Cosmetics can, and most assuredly do have inherent health risks that should not be ignored.
Lead
For instance a problem with lipsticks would be the fact that more than 60 percent of 33 name-brand lipsticks tested in September 2007 were found to contain surprisingly high levels of lead. And it is not listed in the ingredients. One-third of the lipsticks had more lead than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 0.1 ppm limit for lead in candy.
5 lbs of chemicals per year
Considering the fact that putting chemicals on your skin is far worse than ingesting them, this is surely of concern. The average woman actually absorbs about five pounds of toxic chemicals per year from the use of toiletries and beauty products, most of which go directly to the delicate organs.
Accumulative
Therefore, women who apply lipstick several times a day could easily be ingesting high amounts of lead over the course of their lifetime, along with any number of other unknown chemical additives.
No testing of toxic ingredients
Personal care products are a $50-billion industry in the United States, yet the U.S. government doesn’t require any mandatory testing for these products before they hit store shelves.
The following toxic chemicals have been found in yourshampoo, mascara, perfume, lotion, and other personal care products:
What to look out for
Paraben, a chemical found in underarm deodorants and other cosmetics that has been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors.
Phtalates, plasticizing ingredients (present in nearly three-quarters of 72 products tested by the Environmental Working Group), which have been linked to birth defects in the reproductive system of boys andlower sperm-motility in adult men, among other problems.
Musks, used as fragrances, can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer in laboratory studies.
Artificial fragrances, which are among the top five known allergens, andcan cause asthma and trigger asthma attacks.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a chemical used in shampoo to prevent bacteria from developing, which may have detrimental effects on your nervous system.
So what to do?
When it comes to personal care products, you have probably heard this – If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your body.
Look in your kitchen
There are many natural personal care products out there, not only in health food stores(although you still have to search through natural store offerings to find the purest itemsthey carry), but in your own kitchen.
Coconut oil, for instance, makes a great moisturizer for your skin, and you can use olive oilto deep condition your hair. As for deodorant and antiperspirant ditch the commercial varieties and use plain soap and water to keep your underarms clean — it works, and you don’t have to worry about absorbing any chemicals.
EWG
Please check out the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep report. It allows you to review the safety of the products you use. It can be an eye-opener, and give you just the motivation you need to switch over to safe personal care products for you and your family.
Based on articles by Dr. Mercola and EWG.
By On the Lime
Raw Food teachings
Fort Lauderdale area
Florida