We all want to feel our best and look young as long as possible. Beauty stores, supermarkets and online shops offer a wide selection of all sorts of body care products which are supposed to make us look good, smell attractive and hide our imperfections. At least, that’s what their manufacturers promise. The cosmetic industry not only thrives and brings colossal profits as never before, but also invests huge sums in advertising to promote their products and instead of responding to the consumers’ real needs, they target their insecurities and imperfections as well as fear of aging and unrealistic beauty fantasies.
Many people are prepared to pay any price for youthful and attractive appearance, spending a lot of money on beautifying products and treatments. They appear to be totally oblivious of the fact that they put their own health at risk as the majority of these products contain toxic chemicals, colours and fragrances.
On average, many people use about ten body care products every day or more and without realizing they introduce masses of toxic substances into their bodies. It is reported that the cosmetic companies use more than 10,000 thousand different types of toxic chemicals, synthetic dyes and preservatives as well as mineral oils, silicons and artificial fragrances, e.g. sodium lauryl sulphate or formaldehyde. Check out the back of your shampoo bottle to find out how long the list of ingredients on the label is. Most of these names are not only difficult to pronounce but to an average customer don’t mean a lot. What’s hidden behind the fancy names straight from the chemistry books may really surprise you if you make an effort to decipher them.
And it’s just the beginning. Do you think manufacturers list on the label all ingredients that are found in a given product? Of course not! Chemical or fragrance additives covered under the so-called manufacturer’s trade secret policy do not need to be listed on the packaging, so you never know exactly what’s in the product.
Toxic chemicals used in body care products not only irritate the skin but also cause systemic changes in the body. They get absorbed through the skin which is the largest organ, enter the bloodstream and eventually reach every cell in the body. These toxins cause allergies, memory problems, general weakness and play havoc in the body’s endocrine balance. Prolonged use of commercial toiletries can contribute to cancerous changes since many of these artificial substances are carcinogens as well, e.g.dioxins.
The problem of toxicity of such chemicals also extends beyond human health and well-being since many ingredients used by the cosmetic industry contribute to environmental pollution. The beauty industry produces a giant mountain of waste and pours out hectolitres of toxic chemicals into the sewer system that contaminate waterways, soil and air, destroying marine ecosystems and causing mutation of living organisms. As a consequence, contaminated and mutated plant and animal products end up on our table and finally in our stomachs.
Many currently available personal care products are also tested on animals before they hit store shelves who seem to be direct victims of cosmetics manufacturing based on synthetic ingredients. This is completely illogical, unreasonable and unnecessary, because, as experts stress, the results of animal tests do not translate into other species, including humans, because the skin of animals neither anatomically nor physiologically resembles human skin. So, what is the purpose of animal testing? Mahatma Ghandi left us a thought provoking remark by stating that ‘the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’. And is it not true?
In the world of toxins
Laboratory tests have shown that many of chemicals used in cosmetics today contribute to cancer cell formation because they change the way the body’s cells work. Altered and mutated cells begin to multiply in an uncontrolled manner and form clusters that can turn into tumours and cancers. Toxic substances in personal hygiene products change the process of protein production in the body.
It leads to DNA mutations, hormonal balance disturbance and compromising the immune system, which does not react as it should. Most people use cosmetics all their lives, so it’s no wonder that the incidence of various diseases increases, behind which all sorts of toxins hide, including those which come from cosmetics.
The most common toxins in cosmetics
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
SLS is a widely used foaming agent that can be found in virtually every shampoo, toothpaste or shower gel. In contact with wet skin it foams perfectly, removes dirt and grease. However, its action disturbs the lipid layer of the epidermis which is the natural protective barrier of the skin, increasing water loss and causing dry skin conditions. The skin becomes dry, itchy and irritated after using a body care product containing sodium lauryl sulphate, and if it gets into the eyes it causes burning, redness and eye irritation. In the long run, this substance disturbs the lipid metabolism of the skin and stimulates its sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. It is quickly noticeable that hair washing becomes more frequent, even despite washing hair every day, it does not look fresh anyway. This is because the more we wash and de-grease our hair, the more our sebaceous glands work to compensate for sebum loss. There are also reports that SLS can accumulate in the tissues and damage them and disrupt the hormonal balance of the body.
It is also extremely worrying that SLS can be found in cosmetics for people with sensitive skin and babies. You should read labels on personal care products very carefully so you are not misled by colourful ads. Sodium lauryl sulphate may also contain formaldehyde even if it is not listed on the label.
Formaldehyde
It is most often used in nail polishes and hardeners, soaps, shampoos and hair growth promoting products as it is a disinfectant which has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Generally speaking, it is widely used in the cosmetic industry as a preservative. It occurs naturally in the human body in minute amounts, and this fact has been used to justify its use on a larger scale. In fact, in larger quantities it is a strong poison that irritates the respiratory tract, causes allergies and DNA mutations, and is carcinogenic. It may appear under other names, so sometimes you have to put some effort to decipher product labels.
Dioxins
Dioxins are formed as a by-product of some industrial processes such as paper bleaching, plastic production and plant protection products. The cosmetic industry uses them primarily to make deodorants, antibacterial soaps, cotton pads and disposable wipes. It is worth noting that most cosmetics are still sold in plastic containers containing dioxins that leach into and contaminate creams, lotions and shampoos.
Dioxin compounds are dangerous to health even at very low doses, causing among others endocrine disorders, endometriosis, fertility problems and foetus birth defects. The most well-known substance in this group of TCDD has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a carcinogenic substance for humans which contributes to the development of breast and prostate cancers as well as leukemia.
Heavy metals
It may be surprising that heavy metals are quite commonly used in the cosmetic industry. Aluminium salts, for example, are an integral component of all deodorants and antiperspirants, which help reduce sweating and provide a pleasant and attractive smell. The use of aluminium in cosmetic products is very controversial because it was discovered in the seventies that it is a neurotoxin that accumulates in the body, in particular, in the nervous system and contributes to Alzheimer’s disease. Some sources state that aluminium also contributes to the development of breast cancer in women and other chronic diseases.
Lead, on the other hand, is found in some hair dyes and is toxic in all forms. Lead is a known carcinogen and an endocrine disturbing agent. It absorbs well through the skin, accumulates in the bones and may be released into the body some time later. There is hard evidence that lead causes damage to the neurological system and behavioural disorders such as muscle cramps and weakness, loss of sensation, depression, brain damage and even coma in high doses.
Chemical cocktail
It takes one glance at any cosmetic label to find out that each product is some sort of chemical cocktail, which eventually gets into your body. As you can see above, the substances used to make cosmetics are toxic when used in isolation, let alone when a lot of them are mixed together and left on the shops’ shelves for a few months to sit.
Nobody knows exactly what chemical reactions take place between the ingredients inside attractive, eye-catching and colourful bottles, pots and boxes. Most certainly, there are the types of chemical reactions that we cannot have a clue about, because the manufacturers do not study them. One thing is certain, even substance that may be inert to the body under normal circumstances when mixed together can create a new extremely toxic chemical compound which puts people’s health at risk.
Organic fad?
New prospects for earning a proverbial fortune and taking an advantage of naive customers have opened when cosmetic companies started introducing organic body care products to respond to the market’s need for safe, sustainable and natural cosmetics. You would expect that natural and organic cosmetics should by definition undergo scrutiny of strict quality standards and, above all, should contain only skin-friendly ingredients. However, just one look at the list of ingredients on any organic or so-called natural cosmetic proves how wrong we may be. The vast majority of organic cosmetics may also contain harmful synthetic substances that you need to be very careful about. It is often stated on the packaging that only a certain percentage of ingredients are of organic origin, the rest is the usual potentially harmful stuff. The price of these products is usually quite high in comparison to non-organic products but still no guarantee that we purchase a safe cosmetic. Is it really worth it?
A light in the tunnel?
An increasing number of people these days appear to be more health and environment conscious. More and more people also become more aware of the importance of taking responsibility for themselves and their choices. Instead of blindly following the fads or advice from so-called experts often paid by cosmetic companies to promote their products, people are beginning to open their eyes to their true intentions hidden behind famous faces and colourful ads. If the cosmetic industry were really and truly concerned about people’s health and well-being and not solely about their profits, would they put all these toxins in their products? Makes you think, doesn’t it?
The fact that a given product is advertised by a doctor, beauty therapist or a celebrity does not mean that it is safe to use. Become a beauty detective and investigate a product thoroughly before you send your money on any cosmetic. And if you can’t find anything that meets your high standards, though, give that one a miss! Fortunately, you can look great without compromising your health or spending a lot of money on toxic synthetics or pseudo-organic mixes. Using the nature’s wisdom and strength, we can take matters into our own hands and stop bombarding our body with a sea of toxins or substances of dubious quality.
So what to do?
- Stop watching ads that praise cosmetics in beautiful, luxurious-looking packaging that are supposed to work wonders- they are designed to cause discomfort in you that you don’t yet have it. They hardly ever deliver what they promise. They just too good to be true.
- Pay attention to cosmetics’ ingredients. Although discovering what really hides under names of synthetic ingredients used in cosmetics may be an off-putting task, in the long run it’s well worth getting to know their effect on the body for your own education and understanding what you really pay for. Would you be happy to spend your money on products that harm your body and may ruin your health?
- Watch out for cosmetics advertised as ‘natural product’. Manufacturers tend to abuse this term a lot, which is very general and can actually mean anything and everything, e.g. a product may contain 1% natural substance and 99% artificial ingredients and will advertised as natural.
- Be careful of cosmetics branded as organic. The fact that cosmetics share store shelves with organic food or supplements does not make them 100% organic. Even those described as organic can in reality contain both organic ingredients and harmful chemical substances. Always read the labels carefully to make sure it is what it says on the tin.
- Watch out for cosmetics for babies and people with sensitive skin. These also may have a lot of toxins and cause allergies. Always check the labels.
- Replace synthetic cosmetics with natural ones. Many cosmetics can be made at home without special tools with pure and natural ingredients, e.g. coconut or avocado oil can replace face cream. You will need to test different products or foods to see what is suitable for you and your skin. There are masses of literature available on the internet on how to make your own body care products that are safe and skin friendly. Many experts say that the best and safest cosmetics are the ones are safe to consume. Even if you do not create a new cosmetic brand, you will certainly help yourself by stopping an ongoing inflow of toxic chemicals into your body which will improve health and well-being as well as helps the environment.
References:
K. Erikson, Drop-dead gorgeous. Protecting yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics.
J.Vance, Beauty to Die for. The Cosmetic Consequence.