Addressing Fragrance in Cosmetic Products: Interview with Melissa Christenson

I sat down with The Good Face Project to talk about fragrance in cosmetics. Did you know that fragrance is generally a complex mixture of aroma chemicals, and that IFRA is a globally recognized authority that establishes safety standards for fragrances used in all industries? Or that natural fragrance compounds are some of the worst offenders when it comes to allergens and skin sensitivity? Clean beauty is conscious beauty, where we prioritize safe, sustainable and functional ingredients. Science-based education is key to myth-busting. Watch the full video interview here.

Does the FDA regulate the cosmetic industry?

Being a consumer can sometimes be confusing, right? Sigh. Especially when it comes to selecting our skincare and cosmetic products. You’d think it’d be an easy decision but, to be honest, there’s a lot of contradictory information being thrown at us making it harder for us to know who to “trust.”

On one hand you have reputable organizations and reports citing that conventional cosmetic products are packed with harmful ingredients, ingredients that are often untested and unregulated by the FDA. Scientific research claiming that fragrance is just another word for “hidden toxic ingredients.” Yet, on the other hand, you’ll also find organizations and research citing that the “clean” beauty industry is a hoax, a bunch of anti-science bullsh** based on fear mongering! And that the FDA does regulate cosmetic products!

So which is it? Does the FDA regulate cosmetics? Is fragrance something to be concerned about? Is clean-beauty “anti-science”? Are you confused yet?

Check out my conversation with Madeleine Wisecup and listen/subscribe to The Wise Consumer podcast on itunes, google, spotify and amazon.