Courtney Helgoe writes in her article titled, “Beauty Beware”, about the potential risks of a variety of make-up and care products. In 2009 when this article was written, the cosmetic industry did not have anyone regulating the products it produces, unlike the FDA and USDA that are used to regulate food products. The industry trade group called Personal Care Product Council has a branch that specifically researches cosmetic products, and they claim to be thorough in their safety checks. In general, Europe has much stricter regulations than the U.S. and in 2004, they banned many of the ingredients found in our products. The reason they are regulating these types of products is because of the lack of evidence available for their safety, which they call Precautionary Principle, meaning that products are potentially dangerous to use until they are proven safe. The U.S. takes a different approach that products are safe as long as they’re not proven dangerous.
Nonprofit organizations such as the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics have collaborated with the Environmental Working Group to monitor these types of products for their long-term safety. 99 percent of the products they looked at had at least one ingredient that had never been tested before. In their research, ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances could be causing things such as skin sensitivity, allergies, infertility, birth defects, and even cancer. Skin Deep is a database that can be utilized by consumers to research the safety of products and brands.
The skin is porous so these products can easily absorb into the body. In particular, two ingredients that have been found to be troublesome are phthalates and parabens. Parabens have been found in cancerous breast tumors, as these have been found to mimic estrogen in the body. Parabens can be found in deodorants and antiperspirants. Phthalates, an agent commonly used in nail polish and synthetic fragrances, have been found to disrupt fetal testosterone production and men that had higher levels were found to have lower sperm counts. The Personal Care Product Council maintains that phthalates have a long history of being safe. Experts say that it is not one product with these ingredients will cause damage but rather the accumulation of multiple products with these types of ingredients being used. Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreen, which can disrupt hormones, has been linked to low birth weight in girls whose mothers used sunscreen during pregnancy.
The website Skin Deep is a great starting place to compare beauty products for their potential harm. Children’s products, which may seem more safe than adult products, actually contain more toxins. The ingredients that one should look out for in products are parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, nanoparticles, and ethoxylated ingredients. Chemical hair dyes and nail polishes can contain harmful ingredients. DIY beauty products can be a safer option, as are store brands that use nontoxic, plant-based ingredients.
There are ways to take care of your skin through the types of lifestyle choices you may everyday. Sleep can help with dark circles, along with vegetables, fruits, and legumes to obtain fresh skin. Protein can assist in helping grow healthy hair and nails. It may not be practical to throw away all your products that contain potentially harmful ingredients, but it can begin with just replacing one product at a time. To find out more information on how to keep care of your body, please visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com.
