Personal care products

Personal care productsareconsumer productswhich are applied on various external parts of the body such asskin,hair,nails,lips,external genital and anal areas, as well asteethand mucous membrane of theoral cavity,in order to make them clean, protect them from harmful germs and keep them in good condition. They promotepersonal hygieneand overall health, well-being and appearance of those body parts.Toiletriesform a narrower category of personal care products which are used for basic hygiene and cleanliness as a part of a daily routine.Cosmetic products,in contrast, are used forpersonal groomingand beautification (aesthetically enhance a person's appearance).Pharmaceutical productsare not considered personal care products.

Most of the personal care products are rinsed off immediately after use, such as shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, shower gels, etc. A few personal care products, however, are left on the applied surface such as moisturizing cream, sunscreen, etc.

The global market size of the personal care products industry is several hundred billion US Dollars (as of early 2020s).Procter & Gamble,L'Oreal,Johnson & Johnson,Unilever,Colgate-Palmolive,Gillette,Avon,Natura & Co,Kimberly-ClarkandShiseidoare some of the world-leading companies in personal care products industry.

Description

Swedish advertisement for toiletries (c. 1905/06)

Personal care products can be categorized according to their function and area of application. These are cleansing products, hair care products, oral care products, sun care products, skin hydrating products, feminine care products, hair removal products, nail care products, eye care products and anal hygiene products.

Cleansing products

Cleansing products includehand soapsor bar soaps,shower gels,body washes,facial cleansers,body oils, body lotions,cleansing pads,moisttowelettes.They remove dirt, excess oil and other impurities from the surface of the body and improve a person's overall cleanliness.Facial tissuesare used to wipe the nasal discharge.Cotton padsare used to remove makeup.Cotton swabsare used to clean outer ear.Bath towelsare used to dry up wet areas on the body,face towelsare used to dry up wet face.Exfoliating scrubs(loofahs and such) are used for deeper cleansing.

Hair care products

These includeshampoos,hair conditioners,hair oilsandhair treatments,and they are used to cleanse, condition and treat hair so that hair is clean and healthy.Scalp massagerspromote blood flow in the scalp andscalp serumshydrate and nourish the scalp.

Hair removal products

Among hair removal products, there areshaving creams,shaving gels,shaving foams,razors,hair clippers,tweezers,epilators,waxing kits, and hair removal creams (e.g.depilatory creams). These are used to remove unwanted hair from various parts of the body.

Oral care products

These aretoothpaste,toothbrush,mouthwash,dental floss,water floss,interdental brush,gum massager,gum gel,etc. They are used to maintainoral hygiene,preventtooth decayandgum disease,and have healthy teeth and gums.Tongue scrapersare used to remove food debris, dead cells and bacteria from the tongue surface. Denture care products are used to clean artificial dentures.

Skin care products

These includepowders,baby powders,body lotions,hand creams,pomadesandfacial moisturizers.They are used to hydrate, moisturize, and nourish the skin and keep the skin soft, smooth, and protected.Lip balmskeep the lips hydrated.

Sun care products

Sun care products include lotions, creams, sprays, gels, oils and sticks that act as asunscreenor asunblock.They protect the skin from harmfulultraviolet radiation,and as such preventsunburn,premature aging,andskin cancer.Prickly heat powdersprevent or soothe itchy, bumpy and red heat rashes on the skin due to excess heat.Sunglassesand wide-brimmedsun hatsare used to protect the eyes from the sun.

Feminine care products

These include sanitary pads,tampons,menstrual cups, and panty liners. There are used for menstrual hygiene and provide comfort, absorption, and protection during menstruation.

Nail care products

Nail care products include nail cutters, nail files and cuticle creams. They are used to maintain and enhance the appearance of nails and promote healthy nail growth.

Eye care products

These includeartificial tearsor lubricating eye drops to moisturize and soothe the eyes and provide relief from dryness, irritation, and discomfort due to dry eye syndrome or environmental factors;contact lens solutionsfor cleaning, disinfecting, and storing contact lenses and help remove debris, bacteria, and protein buildup from the lenses,eye drops(typically containing anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers) for allergies to provide relief from itching, redness, and watering caused by allergic reactions;eye creams,which are special moisturizers for the sensitive skin around the eyes, contain ingredients such ashyaluronic acid,peptides, and antioxidants to hydrate, firm, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles;eye serumsfor puffiness, dark circles, and signs of aging, typically containing ingredients like caffeine, retinol, or vitamin C;eyelid cleansersto clean and soothe the eyelids and eyelashes by removing debris, excess oil, and bacteria and in this way help alleviate eyelid inflammation, blepharitis, or dry eye syndrome;eye masks,which are gel or sheet masks placed over closed eyes to provide cooling, soothing, and hydrating effects, and to help reduce puffiness, relieve tired eyes, and improve the appearance of dark circles.

Anal hygiene products

Anal hygieneproducts includetoilet papers,bidetsandbidet showers.For babies,wet wipesare used. These are used to keep the anal area clean from fecal remains and harmful bacteria after defecation.

Forms and additives

Personal care products can come in different physical forms such as liquid solutions, solid bars and sticks, semi-solid oremulsion-based mixtures,powders,aerosols,oils,gels,scrubs and sheets. They may containcolorants,fragrances,emollients,surfactants,humectants,thickeners,stabilizers,preservatives,pH adjustersandpH buffers,silicones,chelating agents,film-forming agents,naturalextracts,antioxidants,disinfectantsandantimicrobialsalong with the actual product.

In addition, there are personal care tools such astoothbrushes,hairbrushesandcombs,manualrazorsandelectric shavers,tweezers,nail clippersandfiles,sponges, pads, scrubs, etc. which help apply the aforementioned products or have their own functions.

Hotel application

Typical toiletries offered at many hotels include:

small bar ofsoap
disposableshower cap
small bottle of moisturizer
small bottles of shampoo and conditioner
toilet paper
box offacial tissue
face towels
disposable shoe polishing cloth
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Cologne

Corporations

Some of the majorcorporationsin the personal care industry are:

Other corporations, such as pharmacies (e.g.CVS/pharmacy,Walgreens) primarilyretailin personal care rather than manufacture personal care products themselves.

Environmental impacts

Methods of PPCP entry into the environment from residential homes via septic and sewage systems^[1]

Theenvironmental effect of pharmaceuticals and personal care products(PPCPs) is being investigated since at least the 1990s. PPCPs include substances used by individuals for personal health orcosmeticreasons and the products used byagribusinessto boost growth or health of livestock. More than twenty million tons of PPCPs are produced every year.^[2]TheEuropean Unionhas declaredpharmaceuticalresidues with the potential ofcontamination of waterand soil to be "priority substances".^[3]

PPCPs have been detected in water bodies throughout the world. More research is needed to evaluate the risks oftoxicity,persistence, andbioaccumulation,but the current state of research shows that personal care products impact the environment and other species, such as coral reefs^[3]^[4]^[5]and fish.^[6]^[7]PPCPs encompassenvironmental persistent pharmaceutical pollutants(EPPPs) and are one type ofpersistent organic pollutants.They are not removed in conventionalsewage treatment plantsbut require a fourth treatment stage which not many plants have.^[2]

In 2022, the most comprehensive study of pharmaceutical pollutionof the world's riversfound thatit threatens"environmental and/or human health in more than a quarter of the studied locations". It investigated 1,052 sampling sites along 258 rivers in 104 countries, representing the river pollution of 470 million people. It found that "the most contaminated sites were in low- to middle-income countries and were associated with areas with poor wastewater and waste management infrastructure andpharmaceutical manufacturing"and lists the most frequently detected and concentrated pharmaceuticals.^[8]^[9]

References

^"Origins and Fate of PPCPs in the Environment"(PDF).Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products.EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory. March 2006.
^^a ^bWang J, Wang S (November 2016). "Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: A review".Journal of Environmental Management.182:620–640.doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.049.PMID 27552641.
^Shinn H (2019)."The Effects of Ultraviolet Filters and Sunscreen on Corals and Aquatic Ecosystems: Bibliography".NOAA Central Library.doi:10.25923/hhrp-xq11.
^Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Segal R, Fauth J, Knutson S, Bronstein O, et al. (February 2016)."Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands".Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.70(2): 265–88.doi:10.1007/s00244-015-0227-7.PMID 26487337.S2CID 4243494.
^Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Fauth JE, Segal R, Bronstein O, Jeger R, et al. (March 2014). "Toxicological effects of the sunscreen UV filter, benzophenone-2, on planulae and in vitro cells of the coral, Stylophora pistillata".Ecotoxicology.23(2): 175–91.doi:10.1007/s10646-013-1161-y.PMID 24352829.S2CID 1505199.
^Niemuth NJ, Klaper RD (September 2015)."Emerging wastewater contaminant metformin causes intersex and reduced fecundity in fish".Chemosphere.135:38–45.Bibcode:2015Chmsp.135...38N.doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.060.PMID 25898388.
^Larsson DG, Adolfsson-Erici M, Parkkonen J, Pettersson M, Berg AH, Olsson PE, Förlin L (1999-04-01). "Ethinyloestradiol — an undesired fish contraceptive?".Aquatic Toxicology.45(2): 91–97.doi:10.1016/S0166-445X(98)00112-X.ISSN 0166-445X.
^"Pharmaceuticals in rivers threaten world health - study".BBC News.15 February 2022.Retrieved10 March2022.
^Wilkinson, John L.; Boxall, Alistair B. A.; et al. (14 February 2022)."Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.119(8).Bibcode:2022PNAS..11913947W.doi:10.1073/pnas.2113947119.ISSN 0027-8424.PMC8872717.PMID 35165193.

[1] "Origins and Fate of PPCPs in the Environment"(PDF).Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products.EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory. March 2006.

[Environmental_impact_of_pharmaceuticals_and_personal_care_products_:0-2] Wang J, Wang S (November 2016). "Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: A review".Journal of Environmental Management.182:620–640.doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.049.PMID 27552641.

[Environmental_impact_of_pharmaceuticals_and_personal_care_products_shinn_2019-3] Shinn H (2019)."The Effects of Ultraviolet Filters and Sunscreen on Corals and Aquatic Ecosystems: Bibliography".NOAA Central Library.doi:10.25923/hhrp-xq11.

[4] Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Segal R, Fauth J, Knutson S, Bronstein O, et al. (February 2016)."Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands".Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.70(2): 265–88.doi:10.1007/s00244-015-0227-7.PMID 26487337.S2CID 4243494.

[5] Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Fauth JE, Segal R, Bronstein O, Jeger R, et al. (March 2014). "Toxicological effects of the sunscreen UV filter, benzophenone-2, on planulae and in vitro cells of the coral, Stylophora pistillata".Ecotoxicology.23(2): 175–91.doi:10.1007/s10646-013-1161-y.PMID 24352829.S2CID 1505199.

[6] Niemuth NJ, Klaper RD (September 2015)."Emerging wastewater contaminant metformin causes intersex and reduced fecundity in fish".Chemosphere.135:38–45.Bibcode:2015Chmsp.135...38N.doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.060.PMID 25898388.

[7] Larsson DG, Adolfsson-Erici M, Parkkonen J, Pettersson M, Berg AH, Olsson PE, Förlin L (1999-04-01). "Ethinyloestradiol — an undesired fish contraceptive?".Aquatic Toxicology.45(2): 91–97.doi:10.1016/S0166-445X(98)00112-X.ISSN 0166-445X.

[Environmental_impact_of_pharmaceuticals_and_personal_care_products_:4-8] "Pharmaceuticals in rivers threaten world health - study".BBC News.15 February 2022.Retrieved10 March2022.

[Environmental_impact_of_pharmaceuticals_and_personal_care_products_:7-9] Wilkinson, John L.; Boxall, Alistair B. A.; et al. (14 February 2022)."Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.119(8).Bibcode:2022PNAS..11913947W.doi:10.1073/pnas.2113947119.ISSN 0027-8424.PMC8872717.PMID 35165193.

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