They’re Putting WHAT In Your Makeup?!
The Pandemic Isn’t The Only Reason You’ll Indefinitely Quit Your Luxe Beauty Routine.
If anyone’s guilty of being uber-strict when it comes to the ingredients in their food, it’s me.
If anyone’s guilty of brushing over the ingredients in their makeup, as long is it looks great, it’s me, too.
Makeup, like skincare, doesn’t only sit on the surface of your skin. For those of you who have experienced breakouts from your foundation, you’ll know this well. In fact, your makeup is actually absorbed into your body, circulating through your bloodstream, and interacting with your liver, and bodily systems.
The FDA does little to no regulation when it comes to beauty and cosmetic products. Why? The answer isn’t quite clear. However, if one thing is obvious, it’s that the beauty industry is a multi billion dollar industry, growing year after year. And profits — well, they take precedence over your health most of the time.
Many of the chemicals you will find in makeup are highly toxic for your body. For women, they may act as endocrine disruptors, causing harm to a womans fertility, and worsening symptoms of PCOS and Endometriosis.
In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we wish to enlighten our readers on the importance of asking the right questions, and fact-checking the ingredients that are in the products they wear on a daily basis. Below are the top 6 most common toxic chemicals found in hundreds of cosmetic products, from luxury brands to micro brands.
Fragrance. We adore our fragrances to spritz on a blouse before an important event, but is this something you want to push into your skin everyday? Chances are strong that you’re wearing a mix of synthetic chemicals that are extremely harmful to your health. According to the (EWG) Skin Deep Database, fragrance and perfumes, when absorbed into the bloodstream, have been associated with allergies, Dermatitis, respiratory disease, and potential effects on the reproductive system. These fragrances are sneaky, too, oftentimes being listed as “parfum”, linalool, citronellol, cinnamal, limonene, geraniol & eugenol.
Parabens. It’s difficult to detect parabens in your cosmetic products, and they market themselves as protectants form harmful bacteria and yeast. But parabens might not be as innocent as they seem. Parabens have estrogen-mimicking properties that have been associated with an increased risk for the development of breast tumors. Not to mention, anything which mimicks synthetic hormones in your body has the opportunity to throw your hormones out of balance, big time.
Triclosan. Tricolson is a popular antimicrobial ingredient, that has no business being anywhere near your pores. Tricolson is highly toxic to a womans reproductive and endocrine systems, and may cause certain signs of inflammation on the skin. Some luxury brands of foundation, as well as luxury bath products tout Tricolson on their ingredient label.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Think foaming washes and toothpastes — SLS negatively interacts with the lungs, and has cancer-associated properties. Many brand recently have shed light on the harmful effects of SLS (especially dental brands). Beware of lesser-known products, which may hide Sodium Lauryl Sulfate deep in their ingredients list. Certain brands of mascara, body cleansers, and acne treatments contain SLS.
Formaldehyde. Second to fragrance, Formaldehyde is present in thousands of beauty products, with the intention to limit the potential for the growth and spread of bacteria. In 2004, The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens classified Formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans, linking this ingredient to certain forms of cancer. However, that did not stop all companies from banishing Formaldehyde from their ingredients list, and many nail products, hair and body cleansers, and certain brands of eye makeup still contain Formaldehyde.
Toluene. Toluene, also known as Benzene, Phenylmethane or Methylbenzene is incredible for thinning paint, and is derived from coal + tar. To no one’s surprise, it is highly irritating to the skin, and may interact with your respiratory system and a womans ability to conceive. Toluene may also be linked to immune system toxicity, and is most oftentimes found in nail polish/removers, hair dyes, and hair treatments.
If you love beauty, you do not have to go crazy trying to avoid all synthetic chemicals in your products. Our bodies are intelligent and resilient, helping us to detox limited amounts of these chemicals on a daily basis. The best thing you can do to keep yourself safe and healthy is to read labels, research certain ingredients, and if you can, try before you buy.
Just as it’s important to eat healthy, consume filtered water, and avoid pollutants from the environment, it’s important for all beauty enthusiasts to maintain a heightened awareness on the formulation of their favorite products.
The EWG’s Skin Deep Database is an amazing hub to safety-check all unknown ingredients, and to educate yourself on selecting products that promote beauty from the inside, out. Additionally, b.glen Skincare strives to use biome-safe ingredients in all of their skincare products, with an emphasis on transparent labelling and sustainable derivatives.
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