Beauty Products Might Be Harming You
Most of us have some version of a beauty routine. Some may use toner, cleanser and moisturizer, while others may just brush their teeth and use a hot flannel. Whatever your routine, some widely used products are best avoided and substituted for something else.
Talcum powder is one example that was discovered to contain traces of asbestos which can cause cancers such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive cancer that has been historically hard to treat, although there are some promising new treatments for mesothelioma victims. Despite advances in medicine and science that prevent the most dangerous products reaching our shelves, there are still some beauty products out there which we should consider replacing.
Talc is a natural product that is mined from the earth, it was therefore surprising to many when news stories started to emerge about its dangers. Talc is a great product for soaking up moisture and stopping chaffing, but why not try cornstarch or baking soda as alternatives?
Natural does not always mean good. When companies try to market to consumers as all-natural they replace ingredients with things that could be more dangerous. Parabens are another example of a natural ingredient, which is now thought of as potentially dangerous as it may cause hormone imbalance. This is found in a lot of your beauty products. The rise of people demanding all-natural products has caused an influx of products that may not be safe. New natural alternatives may not have been used for long enough or have enough scientific data to be proven as safe.
Everything, from your skin to your microwave, is made of chemicals, so there is no such thing as chemical-free. However, products containing too many artificial chemicals may not be good for you either. One, particularly concerning example, is fragrance. Fragrance is a generic term used to describe things added to products to make them smell good. The problem is that companies do not often list what they are. This could be particularly problematic for people with sensitive skin. Fragrance can also often contain Phthalates. Phthalates can also be found in polish, shampoos and moisturizers. There are concerns that it may cause reproductive issues, ADHD, asthma, cancer and diabetes. As an alternative, opt for fragrance-free products.
A further example is petrochemicals, which are used in a wide variety of products such as lip and face moisturizers and are contaminated with many dangerous chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer and nerve damage. Alternatives could be natural moisturizers such as oil, shea butter or honey.
We expect that potentially dangerous products will never reach the shop shelves. However, until something can be proven to be dangerous, it probably won’t be banned. And even when it is shown to be dangerous, progress can be slow. In the U.S. asbestos still isn’t technically illegal despite evidence of its dangers being considered as early as the 1930s! Although the use of it is restricted. It is therefore up to us to take individual responsibility and do our research into the products we choose to use.
Article written by Suzanne Elly
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.