Prevention (and precaution) is always better than cure. Almost everyone knows that modern-day cosmetics and beauty/health products contain quite a considerable number of chemicals, but hardly anyone is aware of the exact intensity to which many of our cosmetics are harming us every day.
Starting from our early morning toothpaste to our entire day’s body sprays or deodorants, cosmetics, etc. have dangerous chemical components lurking in them that are enough to affect our health dramatically. These include Toluene, Phthalates, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), Formaldehyde, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Diethanolamine, Triclosan, and so on.
Although many of the ingredients used in makeup are safe, but a number of ingredients commonly used can be harmful not only for our body, but also for the environment. The main problem here is the lack of any official regulation related to natural beauty products and cosmetics, and a lack of any legal regulation in the United States means that each consumer needs to decide which beauty or cosmetic products they feel comfortable or safe using.
There are certain chemicals that are typically present in many makeup and cosmetic products. Such chemical components have been condemned by experts and researchers and have been linked to various kinds of health issues that might prove to be serious, including:
So, let’s take a look at the various beauty products that have chances of containing harmful chemicals, and what the chemicals are, and the possible suggestions to stay safe from them:
The presence of harsh and harmful chemical compounds of lead, aluminium and mercury are very common in several lines of cosmetics. Such chemicals are so vindictive and proved to be malicious to the human skin that they have been linked to serious cases of hormone disruptions and even malignant cancers, including some skin cancers. We advise that you should always choose cosmetics that are more organic or natural whenever possible. It is even wiser if you can give up the idea of using makeup altogether and simply move around in your natural skin.
Triclosan is a chemical compound often found in some beauty-related health/cleansing products that are said to be “anti-bacterial”. This ingredient is indeed a horrible one, and in 2016, FDA banned this chemical from soap over concerns about the chemical’s contribution to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, it is still in use as ingredient in many products including toothpaste, mascara, foundation, some hand soaps, etc. To stay away from such harsh chemicals, you can go for alternatives anti-bacterial like essential oils of lavender, tea tree, oregano, or peppermint.
Even for your shampoo and conditioner brands, it is always appreciable if you go through the ingredients list prior to buying them. It can be overwhelming to read the ingredient label on your shampoos and conditioners. We must mention here again that hair care products made from natural ingredients are always the best. In this context, you should look for the sulfate-free products since many of these products often contain chemical compounds derived from sulfates.
Many deodorants contain harmful ingredients, mostly aluminium. So, shifting to a deo spray that is labeled as ‘natural’ (or at least, ‘made with natural ingredients’), can be a good option. With such a change, there will certainly be a substantial improvement to one’s health. Always go for body sprays and deodorants that have natural ingredients in them, and needless to mention that you should avoid those that contain aluminium.
Skin is the largest organ of the human body and gets affected very easily and quickly. When you apply something into your skin, it gets absorbed directly and reaches your bloodstream. Hence, it is important for you to carefully check the ingredients on your face or body moisturizer’s label. Many brands of body lotions, face creams, and even sunscreens, have been found using intensely toxic chemicals and fragrances that are directly connected to various ailments and chronic conditions including dermatitis, various disruptions of the hormone, and some types of cancers. To avoid such conditions, it is always advisable to choose such alternatives that contain natural or herbal ingredients.
…..that, it takes around 26 seconds for the chemicals present in your beauty products to enter your blood stream?
…..that, back in July 2018, health care product giant Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a huge sum of $4.96 billion as settlement to 22 women who fell victim to the malicious effect of asbestos in talc in baby powder that caused their ovarian cancer?
…..and that, an average woman ‘wears’ about 168 toxic chemicals on her skin each day?
