What are cosmeceuticals?

While the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not recognize the term "cosmeceutical," the cosmetic industry has begun to use this word to refer to cosmetic products that have drug-like benefits.

The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines drugs as those products that cure, treat, mitigate or prevent disease or that affect the structure or function of the human body. While drugs are subject to an intensive review and approval process by FDA, cosmetics are not approved by FDA prior to sale. If a product has drug properties, it must be approved as a drug.