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Chemicals in your cosmetics

Hidden ingredients in cosmetics and their dangers

Your skin is not only the largest body organ, but it also plays an important role in keeping your internal organs safe. Therefore, for the various roles the skin plays, it’s vital to keep it healthy.

However, due to the constant exposure to the environment, the skin is susceptible to problems and damage. Pollution, sun rays, chemicals, and microbes are some factors that can harm your skin. Aside from these factors, the products you use on your skin highly affect your health, as 60% of the product is absorbed into the body.

"Invest in your skin. It is going to represent you for a very long time."

– Linden Tyler

Allergic reactions to cosmetics

In principle, any substance in cosmetics can trigger an intolerance or allergy. The so-called natural cosmetics do not protect against an allergic reaction also these products are not free from allergenic substances.

The symptoms of cosmetic allergy mostly correspond to those of contact allergy:

Rash, reddening of the skin, skin irritation
Vesicles, pustules and pimples
Swelling of the lips, reddened eyes
Acne and skin changes
In rare cases even contact eczema and urticaria

Triggers of allergic reactions

Blisters on the skin, dandruff, redness or itching – all of these symptoms could be an allergy triggered by the use of cosmetics. Our immune system reacts hypersensitively to contact with certain substances from the environment that are not actually aggressive.
These substances are often the trigger:

Nickel
Fragrances or preservatives
Latex

Fragrances and preservatives in your cosmetics are particularly troublesome. If these are present in high concentrations, an allergic reaction can occur.

List of the 15 toxic ingredients to avoid in your cosmetics

Skin care products are often made from a mix of various natural, synthetic, and chemical ingredients.
Thus, it is essential to take a look at the product ingredient list and have knowledge of the common toxic constituents to help you exclude these harmful products:

1. Alcohol

Found in cleansers, fragranc, hair products, lotion, makeup, oral care, shaving products, and toners.

Can damage your skin barrier and dry out your skin.

2. Formaldehyde

Found in deodorants, eyelash glue, hair gels and hair-straightening chemicals, lotions, nail hardeners, nail polishes, soaps, shampoos, and makeup products.

Is an irritant to the eye, nose, skin and throat. It can also cause hair loss, scalp burns, and hormonal problems. In addition, formaldehyde may be a potential carcinogen.

3. Fragrance

Found in conditioners, deodorants, soaps, perfumes and shampoos.

Can cause allergies, cough, dizziness, headache, hyperactivity, pigmentation and rashes.

4. Hydroquinone

Found in skin-lightening products such as bleaches, cleansers, creams, hair conditioners, moisturizers and nail-coating products

Can harm the skin by damaging the top layer of the skin, making it more susceptible to UV rays and environmental toxins.

5. Lead

Found in eyeliners, foundation, lipsticks and whitening toothpastes.

Once absorbed into the body, is circulated in the blood, bones, and soft tissues. Can affect your brain development, reproductive health and your hormonal balance.

6. Microplastic

Found in cosmetic products such as scrubs, creams, shampoos and hairsprays. The plastic is usually hidden behind names such as polyethylene, nylon-6 or polyacrylate.

Microplastics enter wastewater via cosmetics and later end up in sewage treatment plants, which are unable to filter the plastic particles out of the water completely. As a result, the microplastics end up in the environment and are found in fish, crayfish and mussels.

7. Mineral oil

Found in baby oil, creams, lip balms, lotions, moisturizers and styling gels.

Can form an outer coat on the skin, harm damaging the immune barrier and therefore preventing the skin from breathing or releasing toxins.

8. Parabens

Found in the ingredient list of your skin products to prevent bacterial growth.

They can accumulate in body fluids and tissues to cause health problems. They can affect the reproductive health of both women and men.

9. PEG

Found in eyeliners, foundation, lipsticks and whitening toothpastes.

Can harm the skin by damaging the top layer of the skin, making it more susceptible to UV rays and environmental toxins. As a result, the skin becomes highly prone to cancer.

10. Phthalates

Found in body sprays, cleansers, hair sprays, lotions, nail polishes and perfumes.

A source of allergies. They cause hormonal problems and can disrupt the endocrine system. They also increase the risk of breast cancer and congenital reproductive disabilities.

11. Sulfates

Found in facial cleansers, shampoos shower gels.

Can also cause irritation and skin dryness. Can also lead to cystic acne, itchiness, eczema, and dermatitis.

12. Synthetic colors

Found in products that contain artificial colors include blushes, lipsticks, eye shadows and other similar makeup products.

Can cause pore blockage, inflammation, irritation and sensitivity when absorbed into the skin. These toxins can also affect the neurons or cause allergies.

13. Talc

Found in baby powder, body and shower products, deodorants, eyeshadow, face masks, feminine hygiene products, foundation, lotions.

Can be harmful to babies and can cause respiratory distress upon inhalation. The use of talc near the genitals can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

14. Toluene

Found in hair dyes, lacquers and nail products (polishes, polish removers).

Can be highly toxic to the central nervous and immune system. It can cause birth defects, drowsiness, fatigue, headache and nausea and increase the risk of blood cancer.

15. Triclosan

Found in antiperspirants, antibacterial soaps, deodorants, hand sanitizers and toothpaste and acts as an antibacterial, antifungal, antiperspirant and preservative chemical.

Can have a negative impact on your hormonal balance, disrupt your reproductive health and affect the gut microbiome. Can also cause liver damage in extreme cases.

Text source: www.emedihealth.com