Dangerous Beauty Products
The next time you wash your face, shampoo your hair, or apply your make-up, you
might want to take notice of the ingredients being used in your beauty products.
Additives, fillers and chemicals are more common in commercially bought cosmetic
brands than consumers might realize. Some commonly used ingredients in beauty
products can dry out the skin and hair, clog the pores and actually speed up the
aging process.
Many beauty, skin and hair care products contain
ingredients that are actually harmful to our hair and skin (not to mention our
overall health). What?s worse, some of these ingredients used in beauty
products, due to clever marketing campaigns, are actually thought to be good for
us. The truth is, they are not. Due to shrewd beauty product advertising
tactics, the general public is sadly misinformed.
If you are interested
in learning about the dangers in common beauty products, you may want to avoid
beauty products that contain the following ingredients:
Talc: found in
loose and pressed powders, such as blushes, powdered foundations, and baby
powder. This mineral is a potential carcinogen when inhaled.
Mineral Oil:
This product is typically found in lipsticks, lotions, make-up removers, liquid
foundations, and is usually the main ingredient in baby oil. The word "mineral"
makes this product sound like a nutrient, but in fact it is a crude oil derived
from petroleum. Mineral oil literally coats the skin like a film, preventing the
pores from doing their job. The skin cannot breath or rid itself of toxins
through the substance.
Petroleum: Another like mineral oil, this product
can clog the pores and smother the skin. You may find petroleum in your face
creams, lotions and lipsticks.
Paraffin: Derived from coal or petroleum,
paraffin is a wax filler; the same kind of wax found in cheap candles. It is
used to solidify products such as bath bars (they aren?t even allowed to be
called soap), and liner pencils. It can be a skin irritant and clogs the
pores.
Collagen? Many of us are under the impression that collagen is
good for our skin. And indeed, the body?s naturally produced collagen keeps our
skin healthy and elastic. Unfortunately, the collagen added to cosmetic creams,
moisturizers and other skin care products are extracted from animal skins and
ground chicken feet. The protein cannot penetrate the pores by rubbing it on the
skin; it only serves to clog the pores and keep the skin from functioning
properly.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA): AHA is organic and generally thought
to be a desirable moisturizing ingredient and natural exfoliant. It is found in
skin cleansers, masks and moisturizers. It does exfoliate, but so powerfully
that it removes not just dead skin cells, but the skin?s natural protective
layer as well. It can make the skin up to 50% more susceptible to harmful UV
rays, leaving one vulnerable to the sun?s aging effect, and even skin
cancer.
Formaldehyde (formalin)? Yes, the same substance used in labs to
preserve dead bodies can often be found in our nail polish, shampoos and skin
creams. This substance can be irritating and cause allergic reactions when in
contact with the skin. Its fumes are linked to asthma and cancer.
Alcohol
or Isopropyl Alcohol: This petroleum-derived chemical found in perfumes, hair
sprays, after-shave lotions, body lotions, and hair color products can also be
found in products such as anti-freeze and solvents. It is a toxic substance. Its
fumes can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness and depression. It has a
drying/aging effect when used directly on the skin.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
(SLS): This ingredient is commonly found in cosmetics, toothpastes, shampoos,
garage floor cleaners and engine de-greasers. Not only is SLS bad for your skin,
as it is a detergent that dries the skin out, but when combined with other
common chemicals it can form carcinogenic compounds. This chemical is actually
used in labs to cause skin irritations on which other products can be tested,
but since it is cheap and creates foam, many commercial cosmetic companies use
it in their products.
Laquer: Generally added to water-proof mascara to
make lashes look full and keep color from running, prolonged use of this
hardening chemical will eventually lead to the loss and thinning of eye
lashes.
Lanolin: Another product we are often under the impression is
healthy for our skin, it is a fat derived from wool and is known as a skin
sensitizer which causes irritations and rashes.
If you are concerned
about the effects such beauty product additives will have on your health, you
may want to make yourself aware of just what you are putting on your body by
reading ingredients before making purchases. Don't let catch words like
"natural" or "organic" fool you just because something is natural doesn?t mean
it won't cause harm to you.
