Children's Cosmetics Need Stricter Administration in China

As New Year approaches, many Chinese children are preparing performances. Allergic reactions to cosmetics are common even among children using “cosmetics for children”. Gu Lihong, a reporter from Shenyang Evening News discovered that these so-called “cosmetics for children” were just gimmicks, because there are not enough mandatory standards especially for children’s cosmetics in China. Cosmetics for children show little differences between standard cosmetics.

The reporter from Shenyang Evening News said she had discovered that most “cosmetics for children” did not list ingredients on their labels. While a few expensive “cosmetics for children” with detailed ingredients list were almost identical to other cosmetics formulated for adults.

Currently, there are no clear definition and mandatory ingredient restriction for“cosmetics for children” in China. Even Guidance on Application and Review of Children's Cosmetics does not set mandatory standards.

It instead offers vague guidelines as outlined in Guidance on Application and Review of Children's Cosmetics including:

• To use minimum varieties of ingredients to make cosmetics;
• To not use or keep to a minimum the use of essence, coloring agents, preservatives, surfactants and concern undesirable effects may cause;
• To avoid using special function ingredients with whitening, spot-removing, acne treatment, depilating, anti-perspiration, deodorant, hair growth, dye and perm, slimming, breast beautifier functions.
• To use ingredients that already have a certain history of safe use
• To know the source, composition, impurities, physical-chemical properties, applicable scope, safe dose, precautions and warnings of ingredients and have all the information recorded.

Chinese authorities should release new laws and standards as soon as possible to strengthen administration of “cosmetics for children” thereby safeguarding children’s health and safety.