If you are not familiar with the term nutricosmetics then this post is for you

This industry, while one of the newest beauty industries, is also one of the most confusing. This new industry contains all of the ‘beauty from the inside” products that have grown to be worth about $2 billion!

The term nutricosmetics refers to nutritional supplements which can support the function and the structure of the skin from the inside out. These usually come in food or drink form and claim to be fortified with a cocktail of ingredients that promise anti-aging and skin-nourishing benefits.

The problem arising with this sector is the debate between food and drink or beauty – which category is it? Since these beauty foods, drinks and supplements have not been around very long, the science backing their claims remains formative and regulators simply just cannot classify them.

Problems with regulating nutricosmetics:

• Are they half way between drugs and cosmetics or between cosmetics and food/food supplements?
• How do we determine what type of claim it submits to the FDA – food supplement or drug? Or is that down to the ingredients used and their dosage? Or both?

Are you getting confused yet? I am!

Problems with claims and advertising:

• If a nutricosmetics company claims their product can promise better hair, skin and nails is it a health claim or a beauty claim?
• If the product helps prevent the onset of eczema – is that a health, drug or cosmetic claim?

So what’s a consumer to do when the FDA, FTC and Health Canada cannot even make up their minds? Be careful with “edible beauty” because not only is the science lacking in the industry, the US is evaluating claims on a case-by-case basis until a blanket set of rules can be determined. Most products have not even been evaluated yet.

Have you tried any of these new products? Please share your experience about this emerging industry…….