In our modern days of emphasis on physical beauty, looking beautiful has become a must as well as a challenge to both young and old and men and women. As a result, cosmetics became common use and a necessity to many. While beauty products may seem like a new concept, they are age-old concoctions. Once, they were made from plants, their oils, roughage, seeds, and pulp, dairy products, eggs, honey, minerals, and more. All these beautifying blends like kohl, skin scrubs and pastes, hair color and treatments, and enchanting perfumes were ways to make a woman more desirable and irresistible to man and keep her looking young.
Unfortunately, the modern cosmetic industry has substituted natural ingredients in beauty products with synthetic ones. Today, there are around a 100,000 synthetic chemicals, registered in the United States for cosmetic and beauty care manufacturing. Most of them are untested on human health. With the increase of such harmful substances, we see a dramatic rise in breast cancer according to Breast Cancer Fund in San Francisco. Scientists attribute that to women’s long-term exposure to minute chemical particles of cosmetics through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption (60 percent of products).
Most beauty products carry two suspect synthetic ingredients, parabens and phthalates (pronounced THAYLATES). Parabens are preservatives found in blushes, lipsticks (some lipsticks also contain lead to make lipstick last longer), eye shadows, and foundations to maintain the freshness of merchandise and increase skin absorption. Phthalates improve the feel and flow of lotions and moisturizers on the skin; enhance flexibility of nail polishes and hair sprays; and increase the diffusion of scents. Because these chemicals are not regulated, manufacturers do not feel compelled to disclose them by name, so they are hidden under seemingly innocuous words like “fragrance.”
The Endocrine Disruption Exchange of Paonia, Colorado, has warned against the use of parabens, phthalates, and other chemicals, because they disrupt the functions of the endocrine (glandular) system, upsetting hormonal action. Parabens were detected in human breast tumors. Phthalates were found to affect fetal male reproductive development, resulting in birth defects. Although used in tiny amounts, these harmful chemicals find their way in the body through daily exposure to cosmetics. They also intensify the damage of fellow chemicals.
In 2001, The European Union (EU) took a step by classifying phthalates di-z ethythexyl (DEHP) and di-n-butyl (DBP) as carcinogens and mutagens, therefore banning them from beauty products. However, in the US, the cosmetic industry is still reluctant to make changes, opposing restrictive regulations on human-hazard-causing chemicals. While large manufacturers like Avon, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Proctor and Gamble, and Unilever refused to comply with the government’s regulatory system, others like The Body Shop, Burt’s Bees, Kiss My Face, and Avalon, Natural Products took the initiative by eliminating them.
On the other hand, we, the public, should become more informed and aware to press governments to take action against the industry to discontinue using health-offending chemicals (parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, EDTA, urea, lead, and artificial colors and fragrances) in cosmetics and other products (toothpaste, baby products, shampoos, sunscreens) in order to stop cell mutation, birth defects, and cancer.
Beware of the magical word “natural” on labels of products. Even if they are sold in natural food stores, it does not necessarily make the product natural. The few added herbs or drops of organic oil cannot convert damaging chemical additives into harmless substances or make them safe. Remember to check labels and look for suspect ingredients.
Unfortunately, the cosmetic industry does not hesitate to use harmful substances in order to make maximum profits. Should we be lucky with the ban of parabens and phthalates, what about the recent introduction of readily-absorbed nanoparticles in beauty products (sunblocks)? We have no idea what effect they would have on health. We will just have to wait and see what new damage the industry has in mind for us!
Meanwhile, I would like to remind the young, teenagers in particular, to enjoy their natural beauty. Harmful products and chemicals make the skin age faster, trigger skin eruptions, and introduce disease-promoting toxins into the body through skin, ingestion (lipsticks), and inhalation. If there is a need for beauty products, look for chemical-free brands or apply cosmetics sparingly to minimize toxic exposure. Search the Internet (www.safecosmetics.org) for safer substances and products for us and the environment. Let us not allow fashion and trends to dictate our choices. There is no need to suffer to appear beautiful. Beauty is skin deep!
— Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected]. Log on to www.arabnews.com for previous articles.
