"Natural" and "hypo-allergenic" labels on your makeup may not be as beneficial as you think. Cosmetic companies aren’t regulated, which they do not have to prove the claims they make on their labels. In fact, many name-brand products contain ingredients that are known carcinogens and increase the risk of birth defects. Yikes!
Daily application of lotions and makeup products exposes you to around 126 different synthetic chemicals, a number of which have been linked with tumors, cell mutation, allergies, reproductive complications, endocrine disruption, and cancer.
In 1992 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who is responsible for enforcing cosmetics and pharmaceutical regulations in the US, declared that 65 percent of women's cosmetics contained carcinogenic contaminants. According to the US Environmental Working Group (EWG), more than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient associated with cancer. Yet out of the 20,000+ cosmetic ingredients registered for use, relatively few have been prohibited.
Cosmetic manufacturers often contend that the concentrations of synthetic chemicals used in cosmetics are too low to warrant any safety concerns. But most safety testing only focuses on a single ingredient at a time, rather than the cocktail of ingredients found in many consumer products.
Skin is one the most complex living organs of the body, regulating temperature, protecting the body against pathogens, excreting unwanted substances, and serving other vital functions. The dermis is rich in blood vessels and sensory and can actually absorb up to 60 percent of all substances we apply to our skin. Clearly there are health concerns, however proper analysis of the products you are using can greatly mitigate your risk.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has created a free online database for your health and safety. This comprehensive resource compares 42,000 ingredients found in your makeup against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases. This is the largest and most comprehensive database of its kind making it an extremely helpful tool. Look up the products in your cosmetic regimen at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/.
