The Difference Between Cosmetics and Drugs

In the US cosmetics are defined by their intended use meaning cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance. In the EU it's basically the same definition except that they have added protection to their definition. The key is though the claim can differentiate a cosmetic from a drug. So for example you can have a product with titanium dioxide which may or may not be defined as an OTC drug in the US. If you make claims around acne even at 0.1% which is below the drug active level you've now made it an unapproved drug. Those are not approved combinations so you couldn't have an active face cream with SPF 25. That doesn't work.