Are Your Cosmetic Products To DIE For?

It is until you become aware of the possible dangers that your toiletry and cosmetic products may bring that you actually realize that your makeup bag is essentially a mélange of chemicals. Regardless of the brand, you may want to count and see how many of these chemicals we listed below can be found in your makeup collection.

Common Harmful Chemicals in Your Makeup Pieces

Parebens

Your makeup and toiletry products usually contain parabens – methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben – that are toxic and can interfere with hormonal functions, including disrupting the endocrine system. It is linked to cancer, particularly breast cancer.

Cadmium and Other Heavy Metals

They slowly build up in the body and can cause different serious medical conditions like cancer; reproductive and development disorder; memory loss; neurological problems; kidney and renal problems; nerve, joints and muscle disorders;  lung damage, mood swings, hair loss and more others. While cadmium can be found in air, water and food, most cosmetic products contain this chemical at a large amount. Environmental Defence, an Ontario-based environmental organization conducted a recent international study on 49 popular makeup products and discovered that more than half of the products tested contain cadmium. According to WDDTY, “Those with the highest levels of cadmium included NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss, Cover Girl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner and Cover Girl Ulitimate Finish Liquid Powder Makeup. Clinique Stay True Foundation, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mascara were  also found to contain cadmium.”

Perfume/Parfum

Typically, a cosmetic product may contain as many as 100 chemicals in perfume alone. And 95 per cent of these are synthetic chemicals from petroleum -26. This chemical is included in the EU’s hit list of dangerous chemicals. Fragrances have long been linked to breathing difficulties and allergies. Perfumes get into the skin.

Toluene

See if your nail polishes, hair spray and gels and perfumes contain Toluene; because of they do, you may want to discard them. This chemical is a neurotoxin and it damages the liver, disturbs the endocrine system and causes asthma.

Propylene Glycol

You may hear some people say mineral oil is good, but it’s not! Mineral oil is made of crude oil, which is used as an industrial antifreeze. During manufacturing, people handling this chemical are warned to avoid skin contact and are advised to rubber gloves and respirators; yet this used as a major ingredient in cosmetic products, including creams, moisturizers and sunscreens. The reason behind this is simple. Propylene Glycol is cheap and it gives the “glide” factor in creams and lotions. Paradoxically, it also robs the moisture away from the lower layers of the skin. At the same time, collagen and lanolin – common products found in lotions and creams – also clog the pores of the skin, causing it to age faster.

Talc 

Your face powder, including baby powders may contain this ingredient, which is widely recognized as carcinogenic. It has been associated with an increased risk of general urinary tract disorders and ovarian cancer, so stop dusting your face or your baby bottom with it.

Xylene

Inspect your nail varnishes and look for ingredients like dimethylbenzene or xytol. These are dangerous products that can cause damage to your liver. This ingredient is considered narcotic in high concentrations and causes respiratory tract and skin irritation.

Diethanolamine

This chemical, including Tri and Mono (DEA, TEA and MEA), contains nitrates. They accumulate in the skin form nitrosamines that are carcigonenic.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

These chemicals can be found in makeup and moisturizers, which do not only interferes with hormonal functions, but also cause cancer. These are used as preservatives in moisturizers and lipsticks.

Formaldehyde

Ingredients that say DMDM HYDANTOIN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, QUARTERNIUM-15 or METHENAMINE are all formaldehyde-releasing preservatives widely found in moisturizers and hair products, moisturizers. All these ingredients slowly, but continuously release formaldehyde, which is a cancer-causing chemical, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Petrolatum

This chemical is in lipstick, lip balm and hair products. If you are using petroleum jelly, you may wanna know that petrolatum can be polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). According to studies, exposure to PAHs, including skin contact over extensive periods of time, can trigger cancer. The European Union categorizes petrolatum as a carcinogen and limits its use in cosmetics.

Avoiding Continued Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

Of course, the most practical way to stop exposing yourself to these chemicals is to stop using makeup that contains any of them.

• Opt for organic makeup products that use natural ingredients. You may try the brands like Aveda, Neways, Dr. Hauschka, and Aubrey Organics among many other organic cosmetics.
• Opt for unscented products and wear your perfume on your clothes not on the skin. One thing you have to know about perfumes is that they contain hazardous chemicals like parabens and synthetic fragrances among many others, that are link to the rise of cancer cases in the world.
• Make your own makeup at home. You can buy the ingredients and mix them yourself. You can save this way and you are certain that your makeup products are truly safe for use;
  
• Eat organic and healthy diet as some of these toxic chemicals can also be found in processed foods. Also, a balanced diet helps strengthen your immune system, enabling it to fight against harmful substances in the body;
• Detoxify and eat foods high in Vitamin E to improve the health of your skin. A healthy skin doesn’t need makeup all the time.
• Have some days without make up.