I’m a total health nut. Between the clean eating, Nike Training Club workouts, and FitBit steps, I really try to be my best healthy self. It wasn’t until recently, though, that I realized my all-too regular trips to Sephora could totally be ruining all of my hard work. Most of the ingredients on the label of my highlight kit can’t even be pronounced- who can relate?
Let’s Talk About Chemicals
For starters, not all chemicals are bad for us. Our body is made up of all sorts of chemicals, and so is everything else, like food and water. Toxic chemicals, though, are the things we want to avoid at all costs. These are the chemicals that can harm our cells and organs, and they can also cause neurological damage and mess with important biological systems. No one needs that ish happening in their bodies.
Toxic chemicals can enter our bodies in different ways – think 11th grade anatomy class on the functions of skin. With cosmetics, toxic chemicals can enter our bodies through our skin, lips and nails when we apply products. Sometimes, they can even enter through our airways when we breathe in particles from the powders and sprays we use.
A lot of cosmetic companies think of health and safety in a short-term context, like making sure you don’t get a righteous rash from the crap in their products. When it comes to the impact on long-term health, that’s a different story.
Right now in the U.S., it’s completely legal for companies to use toxic chemicals in our cosmetics, even if the ingredients are known links to cancer or other health issues. The law that governs the cosmetics industry was passed in 1938. Yeah, read that again. Not only is it outdated af, but it doesn’t give the FDA power to collect safety data or issue recalls of cosmetics that aren’t unsafe. To put this into perspective, the U.S. restricts or bans 30 ingredients from cosmetics. The European Union bans close to 1,400 ingredients. Not cool.
So, What’s in my Makeup?
We took some of 2018’s trendiest cosmetic products and read through their ingredients. We found what’s really in our cosmetics and some healthier alternatives:
Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Firm + Lift Treatment
Contains the following harmful chemical:
BHT– this is a possible endocrine disrupter and has been linked to a number of adverse health effects including endocrine dysfunction, tumor promotion, and organ system toxicity.
The healthier alternative: Erin’s Faces Firming Serum
Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow- Yves Saint Laurent
Contains the following harmful chemical:
Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate – this is used in cosmetic products to protect against UVB radiation, but is a known endocrine disruptor, affecting estrogenic and thyroid functions, and also affecting several body functions including development, brain, and metabolism. Estrogenic disruption is linked to breast cancer.
The healthy alternative: Beautycounter Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
Contains the following harmful chemical:
Octinoxate – this is used in cosmetic products to protect against UVB radiation, but is a known endocrine disruptor, affecting estrogenic and thyroid functions, and also affecting several body functions including development, brain, and metabolism. Estrogenic disruption is linked to breast cancer.
The healthy alternative: Juice Beauty SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen
Lancôme Skin Feels Good Hydrating Skin Tint
Contains the following harmful chemical:
Propylene Glycol – this is a small organic alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent. It has been associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis as well as contact urticaria in humans. It is known to cause skin irritation and also non-reproductive organ system toxicity.
The healthy alternative: Beautycounter Tint Skin Hydrating Foundation
Moral of the story, if it matters to you, do your research before purchasing something just because it claims to give you “glowing” skin. An amazing tool for doing your research is the Think Dirty app that lets you compare products and learn about the toxins and harmful chemicals in them.
