Placental Extract

Placental Extract comes from the placentas of humans and other mammals.  The placenta is a thin film which envelops the womb of mammals which is attached to the umbilical cord where nourishment and oxygen passes through.  Cosmetic companies use this to make skin care products and grooming products like shampoos and conditioners.

Placental Extract contains hormones like progesterone and estrogen which are vital for fetuses to develop while inside the wombs of their mothers.  Cosmetic companies have taken advantage of these hormones present in the placenta to make hair shinier, skin softer and tighter and other positive effects it has on our outward appearance.

However, studies have shown that girls ranging in ages from 1-8 years old were given hair products containing placental extract.  Within 24 months of use, 50% of the subjects developed breasts and pubic hair.  Discontinued use of the product regressed the development of their breasts and public hair.  No other cause for their early sexual development was found.

Products containing placental extracts are tainted with hormones which may be dangerous not only to young girls but also to the rest of us.  Excess progesterone and estrogen has been linked to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other reproductive cancers.

Canada has banned the use of placental extracts from all its grooming and personal care products.  Natural alternatives like olive oil, wheat germ oil, coconut oil, almond oil and the like should be used instead of placentas from mammals which may contain waste matter eliminated by the fetuses.

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Butadiene

Because cosmetic companies claim that chemicals used in their products contain very little chemicals which cause cancer, the campaign for the removal of such has been ineffective so far.

These days, consumers are getting smarter and getting informed.  Butadiene a known carcinogen has been used in the cosmetic industry in the sponges used to apply make up.  Butadiene has other uses in the market like fungicides which are manufactured for the agriculture industry. You can also inhale butadiene through automobile or tobacco smoke.

Lab animals were tested as to their reaction to the chemical.  In this study it was found that the mammary glands of mice exposed developed tumors and lumps.  Further more the female rats also developed ovarian cancer and baby rats died due to exposure.

Humans are exposed to chemicals used daily for personal care purposes.  The government should find ways to better regulate cosmetic companies in their usage which deem dangerous for humans.

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Breast Cancer causing carcinogens in every day beauty products

According to a report by the Environmental Working Group 80% of our cosmetics including deodorants, shaving creams, shampoos and toothpaste contain 146 chemicals linked to cancer.

According to the report 1 in 13 women and 2 out of 23 men are exposed to carcinogens everyday through their use of personal care products.  This same report has caused the Breast Cancer Action (BCA) and the Breast Cancer Fund to hold protests in Washington to urge the government to better regulate and provide health care guidelines to manufacturers and producers of such products.

While manufacturers of these products say that their products contain minuscule amounts of these chemicals, most of us use more than one product at the same time.  In a single day, most of us brush our teeth 3 times a day, wash our hair once, use soap to bathe, put on deodorant, wear lipstick and make up and a host of other things we need in order to keep clean.  This multiplies our exposure to dangerous and toxic chemicals.

Breast cancer activists have cautioned women (and men) to be wary of products containing parabens, a substance found in biopsied breast cancer tumors and phthalates found in fragrances.  Women are also cautioned against products used on the skin as our skin is our body’s largest organs.

The public is advised to patronize products which contain ingredients which have been certified by third party watch groups like the UHDA Organic, BDIH, ECOCERT and the National Product Association

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Health Risks of Petroleum Derivates in Cosmetic Products

Cosmetic industry, today, is closely related to petroleum as a number of ingredients used in beauty products are derived from petroleum. Creams, moisturizers, balms, gels, cleansers, soaps, and several toiletry products all carry one or more petroleum-based chemicals. And these petroleum derivatives are anything but safe for human health!

One of the main culprits in petroleum-based ingredients in cosmetics is propylene glycol – an additive used in shampoos, conditioners, and paints etc. Propylene glycol may cause annoying symptoms ranging from irritation of the respiratory tract and nausea to serious health problems like disorders of the liver and/or kidneys. Equally hazardous to health are isopropyl alcohols that are petroleum-derived antiseptics, also used for removing the waxy layer left on the skin by mineral oil used in skin care products. Isopropyl alcohols rob the skin of its natural moisture, rendering it dry and vulnerable to cracking; thus it allows microbes an inlet to enter the user’s blood and cause infections.

Even more alarming are the findings of a few studies that link petroleum-derived agents to cancer. Most notable of these derivatives is a carcinogenic remnant 1, 4-dioxane (C4H8O2) that is present in over 20 percent of cosmetics and toiletry products commonly used in some localities, 1, 4-dioxane has been shown to cause cancer in animals and hence it is potentially a serious threat to human health.

Parabens, derived from petroleum, are used as preservatives in a large number of cosmetic products. They have been found to cause premature aging of skin and hormonal abnormalities, and may even promote cancer, particularly breast cancer in women. There is some research-based evidence that continual exposure to parabens, during or shortly before pregnancy, can result in less fertile babies. There is particularly a greater risk for male babies who are likely to have a lower sperm count if exposed to parabens in vivo.

Many other adverse health effects are associated with petroleum-based chemicals used in cosmetics: ovarian problems in women; impairment of immune system; hormonal abnormalities and miscarriages; poor skin condition and acne; and many others – you name it and it is there. However, few cosmetic companies warn the consumers of their products’ health risks through safety labels on the containers. Obviously, the commercial interest involved far exceeds consumer health for cosmetic manufacturers.

So what are your alternatives? None other than the organically manufactured cosmetic products containing essential oils and non-toxic organic content that is health-friendly. Also important to remember is the fact cosmetics in plastic containers are less safe than those packed in wood and/or glass containers. Next time, on your visit to the cosmetic store, you should be wary of petroleum-based ingredients. Ask for natural organic beauty products. After all, health is the most perfect beauty of life.

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