Love cosmetics? Beware
Applying makeup every day can have several harmful side effects on your skin and body.
In a world where your life is judged by how great you look in your Facebook posts and Instagram pics, there is a constant expectation to look your best all the time. Wanting to be always selfie-ready, however, comes at a price. The makeup industry has been telling women for years how a little foundation and dash of mascara can liven up your face instantly. While that may be true, applying makeup every day can have several harmful side effects on your skin and body.
Infertility
Skincare products and deodorants are directly absorbed by
your skin, so it’s very likely that the chemicals used in these products also
seep into your body. A study conducted on rats found that butyl paraben
adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male
reproductive system.1 Though the consumers of cosmetics are majorly women,
it’s still important to note the adverse effects parabens can have on the
reproductive system. Parabens are widely used in the skincare industry and even
products labelled natural could have parabens.
Premature Ageing
When you use skin products for a longer period of time, the
chemicals present tend to permanently damage your skin. With time, you could
begin to see skin ageing signs likes wrinkles or patchiness on your face and
body. While makeup does help you hide or cover flaws in your skin, the
long term effects could be counterproductive. Also, considering how big the
anti-ageing products market is, cosmetic companies have no incentive to reduce
the ageing effects of makeup.
Hormonal Imbalance
Prolonged use of cosmetics can have an impact on your
endocrine system and interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland.
Triclosan is a commonly used chemical compound and can be found in products
like acne-removal scrubs and deodorants to keep them free of germs. With
regular use, triclosan gets absorbed and accumulated in your body and affects
the thyroid gland causing an imbalance in the hormonal secretions. This could
lead to thyroid related conditions like headaches, weight gain, and depression.
Cancer
Many of the chemical based cosmetics available in the
stores today contain toxic ingredients that could cause cancer. With
regulations in place, there is testing being done on the ingredients before the
products can be sold. However, cosmetics companies need only prove
that there will be no immediate harmful results. So there is no conclusive
research done on the long-term effects of all the ingredients. Try and avoid
products with the following ingredients.
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
(quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, and
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol)
Phenacetin
Coal tar
Benzene
Untreated or mildly treated mineral oils
Ethylene oxide
Chromium
Cadmium and its compounds
Arsenic
Crystalline silica (or quartz)
Skin Allergies
Chemicals known as Parabens which include ethyl-paraben,
butyl-paraben, and isopropyl-paraben are used as preservatives to prevent
bacterial growth in cosmetics. Parabens can cause various allergic reactions
like skin irritation, blotches, and blemishes on the skin. Another common
allergen in cosmetics is Salicylate which can cause an outbreak of
painful rashes or hives if you have sensitive skin. In many cases, the
allergic reaction is not apparent until the symptoms becomes severe. Read the
label for parabens before you buy.
Headaches
Chemicals like Diazolidinyl urea and DMDM Hydantoin, both of
which are tend to release formaldehyde, are a common ingredient in many
cosmetic products and are used as an antimicrobial preservative. These
chemicals have been known to cause headaches, irritation of the mucous
membranes, and cause damage to the eyes. If you have been suffering from
headaches and can’t figure out why, try going easy on the makeup for a few days
to see if the headache goes away.
-Shanu S-
ASpArAdiSe
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