Do you know how many chemicals and toxins you apply to your skin every day with cosmetics and care products?
What you think will help you look beautiful can actually destroy your skin in the long run.
There are a million products available on the market, and how often do you read the fine print to understand what's in it?
But even if you read the labels, can you understand which chemicals are dangerous and which are not? Probably not...
There are more than 150 ingredients used in every cosmetic product, and experts say many of them are toxic and potentially devastating to our health.
These include artificial flavors, dyes, pesticides, preservatives, and other synthetic chemicals.
We now know that 60 percent of any substance applied to the skin is absorbed into the body (researchers estimate that a woman on average absorbs about two kilograms of chemicals through toiletries and cosmetics each year), and there are significant concerns that these substances can cause a wide variety of health problems, from allergies to cancer.
The harm lies not in the individual ingredients, but in the combination of them in a single product, as well as in the use of a combination of products that contain a number of chemicals.
One lipstick, for example, may contain six to eight preservatives - some for color, some for moisturizing, and some for fragrance. Together they can be a harmful cocktail of toxic ingredients.
One of the most common ingredients in many cosmetics is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It is used by most manufacturers in products such as shampoos, soaps, bath foams, shower gels and even toothpaste to make them foamy.
But you don't have to foam them to be effective. Many people think that the more shampoo foams, the better it's cleansing effect, but it's just a cosmetic effect.
SLS is irritating and can cause allergies and rashes.
Ammonia lauryl sulfate, palm or coconut oil is much softer and safer than SLS.
The results of many common chemicals cannot be seen until the next generation, making it challenging to assess benefits or harms.
The easiest way to protect yourself and your health from toxic chemicals is to switch to reliable organic brands, doing a little research yourself.
Harmful hair dyes
Synthetic hair dyes are the main cause of allergic skin reactions. This is due to ingredients such as phenylenediamine, resorcin, and ammonia.
Women with sensitive skin should avoid these ingredients in general and use natural, vegetable dyes. Such dyes should be softer for hair and scalp, but even they contain metal dyes.
Other chemicals to be avoided are chlorides, hydrogen peroxide, lead oxides, and artificial dyes, especially those containing orange, brown, blue and violet dyes. All of them are suspected to be carcinogens.
There is some discussion about the fact that some of the ingredients in hair dyes may increase the risk of developing some cancers.
Hidden risks
A recent study by Dr. Vivian Howard found that four of the five studied cosmetic products contain a substance called phthalates. This substance harms the liver, lungs and reproductive system, especially the developing male genitalia. They cause premature breast development in girls and low levels of spermatozoa in men.
Perfumery, deodorants, mousse and hair gels, serums and sprays, some shampoos and conditioners have been tested to see if they contain one or more of the six different phthalates.
Four out of five found high levels of multiple phthalates that affect animals and humans and should not be used in cosmetics at all.
Many people are exposed to daily doses of toxins from the cosmetics they use. Since manufacturers should not list the phthalates on the labels, it is impossible to know their content from the label.
Dr. Howard has now launched a campaign to stop the use of phthalates in the cosmetics industry.
The cosmetics industry is committed to pointing out that the ingredients used in their products have been tested for safety, refuting online research and rumors.
On the other hand, so-called purists claim that plant ingredients are very similar to the skin and easily penetrate it, increasing cellular function. Advertising campaigns say that every synthetic ingredient has a replacement - plant extracts that are similar in properties.
For example, frankincense extract, Boswellia fight wrinkles and can even be an alternative to Botox.
Avoid these components
Methyl, sawdust, butyl, ethylparaben: preservatives used in all cosmetic products, hair care products, dental products. They can cause allergic reactions and are potential carcinogens.
Formaldehyde is widely used in deodorants and nail polishes as a bactericidal, antifungal preservative. It can provoke asthma and lead to DNA damage.
Bitumen is used as a dye in cosmetics such as blush and shade.
It is also used in dandruff shampoos. It can cause nausea, mood swings, headaches, and cancer.
Lanolin itself is perfectly safe, but in cosmetic products, it can be contaminated with carcinogenic pesticides. It can cause or exacerbate acne.
Isopropyl alcohol is used to mix colors in cosmetics. It is associated with neurological abnormalities and cancer.
Talc (magnesium silicate) is used in powdered cosmetics. Irritating to the lungs, can provoke ovarian cancer.
Synthetic aromas are used in perfumery and cosmetics. It can cause headaches, nausea, skin allergies, rashes, coughs, asthma, vomiting.