Toxic Chemicals in Beauty Products

[stardancer]

MSN had a blurb about all the toxic chemicals found in beauty products (and in everyday items) today. This led me to do some reading on the products I use. It is scary what the studies have shown about these chemicals and how unregulated they are! Of course I still plan on using the products. I figure there are enough pollutants in the air alone that I am not going to worry if my MAC fluidline is slowly poisoning me or giving me cancer. I don;t think it is possible to avoid the risks. Anyone else have thoughts on this? Do you worry about the ingredients in your beauty products?

[indigostars]

How much of the chemical do you have to be in contact with or consume over a period of time?

If it's a small amount, I'd be concerned.

[Lauren_]

I worry some, yes. Hasn't really changed my behavior, though.

Thing is, the laws about what's legal to put in personal care products date back to a time when scientists didn't believe that we could absorb dangerous material through our skin. Doctors thought you had to eat or inhale a chemical to be harmed by it.

Scientists views on that have changed dramatically, of course. Now the transdermal patch is considered a great way to deliver medicines! But we still don't regulate ingredients in our products.

I suspect makeup is less dangerous than, say Nair. Or hair dye, or perm/straightening solutions. OTOH, we keep it on longer, don't we?

Thing is, no one's offering an alternative. There are 'all-natural' brands, but being natural doesn't make a product safe. Poison ivy, toadstools, stinging nettles, hemlock, bumblebees, jellyfish-- all natural, but I don't wanna rub them on my skin!

[aazura]

Funny, I've been doing some lite reading on this as well. Mostly, I've been trying to find out what I'm allergic to that makes my eyes puffy and red like a jolly Christmas elf. I've heard of a book called Cosmetics Unmasked that discusses cosmetic ingredients and their potential hazards. I'm looking forward to reading it!

[*Shira*]

There are some products we use every day, and there are others we use only occasionally. I've made my peace with the idea that I won't worry about the stuff I use only occasionally, I'll just worry about the stuff I use daily. I figure quantity of product and frequency of exposure are important factors in determining just how toxic a given product will be to me.

I don't use a daily skin moisturizer, nor do I wear makeup every day. I'll rub a moisturizer on my skin if it's dry enough to itch, otherwise I don't worry about it. I'll wear makeup for a dance performance or a situation where I need to look a little dressier (such as my stepfather's recent funeral), but it's not part of my daily lifestyle. I had a facial a few days ago, and the aesthetician was shocked when I told her I don't use ANY moisturizing products on my face.

A recent medical study triggered quite a lot of public interest. It talks about how personal care products such as shampoos, lotions, soaps, and other products can contain ingredients such as lavendar and tea tree oil which mimic the effects of estrogen in the body: http://health.msn.com/healthnews/art...ntid=100138498

In particular, the study showed that such products can cause gynecomastia (enlarged breasts) in men and boys.

This is something that women should care about too, since an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in the body can cause certain health problems such as migraine headaches and insomnia (read the book Hormone Balance Made Simple by John Lee), plus estrogen can fuel certain types of breast cancer.

[antimony]

Hair dye, I agree, is some pretty scary stuff.

Nair, on the other hand, is probably one of the more harmless (from a toxicity perspective) things in the bathroom. The active ingredients are just calcium and sodium hydroxide, which are strongly alkaline and break up the chemical structure of the hair. That's not to say the product is harmless in general, you can still burn yourself quite badly with it (think the lye on the hand scene in Fight Club - same active ingredient!), but it's not toxic. NaOh and CaOh are too reactive to get absorbed into your system, they'll just react with the oils in your skin to make soap!

I use moisturizer every day, am a makeup junkie, and color my hair monthly.
My mother died of breast cancer, and yes, it worries me horribly. But, I decided years ago when my mom was diagnosed that I would get annual checkups, do monthly self-exams, live a healthy life style, (which I've always had) - don't use pesticides on my lawn, try to eat organic or from farmer's market, but as far as makeup and moisturizer and hair dye, I just cannot not use that stuff.
I live in an extremely dry climate, and I'm an entertainer, I have to look good, no? so what does one do -
My girlfriend ONLY used "all natural" stuff on her skin and her makeup, and guess what, she ended up with skin cancer on her nose and cheek, and the doctor told her the vitamin C stuff she was using exacerbates certain kinds of skin cancer.
So, you can't win......
Also, the month of October, I practically have to live under the covers, I really cannot take all the talk about breast cancer during that month, I just want to scream, I just don't want any more reminders.......
(but that's a personal thing) I'm sure all the reminders make women go get mammograms, but, there is such a thing as over-doing it with the message.

[bul_bul_ksa]

Honestly, I don't think too much about the chemicals in make up because if one thing doesn't get you another thing will.

I DO, however, try to use anti-animal testing / animal-cruelty-free products. The thought of what they do to those poor animals for our vanity is sickening.

[mish_mish]

I feel like I have to pick my battles. This just isn't one of the ones I choose to fight.

[zumarrad]

You know, we all have to die of something.

[mehndidancer]

As far back as 15th-19th centuries Women would use lead based paste, arsenic powder,mercury in cosmetics.sometimes even bird poo.(that's way too natural for me) Not really knowing the real dangers of this stuff absorbed in the skin. As for toxins, they are everywhere and anywhere.

My regimen: noxemza creme in the morning to wash my face, Korres yogurt cream(expensive but oh, so worth it it) to moisturize And oil of olay at nighttime.
If i am in the mood, bare minerals, and eyeliner maybe eyeshadow for work.
I rarely wear makeup unless i am performing or going out with my hubby.

Alrana

[Lisa Michelle]

Originally Posted by stardancer

MSN had a blurb about all the toxic chemicals found in beauty products (and in everyday items) today. This led me to do some reading on the products I use. It is scary what the studies have shown about these chemicals and how unregulated they are! Of course I still plan on using the products. I figure there are enough pollutants in the air alone that I am not going to worry if my MAC fluidline is slowly poisoning me or giving me cancer. I don;t think it is possible to avoid the risks. Anyone else have thoughts on this? Do you worry about the ingredients in your beauty products?

Hi Stardancer,

I went organic with about 80% - 90% of all my household cleaners, shampoos, cosmetics, etc about ten years ago and have not regretted it. There are more and more natural make-up lines coming out all the time. If you want any brand names, etc, send me a P.M. I figured a long time ago I would get rid of whatever chemicals I could control in my life as I agree with you that there are enough that you have no control of out there.

Lisa

Lisa

[SamiraShuruk]

I've been vegetarian 19 years. I try to buy organic and try to use more natural products. I try natural remedies and herbs before modern medicine or antibiotics etc. BUT, I believe there is room for safe chemicals in your lives- in medicine, in skin care and in cosmetics.
I've seen so many BS scare tactics, that I alway am very careful when reading things about "scary" cosmetic ingredients. Many turn out to be hoaxes. I remember a while ago people freaking out about "sodium Laurel sulfate"....which is derived from coconuts! (oh no!!)
Here's a really interesting article:
http://searchwarp.com/swa1509.htm