Cosmetic "science"

[Damburger]

(I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for such a thread, so please feel free to move it.)

Do you ever see adverts for cosmetics that use absurd scientific sounding language to sell their product?

I recently saw an advert on UK television for a face cream that revitalised your skin because it contained 15% oxygen.

It didn't mention that the air your skin is normally exposed to contains more oxygen than that, or that water contains about 89% oxygen.

If its suggesting that this product works by oxidising your skin, there are far more effective chemicals for doing that under your kitchen sink, but I wouldn't recommend putting them near your face.

[jedaisoul]

(I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for such a thread, so please feel free to move it.)

Hi Damburger, I'd suggest this should be in the OTB section.

Regards, Terry.

[01101001]

(I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for such a thread, so please feel free to move it.)

Space? Astronomy? Advocacy of ATM non-mainstream ideas? Nope, don't see it.

Do you ever see adverts for cosmetics that use absurd scientific sounding language to sell their product?

I can think of few products that marketing does not, on occasion, give that treatment. Maybe it works.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Cosmetic Ingredients: Understanding the Puffery (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/reprints/puffery.html)

The argument is sometimes made that while Congress intended to safeguard the health and economic interests of consumers with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, it also meant to protect a manufacturer's right to market a product free of excessive government regulation. And, in an industry that sells personal image, especially images of beauty and sex appeal, not allowing the puffery claims would certainly hurt the marketing, says Bailey.

But there's hope for credibility in claims for cosmetic ingredients. Some of the more responsible cosmetic firms are rethinking their claims that push believability to its outside edge. Linda Allen Schoen of Neutrogena says that today's more knowledgeable consumer wants "facts versus puffery--products based on skin care realities, promises banked on achievable benefits."

Maybe someday the consumers will demand more scientific claims. Maybe.

[Serenitude]

Hello Damburger. jedaisoul is correct - this would be a great topic there.

For the record, the ATM forum is a place to present an Alternative to Mainstream topic for defense. The big deal is that once you post, you've rather agreed that your topic is going to be attacked with glee and fervor, with you as the designated (by presenter) defender.

It can be quite a shock for people who mistakenly post here to return and see such action ;) I'll move it to BABBling now :)

[Damburger]

Very sorry for getting it wrong, I thought the ATM forum was for general pseudoscience.

[01101001]

Very sorry for getting it wrong, I thought the ATM forum was for general pseudoscience.

No big deal. Little known fact about the subheaders on the forum names: they frequently mean something.

Against the Mainstream (http://www.bautforum.com/against-mainstream/)
Post here if you want to discuss a theory that goes against the astronomical mainstream. Have a beef with relativity, heliocentrism, the Big Bang? This is the place.

[Maksutov]

(I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for such a thread, so please feel free to move it.)

Do you ever see adverts for cosmetics that use absurd scientific sounding language to sell their product?...I don't know about cosmetics, but I have yet to see a commercial for a men's shaving product that didn't promise, either implicitly or explicitly, to get you babes.

[Ivan Viehoff]

> Do you ever see adverts for cosmetics that use absurd scientific sounding language to sell their product?

All the time. They frequently get forced to take the ads off too. In UK, claims of product efficacy, etc, must have adequate verification. But since there is no requirement for prior approval, and it takes some time for the processes to close down the advert, they can show the ad for a while, and often it seems that is all they want. Of course, if what they are saying is so ludicrous doesn't actually amount to a claim, (or risk being mistaken for one) or uses various established weasel words which consumers are expected to understand are meaningless or unverifiable, then it is perfectly legal.

[hhEb09'1]

I recently saw an advert on UK television for a face cream that revitalised your skin because it contained 15% oxygen.

It didn't mention that the air your skin is normally exposed to contains more oxygen than that, or that water contains about 89% oxygen.

If its suggesting that this product works by oxidising your skin, there are far more effective chemicals for doing that under your kitchen sink, but I wouldn't recommend putting them near your face.I wonder if it contained anti-oxidants as well? Those seem to be popular.