Each woman has her own preferences in terms of products that help to look good, feel young and effective. Even the process of choosing a perfume, shampoo or makeup is already uplifting and serves as a kind of remedy for stress. And it is very disappointing when the acquired perfumery and cosmetic products not only do not live up to expectations but also become the cause of health problems. We will consider today sources of troubles of this kind and ways to avoid them,
Harmful substances contained in “beauty products”
Each perfumery and the cosmetic product has a specific set of components. For example, shampoo should foam well and cleanse hair effectively, lipstick should have a beautiful color and texture that allows it to stay on the surface of the lips for a long time, and perfume should have a strong and persistent aroma. It is impossible to achieve such properties without adding various synthetic chemicals. Many of the ingredients of modern “beauty products” are far from safe. The list of the most harmful of them includes:
- alkyl phenol ethoxylate. It is a component of most shampoos. It has mutagenic and carcinogenic properties, inhibits the process of sperm production in men;
- albumin. It is part of anti-aging creams as a substance that helps reduce wrinkles. In fact, it creates a dense film that limits the access of oxygen, which interferes with the normal course of metabolic processes in the skin;
- alpha hydroxyl acids. These are the ingredients of most face and body scrubs. They help exfoliate dead cells, but make the skin defenseless to aggressive environmental factors;
- acetamide. It is a moisturizer component in blush and lipstick. Acetamide is a mutagen, a carcinogen;
- benzene. It is part of many cosmetic products. Benzene is extremely toxic;
- butylhydroxyanisole. It is a preservative used to increase the shelf life of products (creams, sprays, etc.). It has carcinogenic properties, and it is quickly absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the body;
- gamma hexachloran. It is a component of many shampoos, creams, lotions. It has a toxic effect on the nervous system. Gamma hexachloran may provoke skin cancer;
- dioxane. It is a component of soaps, shampoos, lotions, creams, hair conditioners. It is a strong carcinogen. Dioxane has a destructive effect on liver cells;
- isopropanol. It is a component of mouthwashes and other products. It can cause severe poisoning, accompanied by dizziness, headache, and nosebleeds. With prolonged use, it causes the development of malignant neoplasms of the throat and oral cavity;
- imidazolidinyl urea. It is a very common preservative. It is component of the eyeshadows, powder, shampoos (including children), colognes and lotions. It provokes the appearance of dermatitis. When stored in heat, imidazolidinyl urea decomposes, releasing formaldehyde;
- Quaternium-15. It is an antimicrobial agents and preservatives. After the expiration of the storage period Quaternium-15 decomposes with the release of formaldehyde.