Cosmetics are an integral part of every woman’s lifestyle. From foundation, lipstick, nail polish to facial kits, hair products and more, there are a lot of products that are used by almost everyone. Off late, the awareness about using natural and organic products has increased as the chemical-stuffed things are toxic and cause harmful effects on health. The same is true for cosmetics. But these are not assessed as strictly by the law as other food products and hence they continue to introduce toxicity into our body system slowly every day.
Here are some of the harmful chemicals that are found in regular cosmetics:
- Phthalates
These chemicals serve the purpose of holding scent and colour and add more flexibility to a product. Mostly listed under the disguise of fragrance it is quite commonly used in deodorant, nail polish, and scented lip balm. Regular exposure to this chemical is known to cause reproductive abnormalities and neurological damage.
- Lead
Researchers have established that lead is very bad for human health. Even then they are commonly used in lipsticks, foundations, and even toothpaste used for teeth whitening. A restricted amount of lead is allowed by the government bodies in lipstick but more often these products end up carrying more amount of lead. It can cause a delay in puberty, miscarriage and other fertility-related issues.
- Quaternium-15
It is commonly found in the massacre, eyeliner, and in pressed powders. Known as a cancer-causing agent, it also causes other harmful effects on the human body like skin sensitivities and irritation. Quarts can be used in many ways in cosmetics-as preservatives, germicides, surfactants, and conditioning agents.
- Parabens
It is a common component used in cosmetics that very efficiently penetrates the skin. It is considered to be the number 1 component interfering with hormonal function. Parabens have been known to cause cancer and diarrhoea and dysentery symptoms in infants.
To avoid such chemicals the best way is to use cosmetics made from organic and natural ingredients.