About Us

Site Mission

CosmeticsInfo.org is a comprehensive database containing science and safety information on cosmetics and personal care products – how they work, data to corroborate safety and the science behind commonly used ingredients. Developed and maintained by scientists and other subject-matter experts, CosmeticsInfo.org is a trusted resource visited by millions of individuals and families worldwide each year.

The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies sponsor this website to provide consumers with easily accessible and understandable science and safety information about the products they trust and rely on every day.

Site Content

This website contains information about the safety, development, testing, and regulation of cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients. This information is divided into three primary sections:

  • Safety and Regulatory Basics –
    • Overviews of the processes used by companies to ensure the safety and effectiveness of and their ingredients;
    • How cosmetics are regulated globally and the specific authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the sector in the U.S.
    • Understanding ingredient labeling.
  • Ingredient Database –
    • Information about individual ingredients, including details on what the ingredient is, what function it performs in cosmetics and personal care products, and what scientific data supports the safety of that ingredient.
    • Details about the regulatory guidelines for each ingredient, both in the U.S. and globally.
  • Cosmetics Info Blog guides visitors through common questions with posts designed to complement the more technical aspects of the site, as well as educational videos and infographics that help demystify the science of beauty.

In laboratories across the country and worldwide, experts in chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular modeling, engineering, formulation, toxicology and other areas of expertise are hard at work evaluating ingredients and formulas for safety, quality, stability, purity, effectiveness and performance. CosmeticsInfo.org shares that information openly, transparently, and in easy-to-understand language for anyone who uses beauty and personal care products.

Finding Ingredient Information

Cosmetics Info’s ingredient database contains information about thousands of commonly-used ingredients in beauty and personal care products. Visitors can access ingredient information in three ways: by browsing relevant product types, clicking “Trending Searches” on the homepage, or entering an ingredient in the search bar at the top of the page. Once visitors find the desired ingredient, they can view its safety information, relevant publicly available scientific and regulatory studies, and explore similar products and ingredients in the database.

Due to the many products available, ongoing product launches and rapid product innovation, there may be some ingredients, especially those used less often, not currently listed. However, we continuously update CosmeticsInfo.org, so most ingredients are included.

Consumer Safety

As the makers of cosmetics and personal care products and suppliers of the ingredients, we take our responsibility for safety very seriously. We are committed to giving consumers the information they need to make informed choices about the products they purchase for themselves and their families. We hope you find this website a useful and valuable source of information to supplement the specific ingredient listings found on the labels of every product. We also hope you use this resource when you have questions or need additional information about an ingredient or product. Please e-mail us at info@cosmeticsinfo.org for any further inquiries.

Website Sponsor

Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $529.3 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.