Abstract

Usually we talk about eating healthy and exercising but unfortunately beauty gets thrown off to the side like it doesn’t matter. Well, it does. Chemicals in our products go directly into our blood. It’s not new that things that we put on our skin are absorbed directly into the body. Our cosmetics should serve our skin, not harm it. Cosmetic products, including skincare, can provoke allergic reactions, skin or eye irritation, may increase the risk for cancer, hormonal disruption, etc.  Common toxic ingredients in cosmetics fall into majorly five classes – natural rubber, fragrances, preservatives, dyes, and metals. We’d think we live in a highly regulated country right, but considering what’s going on with our food, it leads to suspect things aren’t what they see in the skincare department. When it comes to personal care there is very little regulation going on. Companies, big companies, well-known companies are allowed to abuse cheap chemicals or simply add in ingredients for no apparent reason.  Ingredients related to risks are not disclosed to consumers. The best way to avoid such chemicals in cosmetics is understanding various ingredients names they go by and checking product labels using applications like good face app, think dirty app, or before buying look for certification (ex. MADESAFE).

Keywords

Chemicals, contaminants, cancer, carcinogens, skin care