Cosmetics
It is estimated that the populations of industrialized countries are exposed to an average of over 100 different ingredients from cosmetics each day. Every day almost each one of us uses approximately 10 different cosmetics products, including toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, deodorant, lip balm, body lotion and depending on the sex either shaving products or make-up, eye-shadow, lipsticks, foundations and nail products.Can we be sure the cosmetics products we are using are actually safe?
The answer is that cosmetics products might not be safe. It is very rare that the use of one cosmetics product leads to very serious health damage. However, the chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care products can accumulate and taken in at a great amount and can be very harmful. There are many products on the market that were not tested for safety, but that are suspected to be hazardous, if they accumulate. Some chemicals that can be found in cosmetics products are carcinogens and may possibly stand in relation with birth defects, breast cancer, endometriosis and reproductive disorders.
The Environmental Working Group had a wide selection of different cosmetics products from various cosmetics companies tested for safety: EWG Report Skin Deep.
On this website you have the possibility to enter any cosmetics product and to receive information on its ingredients and the danger of the chemicals contained within the product. If a skin irritation or allergic reaction is seen in many users of one product, this can be an indication of a potentially harmful chemical and needs to be checked.
In many products, there are a small number of micro organisms, of which most can be killed if the product is preserved and stored properly. Of the preservatives themselves, fragrances, according to studies, pose the greatest risk.
Consumers may get confused by the fact that neither “hypoallergenic”, “natural” nor “dermatologically tested” products can guarantee that they will not cause an allergic reaction, as the meaning of these terms is open to interpretation by manufacturers as well as by consumers.
What are cosmetics?
According to the American FDA's Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, cosmetics include "all articles other than soap which are applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance."There are 13 different categories:
- baby products (e.g. shampoos, lotions and powders)
- bath oils and bubble baths
- deodorants
- eye makeup
- fragrances
- hair colouring preparations
- manicure products
- makeup other than eye (e.g. lipstick, foundation and blush)
- mouthwashes
- shampoos, permanent waves, and other hair products
- shaving products
- skin care (creams, lotions, powders, and sprays)
- tanning products
The following ingredients are prohibited in cosmetics production:
- biothionol
- chloroform
- halogenated salicylanilides
- hexachlorophene
- mercury compounds
- methylene chloride
- vinyl chloride and zirconium salts in aerosol products
If a manufacturer wants to add colour additives to their products, they have to be tested and then approved by the responsible authority.
Expiration Dates of Cosmetics Products
While there is only a few companies that - with their (in some countries voluntarily provided) list of ingredients - also indicate when their products should no longer be used, many of them don't give this information.However, many cosmetics users underestimate the risk of infections related to cosmetics products. In order to protect yourself, we recommend the following:
Replace
- every 6 months: Mascara (Mascaras often contain formaldehyde to prevent the growth of bacteria. Old mascara, however, can occasionally no longer produce formaldehyde, resulting in a proliferation of bacteria, which can lead to infections the eye.)
- every 12 months:
- sunscreens and products that contain vitamin C (due to the risk of chemicals losing their protective effect with time)
- lipstick (as bacteria can accumulate and proliferate within the tube)
- every 24 months:
- eye and lip pencils
- eye shadow
- blush
- powder