THE "COSMETICS" AND "DRUGS" FACT SHEET

Image is what the main-stream cosmetic industry sells through its products. This is why many skin care and cosmetic companies promote products with exaggerated claims of beauty or long-lasting effects!

At Volcanic Earth, we believe that today's more knowledgeable consumer prefers "facts" as against "puffery based on image and outrageous claims that push believability to its outer edge". Consequently, our products are based on credibility, skin care realities and achievable results.

How can other skin care companies get away with their exaggerated claims? To understand how, we need to look at the distinction between "Cosmetics", "Drugs" and the concept of "Advertising Puffery" as it relates to the cosmetic and skin care industry.

So let's take a look at the differences!

The following is the American  Food & Drug Administration's (the "FDA") views on: -

Understanding the Difference between Cosmetics, Drugs & Advertising Puffery

In America, the Food & Drug Administration (the "FDA") have traditionally considered perfumes to fall within the category of "Cosmetics". The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) defines cosmetics as articles other than soap which are applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance." (Section 201).

The FDA classifies cosmetics into 13 categories:

• skin care (creams, lotions, powders, and sprays)
• fragrances
• eye makeup
• manicure products
• makeup other than eye (e.g., lipstick, foundation and blush)
• hair colouring preparations
• shampoos, permanent waves, and other hair products
• deodorants
• shaving products
• baby products (e.g., shampoos, lotions and powders)
• bath oils and bubble baths
• mouthwashes
• tanning products

On the other hand, articles intended for use in the diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and intended to affect the structure or any function of the body, are considered to be drugs -- with all "new drugs" requiring FDA's pre-market approval.

A claim that a perfume's aroma makes a person feel more attractive, in general, is a cosmetic claim not requiring FDA approval before a product is sold. However, a company trying to market a scent suggesting effectiveness as an aid in quitting smoking, as a sleeping aid, or to treat or prevent any other condition (eg. dandruff) or disease, or otherwise affect the body's structure or function, such a claim may cause the product to be regulated as a drug, requiring pre-market approval in the United States. 

Further, certain colours and ingredients such as biothionol, hexachlorophene, mercury compounds (except as preservatives in eye cosmetics), vinyl chloride and zirconium salts in aerosol products, halogenated salicylanilides, chloroform, and methylene chloride may be prohibited in cosmetics.

Volcanic Earth's "Elementals" skin care products again do not fall into this category.

"In the past, cosmetic manufacturers have depended upon mysterious "gimmick" additives, such as turtle oil to promote skin rejuvenation or tighten chin muscles, shark oil, queen bee royal jelly, chick embryo extract, horse blood serum, and pigskin extracts. Promotion of these "gimmick" additives, combined with today's more sophisticated cosmetic ingredients, is what the advertising and cosmetic industry call "puffery." (Judith Foulke - Staff writer for FDA Consumer)

However, these days the discerning buyer looks for the actual features and benefits of a product when deciding whether to buy or not. Puffery based on image, gimmicks and exaggerated claims is outdated, ineffective and in our view, misleading.

At Volcanic Earth, what you see is what you get - quality bath and body products made from pure, natural ingredients incorporating elements from the earth's ancient past and plant-derived remedies. Our ingredients have been tried and tested over time and as such, speak for themselves.