Hidden Dangers In Beauty Product Ingredients





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 and consider organic beauty products instead. Additives, fillers and chemicals are more common in other 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.



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Unlike organic beauty products, 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, facial masks and skin 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. Organic beauty products are now available that are composed of safe natural ingredients. Visit Origins icon to purchase the safest beauty products that are available.

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