Should the FDA Regulate Cosmetics?

The Federal Drug Administration was created initially to protect consumers from harmful carcinogens and contaminants that companies could sneak into their products. However, the FDA does nothing to regulate cosmetics and instead has left the industry to "self-regulate." As a consequence, the closest thing to oversight over cosmetic companies is the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, an organization to which submitting cosmetics is entirely option. This means that bad products often make it to the shelves, and once they're there, are impossible to recall.

It makes sense to try and let a market regulate itself. Many argue that consumers will simply stop buying harmful products and subsequently make the production of those products economically infeasible. However, consumers are often left blind to long lasting harmful side effects. Harmful chemicals that form as a result when common ingredients react after being mixed in don't need to be disclosed on labels. Mercury is allowed in mascara.

The final question we're left with involves the extent of government involvement that should be introduced. Should the FDA be able to recall products once they're on the shelves. Should they get involved before then? Should they be involved at all?