Cosmetics

Cosmetics are defined as preparations—such as powders, oils, creams, and pills—used for healthcare and, most of the time, beauty reasons. They include products that people use daily, such as perfumes, creams, shampoo, and lipstick. The most obvious effect of cosmetics is related to the chemical components that they contain. The potential harmful effects of these components are, in the same way as chemicals, regulated by national and international authorities dedicated to their control.

[Page 91]A second effect of cosmetics that is increasingly attracting attention, and is particularly interesting with regard to the objective of sustainable development, is related to the exploitation of biological components by the cosmetic industry. Cosmetic recipes are often drawn from the properties of seeds, plants, and trees, as well as animals, to ...