Exposure data for cosmetic products: lipstick, body lotion, and face cream

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 279 - 291
• Main Authors: Loretz, L.J., Api, A.M., Barraj, L.M., Burdick, J., Dressler, W.E., Gettings, S.D., Han Hsu, H., Pan, Y.H.L., Re, T.A., Renskers, K.J., Rothenstein, A., Scrafford, C.G., Sewall, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2005; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Consumer Product Safety; Cosmetics; Cosmetics - administration & dosage; Cosmetics - toxicity; Domestic and cosmetic products toxicology; Exposure; Female; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Records as Topic; Risk Assessment; Skin Absorption; Toxicology; United States; United States; Cosmetics; Risk assessment; Exposure; Cosmetic; Lotion; Cream; Risk factor; Face
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2004.09.016

Accurate exposure information for cosmetic products and ingredients is needed in order to conduct safety assessments. Essential information includes both the amount of cosmetic product applied, and the frequency of use. To obtain current data, a study to assess consumer use practices was undertaken. The study included three widely used cosmetic product types: lipstick, body lotion, and face cream. Three hundred and sixty women, ages 19–65 years, who regularly use the products of interest, were recruited at ten different geographical locations within the US. The number of recruits was chosen to ensure a minimum of 300 completes per product type. Subjects were provided with prototype test products, and kept diaries and recorded detailed daily usage information over a two week period. Products were weighed at the start and completion of the study in order to determine the total amount of product used. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted to derive summary distribution of use patterns. The mean and median usage per application, respectively, for the three products was: face cream, 1.22g and 0.84g; lipstick, 10mg and 5mg; and body lotion, 4.42g and 3.45g. The mean and median usage per day for the three products was: face cream, 2.05g and 1.53g; lipstick, 24mg and 13mg; and body lotion, 8.70g and 7.63g. The mean number of applications per day for face cream and lipstick was 1.77 and 2.35, respectively. For body lotion, the mean number of applications per day was dependent on body area, and was 2.12, 1.52, 1.11, 0.95, 0.43, 0.26, and 0.40 for hands, arms, legs, feet, neck and throat, back, and other body areas, respectively. The effect of product preference on use practices was also investigated. This study provides current cosmetic exposure information for commonly used products which will be useful for risk assessment purposes.