Finding the perfect products to enhance one's beauty is no easy task, especially with the huge amount of options available. Beauty products are a nearly 60 billion dollar industry every year, and companies are eager to promote their products. Do you look better in warm shades or cooler ones; matte or glossy lipstick? While these questions are important, what we really need to ask is whether or not their use exposes us to toxic chemicals.
The threat of toxic chemicals in cosmetics
Your beauty products probably look harmless, but the truth is that most of them are full of toxic chemicals. These products are full of preservatives that prevent them from becoming unusable over time. Even if rancid shampoo is clearly not your idea of fun, the scary truth is that many of these toxic chemicals have not been properly tested.
A quick glance at the labels on bottles will show you how many ingredients are easy to recognise. In fact, most products today are full of toxic chemicals that did not exist twenty-five years ago. Most of them have not been properly researched. Moreover, there is not enough time to see what their long-term health impacts will be.
According to the Worldwatch Institute, there are now more than 75,000 man-made chemicals used in products that come into contact with the skin. Even low levels of exposure to these toxic chemicals can cause damage and irritation, and some of them can build up in your system over time and cause damage to your hormonal systems.
Below is a short list of some of the most harmful synthetic ingredients in common cosmetic products.
- Moisture beads: sometimes called micro-beads, these small sponge beads are made of plastic and take thousands of years to break down in the natural environment.
These beads are made of plastic and take thousands of years to break down in the natural environment.
- Present in more than 200 different beauty products, moisture beads are toxic to ingest for humans and wildlife.
- Triclosan: Because of its antimicrobial properties, triclosan is found in a lot of cleaning products such as soap, deodorant and shampoo. Several studies have linked triclosan exposure to hormonal disorders and thyroid problems.
.
- Parabens: This common ingredient in soaps and shampoos is made up of several distinct chemicals, including ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and methylparaben. Not only can parabens disrupt hormone function and cause allergic reactions, but they are also linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Benzophenone: - Benzophenone:
- Benzophenone
.
- Benzophenone: Although benzophenones make excellent UV blockers to protect you from the sun, they also disrupt endocrine system function and can lead to eczema on the skin. Studies have shown that exposure to high doses of sunscreens and lotions containing these ingredients can increase the risk of developing cancer and reduce fertility.
They are also used to protect the skin against eczema.
- Phthalates: used to add flexibility to plastic products, phthalates are made from phthalic acid and can be found in almost all beauty products with a fragrance. Tests have shown that phthalates can act as endocrine disruptors and even cause birth defects in unborn babies.
Absorption of damage from toxic chemicals
Toxic chemicals are everywhere in the natural world, so why is it so important to be concerned about cosmetic products? The reason is simple: few other products are put as close to your bloodstream as lotions and make-up. Your skin is your body's largest organ and the primary defence that must keep foreign materials from your bloodstream.
However, the skin is not a solid barrier. On the contrary, it is highly permeable and allows toxic chemicals to enter and leave the bloodstream. This is why nicotine stickers work to control cravings in smokers. Similarly, people have for centuries relied on rubbing medicinal herbs into the skin to treat illnesses.
According to studies, the skin can absorb 64% of chemicals applied to it, and the face is even more permeable. In truth, whatever you put on your body will soon end up in your body. Doesn't it make sense to be careful?
Importance of natural ingredients
.
Unfortunately, there are many alternatives to harmful chemicals. Many cosmetic brands now make natural products that contain ingredients from plant and mineral sources, not from a laboratory. In some cases, these products rely on medicinal herbs for their active ingredient. It allows your skin to absorb the benefits rather than the toxins.
.
There are many advantages to choosing natural cosmetic products, including those listed below.
1. Fewer chemicals. Conventional make-up products can actually have an effect on your skin. For example, some result in looking older in the long term. You can avoid health risks with gentler, more natural alternatives.
.
2. Natural perfume. Cosmetic perfumes are a cocktail of toxic chemicals that you breathe in throughout the day. This can lead to headaches and nausea, or even cause the development of allergies or birth defects.
.
3. Nutrients. As your skin absorbs everything you put on it. Use natural products with useful ingredients such as cocoa butter or white tea extracts. Your beauty products will enhance your beauty in the long run.
.
The best brands of natural products
Today, there are many brands that value your health as much as profit margins. They seek to create products that help you live better and look better. Below are some of the leading natural/organic brands in today's cosmetics market.
- Little Barn Apothecary. Self-taught herbalists Joshua Morgan and Brad Scoggin created this line from their home and still source all ingredients from the United States. Even the bottle labels are completely biodegradable and made from non-toxic materials.
.
- Weleda. As the granddaddy of organic brands, Weleda has been on the scene for nearly a hundred years. They pride themselves on excluding synthetic chemicals and animal testing from their products.
.
- Burt's Bees. Easy and convenient to find in most pharmacies. The Burt's Bees brand produces quality products without harmful synthetic chemical additives. The products you put on your lips, there should be no compromise in getting the best ingredients!
.
Easy ways to make your own beauty products
.
You don't have to rely on big brands to make your own beauty products. In fact, making your own beauty products is quick, easy and can often be done with ingredients straight from your kitchen. Take back control over what really goes into your body. Try these tips for making your own shampoo, toothpaste and soap.
Wash your hair with apple cider vinegar
.
Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural treatments you can give your hair. It not only cleanses well, but also adds shine and body to your hair and helps reduce hair loss, itchy scalp and dandruff. If you don't want to rely on harsh shampoos that strip your hair, give yourself an ACV rinse by following these instructions.
.
Just mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 8 ounces of water and put in a spray bottle. In the shower, cover your hair with the solution and massage it in for several minutes. When your hair feels saturated, rinse thoroughly while you do not need to add any conditioner. There is no need to worry about upsetting anyone nearby; the smell of vinegar will recede as your hair dries.
Baking soda toothpaste
.
Making your own toothpaste can save you money, without the possibility of ingesting toxic chemicals. Moreover, this recipe takes less than five minutes to make.
Mix together 2/3 cup baking soda with 1 teaspoon sea salt and 1-2 teaspoons peppermint. Add filtered water to obtain the desired consistency. Then brush your teeth by wetting your toothbrush and smearing the mixture on your brush. You can store the paste in a plastic container or even a tube to get the full effect.
.
Home-made soap without toxic chemicals
.
Why rely on expensive boutique soaps when you can make your own at home? Making your own soap is possible by choosing to use high quality ingredients. That way you get the final product for less than the shop price. You can follow this recipe for some important tips for making your own soap, using only the tools you already have in your kitchen.
.
For other uses read here
