Safely Using Cosmetics

Volume 4 Issue 40

March 2005

Most cosmetics have health hazards and although the FDA monitors cosmetics, it is up to the individual user to ensure his/her safety. Cosmetics have looser rules than most other products that go through FDA approval. The Federal, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not require all ingredients to be checked before a product is released in the market. Usually, products are supervised after they have been put in the market. Secondly, even with much inspection, it is almost impossible for a single government agency to completely monitor a twenty billion dollar industry.

 Therefore, we as customers have a responsibility to be aware of the hazards of the products we are using and care for our health.

Label Caution
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires all ingredients of a product to be listed on the package and to be listed in the descending order of amount.  Customers can best know what they are holding by reading this list of ingredients.  However few of us are acquainted with the various chemical compounds that are listed.  It is recommendable to research a few of the predominant chemicals and understand their purpose.  We spend so much time on choosing and applying make-ups, it is very much worth the time to understand what we are holding.

The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires all ingredients of a product to be listed on the package and to be listed in the descending order of amount.  Customers can best know what they are holding by reading this list of ingredients.  However few of us are acquainted with the various chemical compounds that are listed.  It is recommendable to research a few of the predominant chemicals and understand their purpose.  We spend so much time on choosing and applying make-ups, it is very much worth the time to understand what we are holding.

Almost all skin cleansers have sodium laureth sulfate.  This compound reduces surface tension of liquids allowing solid substance to break through liquid.  It removes grease which is how it helps to cleanse skin.  However the skin has natural oils it secretes which help to keep the skin water proof, moist, and soft.  Sodium laureth sulfate removes these oils as well, leaving the skin rough and dry.  This is such a powerful detergent, it is used in removing engine oils from garage floors.  It is corrosive and can penetrate the skin, flow through blood streams, and store in the kidneys and the brain.  These organs are not as tough as the skin and a corrosive material is much more harmful to them.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is an alternative option to sodium laureth sulfate in cleansers.  It is the laureth sulfate combined with ethylene oxide.  The purpose of this is to make sulfate molecule bigger and thus less penetrative to the skin.  Therefore considering this criteria, it is safer than the laureth sulfate.  However, like most cosmetic ingredients, both of these compounds can turn into carcinogens in case of a reaction with other chemicals.

In addition to being acquainted with different chemical compounds, we should also be aware of the eye-catching terminology printed on packages.  For example “all natural” and “non-irritating” are effective marketing words, but they carry little medical safety.  All natural means all chemicals are obtained from plants or animals and none of the ingredients have been created in labs.  However, there is no proof that everything obtained from plants and animals is safe.  Non-irritating has the same meaning as hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, sensitivity tested and allergy tested.  None of these words guarantee that there will be no allergic reaction.  They can only mean that chances of allergy are lesser but allergic reactions are very specific to people and no chemical ingredient can be guaranteed to not have an allergic reaction on a range of people. 

Moreover, alcohol-free products do not contain ethyl alcohol, also known as grain alcohol, but they may contain cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl, lanolin or other types of alcohols.   Substances labeled fragrance free do not have an odor, but their ingredients may have an odor.  In such cases, ingredients are mixed together so their odors cancel and no overall fragrance is present.  Finally, cruelty free substances have not been tested on animals, but a former version of the soap or the makeup may have been tested on animals.  It is this particular version that has not been tested.  Although some of these misleading terms are not health hazards, it is beneficial to be aware of what terms mean and what they do not mean.

Safe Use

There are several simple, yet essential points to keep in mind when using makeup:

• Do not apply make-up while driving.  The most obvious reason is to avoid car accidents as your attention will be diverted, but even if you find yourself an accustomed driver, applying makeup in the car is not a safe idea.  There are many unexpected jerk motions in a car such as a sudden stop or turn.  Make-up can spill into vulnerable areas such as an eye and be extremely irritating and harmful.

• Do not share make up.  It is a very easy way for contamination. 

• If a substance congeals overtime, do not add liquid to retain its texture.  Liquids can posses bacteria that may get out of control in the presence of the right chemicals. 
  Immediately stop using merchandise which causes allergic reactions.  It is recommendable to return these products, too because it gives manufacturers an effective survey of the success of their products. 

• Do not use substances that have changed in color or odor.  This is a sign of decayed preservatives and thus, chances of bacteria growth.  It is important to be aware of how the substance feels and know whether it is in a suitable condition for use.  Although products have expiration dates, a product can degrade faster in adverse conditions.  Usually, light and heat degrade chemicals faster so it is recommended to store items in a cool and dark place.

• Always keep tightly closed containers.  Many bacteria can get carried through air and settle and grow in various chemicals. 

• Aerosol products are flammable.  It is inadvisable to apply them while smoking or in proximity of high heat. 

• A constant inhalation of hair sprays and powders increases chances of lung damage. 

In conclusion, be an aware user of cosmetics in both choosing your products and applying them so you can enjoy their beauty without harming yourself.  It is helpful to remember that everything in the market is not safe. 

Even if the law decided to enforce highly strict regulations, it can not possibly regulate everything.  As mentioned earlier, most products are simply monitored after being made available in the market.  Products can only be removed when they are legally proven to be harmful or have incorrectly labeled ingredients.  However, as a user you cannot wait for a product to have a lawsuit and be declared illegal.  Your health and safety comes to be at risk much earlier. 

For any general user concerns, the FDA offers a service at 1 800 532 4440.  Be wary and relish beauty.

Bibliography

“Cosmetic Ingredients Dangers and Safety.”  Healthmoon. August 13, 2003. 

“Dangerous Ingredients in Cosmetics.”  Olive Naturals. August 13, 2003. 

“Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics.” Erickson, Kim. August 13, 2003.

“Hidden Dangers in Cosmetics.” Probert, Mathew.August 13, 2003.

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