monitored, and at times this can lead to overpricing of products, and at times potentially dangerous ingredients are used in cosmetics. Often times, this leads to a lawsuit being brought against the manufacturer of the defective cosmetics.
Many industries are closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are subject to testing and regulations for safety but this is not necessarily the case in the cosmetic industry. The FDA does have have a set of guidelines which cosmetic manufacturers should follow but the products are not subject to the regulations and scrutiny that food and drug products undergo. There is much controversy surrounding the topic of regulation of the cosmetic industry, many people feel that cosmetic items should be subject to the same rules as the food and drug industries. While many of the cosmetic products available today are safe for use, there have been instances where potentially dangerous ingredients were found in certain items.
FDA & Cosmetics – information from the Food and Drug Administration regarding their cosmetic guidelines
One of the most well known cosmetic lawsuits that has taken place was a class action lawsuit that accused department stores of pricing beauty products too high. This lawsuit involved multiple department stores and manufacturers and accused them of conspiring to never offer discounts on high end cosmetics and perfumes. Many brands were involved in the suit including MAC, Chanel, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, and Lancome, among many others. The lawsuit was finally settled in 2008 after a decade of deliberations and the department stores and manufacturers were ordered to give away 175 million dollars in merchandise to those effected by the high prices of the involved products. If you suspect that a store or manufacturer is purposely overpricing their products it might be a good idea to report them to your local Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Cosmetics Giveaway – information on the multi-million dollar cosmetic giveaway stemming from a class action lawsuit settlement
Better Business Bureau – find your local BBB by zip code
There have also been lawsuits against cosmetic companies stemming from dangerous ingredients used in their products. If you suspect that a cosmetic product you have used has made you sick or caused you some sort of bodily harm it is a good idea to see a doctor as well as contact a lawyer. There are lawyers that specialize in just about everything including cosmetic cases, so it should not be hard to find a lawyer in your area if the need should arise.
While the FDA does not closely monitor the cosmetic industry, most manufacturers have various ways of testing their products for safety so it is unlikely that you have cosmetics that will harm you in any way. Especially with the development of new organic lines of cosmetics products now contain more natural ingredients which tend to be less harsh on the skin and have less of a chance of causing any health related problems.