Cosmetics are big business. A multibillion dollar a year juggernaut with such deeply ingrained brand recognition where the names L’Oreal, Revlon and Maybelline are as familiar to you as your own children’s names. Millions around the globe ritually apply their products daily, a mainstay of the morning routine that is as natural as the first morning cup of coffee and bowl of cereal. This is not just the game of women either, men are closing the gap, grabbing a portion of the market previously dominated by women as we have entered the era of the “metro-sexual” male that isn’t adverse to a little lip balm and hair moisturizer.

Like sirens, cosmetic companies tempt us with their latest miracle potions promising us the fountain of youth and that the answer to our physical imperfections can be found in a jar.

In the world of cosmetics, nothing is impossible, you can have longer telescopic eyelashes with a few swishes of a mascara wand, more pouty voluptuous lips and flawless skin, yet you can’t help but wonder in the back of your mind as you pile it on “what’s really in this stuff?” Upon closer inspection of the ingredients label you find that the products you entrusted your precious skin to turned out to be “not” so natural after all, the big giveaway?, when you can’t pronounce the ingredients without the help of a chemist, is usually the big clue.

And don’t worry if the cosmetics you’re applying haven’t been scientifically tested yet because they are, on you. Whether you know it or not you are actually part of a great clinical trial without even realizing it. We are all guinea pigs and the world is the cosmetic companies testing laboratory.

Incredibly, according to the Food and Drug Administration of America, cosmetic companies are not legally permitted to have tested their products for safety before its release to the general public and as long as they don’t contain the 10 most toxic substances they do not require approval to be sold to us.

The FDA states: “Cosmetics and their ingredients are not required to undergo approval before they are sold. Manufacturers can use any ingredient, except for 10 prohibited substances, without government review.” Due to loopholes in federal law this allows the cosmetic companies to add any ingredient to cosmetics and personal care items as they see fit, as long as they avoid using the 10 outlined by the FDA.

What is even more alarming is that the United Kingdom imposed tighter regulations with their toxic hotlist which consists of around 1,200 chemicals. This means that compared with American standards there are 1,190 additional harmful chemicals that are slipping through the regulation cracks leaving an extreme cause for concern. This begs the question, can we really trust what we buy?

Just because these 10 items are banned doesn’t mean they aren’t still being used in our cosmetics. Less than a year ago an ex-employee of L’Oreal spoke out that the cosmetics giant was still adding banned ingredients to their product range.

http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Financial/L-Oreal-accused-of-using-banned-chemicals

Hotlist chemicals to avoid:

Coal Tar Colors

These can be found in practically all make-up and hair-dyes.

In addition to being both an allergen and irritant when applied to the skin, some of these coal based tar colors have carcinogenic properties and have been linked with cancer.

Diethanolamine (DEA)

This is used in shampoos.

A suspected carcinogen, linked with cancer in animals.

Formaldehyde

These can be indentified in eye shadows, mascara, nail polishes, shampoos, blush to name a few.

Aggravate asthma in sufferers of respiratory conditions, damaging to the reproductive system and strong evidence supporting a link to cancer in both humans and animals.

Glycol Ethers

A component of nail polishes, deodorants and perfumes.

Toxic to the reproductive system. Linked with anemia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and the skin.

Lead

Readily found in hair dyes and in eye makeup.

Lead is linked to nervous system deterioration leading to learning and behavioural problems. Also a reproductive toxin with links to cancer. Evidence is strong to support this fact.

Mercury

Used in skin lightening creams and eye makeup.

Mercury hinders development, affects the nervous system and is thought to be harmful to the respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive systems and the kidneys.

Parabens

A component of deodorant and shampoos, shaving creams, make-up and baby products.
make-up, etc.

Parabens have been shown to affect hormonal activity and have been identified in tumors of breast tissue.

Phenylenediamine
(PPD)

Used in hair dyes and peroxides.

Linked to cancer due its mutagenic properties it interrupts normal cell function. Linked with respiratory conditions and has been banned in Europe.

Phthalates

Most commonly used in cosmetic products. Used in fragrances, perfumes,
deodorants, nail polishes, hair products and lotions.

Known to affect normal reproductive function, linked with leukemia and cancers of the kidneys.

Almost 60% of chemicals have penetration advancers meaning that it increases the potential for absorption into the blood, in fact hair dyes have been found to be excreted through the urine 30 minutes after application.

These chemicals may be of low concentrations but it is the cumulative effect that does the most damage during exposure over long periods of time.

To put it into perspective, around 70% of the cosmetic and personal care products that you see on shelves contain carcinogenic chemicals.

If you wish to verify if a product you’re using is safe, there is a special database from the EWG (Environmental Working Group) of the ingredients contained in 25,000 brand name products which is cross referenced with around 37 toxicity databases. You can see if the product you’re using waves any red flags by going here:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

There are natural alternatives that you can use. Go to your local health shop and read the labels. Avoid the hotlist chemicals and run the brand through the cosmetics database to ensure their safety.

There is also a fantastic book called Toxic Beauty by Dawn Mellowship who gives a detailed account on what goes into our cosmetics and which ones to avoid, as consumers we absorb around 4 pounds of cosmetics into our bodies each year so it pays to know what’s goes into them.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toxic-Beauty-Hidden-Chemicals-Cosmetics/dp/1856753069

Until the government and the FDA properly regulate the cosmetic companies and demand better transparency with the ingredients in their products, we are going to have to be more vigilant when it comes to researching the products we buy.

You don’t have to give up your beauty regime, you can buy natural products and protect your health while at the same time, protecting mother nature’s.

So the next time you apply that new range of lipstick or blush, think to yourself, “which experimental trial am I part of now?”