As an industry, cosmetics is one of the healthiest not only in the United States of America but also among other Western countries, where beauty translates to perfect skin, rosy cheeks and rich, red lips, and great hair. A small group of multinational corporations that have been around since the last century presently dominate the manufacture of cosmetics; on the other hand, a wide range of numerous businesses are responsible for the distribution and sale of cosmetics.

In every country where cosmetics are popular, strict regulations as to their ingredients are imposed. Animal testing of cosmetic products has caught the attention and rage of animal lovers and animal-rights advocates all around the world. As a result, the testing of such products on any animal is now illegal in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and The Netherlands, and banned in the countries that are part of the European Union come 2009.

In the United States, it is the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) that regulates the listings of ingredients in cosmetic products. This government agency has broadly defined cosmetics as “intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions,” and includes materials that are intended to be part of the components of a cosmetic product. One piece of cosmetics info that is interesting to note is the FDA’s specific exclusion of soap from this category.