Whether it’s for your hygiene or beauty regimen, cosmetic products are a big part of your daily life. Learn about them and how to be a smart consumer.
Cosmetic products are defined as any substance or preparation that is intended to be placed in contact with the various external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair, nails, lips, around the eyes and external genital organs) or with the teeth and mouth, with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, correcting body odours, protecting them or keeping them in good condition.
In Singapore, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) oversees the safety issues linked to cosmetic products.
These include:
Cosmetic products in Singapore are regulated under the Health Products (Cosmetic Products - ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations, which is a Subsidiary Legislation of the Health Products Act. Dealers of cosmetic products have to ensure that their products comply with the requirements stipulated in the Regulations and are directly responsible for the safety of their products. The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) is part of an ASEAN-wide initiative that aims to harmonise standards and requirements for cosmetic products across ASEAN in line with international guidelines.
As part of the regulations, HSA requires all cosmetic firms to:
Other checks that we have in our system after the products are in the market include:
The most common issue linked with the use of cosmetic products is skin sensitivity or allergy to their ingredients. An allergy to a product's ingredient can cause your skin to itch, redden, swell, and even blister.
Understanding some of the terms commonly used to describe cosmetics can help us better prevent problems when we use these products. For example:
Some people have a misconception that it is "safer" to use cosmetics to treat or prevent health conditions in the long term as these products typically do not contain potent medicinal ingredients and that they are used externally. For example, some consumers may opt to use beauty creams as a substitute to treat serious skin problems such as acne or eczema.
HSA would like to advise consumers against doing so because cosmetic products do not treat or prevent health conditions. Using these products on infected skin may worsen its condition. Consumers should always seek their doctors' advice for medical conditions.
Consumers should also be wary of cosmetic products sold online purporting to provide miraculous results such as skin whitening within a short period. HSA issued several alerts on cosmetic products sold online which were tested to contain undeclared potent ingredients prohibited in skincare products such as mercury or hydroquinone. In August 2015, HSA found three 'Shantique Bellaza' cosmetic products to contain these prohibited ingredients. Mercury is a toxic substance and may cause rashes, skin irritation and blotchiness, and can be absorbed through the skin to cause numbness, dizziness, headaches and depression. Chronic exposure to high levels of mercury in cosmetic products may also affect the kidneys. Hydroquinone can cause allergic reactions when used inappropriately without medical supervision.
No health product is 100% safe. Consumers should exercise care and discretion when choosing cosmetic products as ingredients used in cosmetic products may not be suitable for everyone and may cause undesirable reactions in some individuals.
If you develop an allergic reaction or skin irritation, stop using the product immediately. Consult your doctor if the condition does not go away or worsens.
You can also submit your feedback to HSA via this form: Enquiry/Feedback on Health Products | FormSG
Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.
This article was last reviewed on 30 Jun 2025
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