The fight against bad cosmetics

After the disaster with the lead laden beauty products, consumers are now more careful as to what they put on their skin and face.  It’s bad enough to have to breathe polluted air, but to pollute our bodies with the very same products that we use for hygiene seems ironic.

Sadly, while the FDA is in charge with the monitoring of all cosmetic products that have the potential to do more harm than good, the agency lacks the manpower to oversee the thousands of drugs and cosmetics that come to the market every year.  As in most cases, the FDA only bans these products after numerous consumers complain of adverse side effects.

So it is a good thing then that people are beginning to notice and take action not only to the detrimental effects the environment suffers when these harmful chemicals are manufactured but also to the effects these products have on over all health.
Think about it, how many women use lipstick?  So what happens when lipstick is tainted with lead?  Lots of women also use nail polish.  What about those nail polish brands that were found to have DBP, a known carcinogen?  How about those shampoo that have the same chemicals used for battery acid?  Some moms use these shampoos on their baby’s hair, what about them?

As the FDA closes its reigns on cosmetic companies that use harmful chemicals as binders or extenders, the fight is still far from over as these companies rationalize that even though their products contain carcinogens; their composition relative to the cosmetic is minute.

As consumers get smarter, we can only hope that cosmetic companies get smart too and offer safer, earth friendly and beauty friendly products to their loyal customers.  This is a win-win situation for both company and consumer as they both get healthier and provide safe cosmetics at the same time.
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The Cancer That Is In Your Home Right Now

More aptly, the killer that is in your home right now and you might have used it this morning, dousing your family’s bodies with carcinogens without you even knowing it! If you haven’t had the chance to examine your skincare products closely—perhaps doing a little research about all those scientific terms that only the manufacturers could understand– then you might be a victim of consumer misinformation. Don’t fret though, since you are not alone.

When it comes to our families, we should know that safety should always come first before anything else. The problem is, due to the kind of life we are living now where stopping to smell the flowers is already considered a crime, we rely on the things we hear and see through media. More often than not, media tends to be a manipulating tool. Whenever there is manipulation, expect deceit to be in close proximity as well.

We have seen its effects, not only to our bodies but to the environment as well. To humans, if we are lucky, we get as little as a rash but to a compromised, vulnerable body, you get cancer—the most deadly condition to date. As we go suffering from these so-called “skincare products”, the environment has its own set of problems to contend with due to the usage of these chemical laden products. For one, most of these chemicals are nonbiodegradable which means their composition wouldn’t normally breakdown. Although they won’t clog your sewage system as they are miniscule in size, just imagine what it can do to our underwater friends. It’s like putting poisonous gas in the air you breathe. Here’s a list of commonly used skincare products at home:

·    Alcohol
·    Mineral makeups
·    Mineral oil
·    Synthetic colors and fragrances
·    Talc
·    Triclosan

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Olive Oil for Removing Eye Makeup And Shaving Your Legs!

Need a 100% organic, environment friendly and natural eye makeup remover?  Then your quest is over because we have one right here.  This recipe is easy to do and very quick to assemble.  Bear in mind that you will not need a chemistry degree to create our all natural, eco friendly and organic eye make up remover.  All you need is 5 minutes to gather the ingredients which can be found in any grocery store or at your cupboard!

You will need a tablespoon each of castor oil and light olive oil and two teaspoons of canola oil.  Simply mix all three ingredients together and store in a tightly closed jar, and voila! Your very own eye make up remover.  This mixture yields ¾ of an ounce which you can use for 6 month.   Use a tissue or cotton ball to apply and get rid of your eye make up including that hard to erase mascara.

Should you ever find yourself out of shaving cream then you can always look inside your cupboard and grab that bottle of olive oil.  Olive oil is actually a good substitute for shaving cream for when you want to shave your legs.  It has moisturizing benefits which will leave your legs smoother and healthier.  You can use most cooking oils too like canola, vegetable or peanut will do.  Your olive oil does not have to be the extra virgin kind since they both contain the same basic ingredients.  Keep in mind that oil is a very good moisturizer for very dry skin.  If you don’t want to smell like your kitchen though, you can try using some of your hair conditioner as your shaving cream.  Hair conditioners also contain moisturizers as opposed to shampoos which can sometimes lead to dry hair.

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FD&C Color Pigments

Colorful things are surely attractive especially for kids. For women, we choose colorful makeup and other cosmetic products to enhance our general appearance while kids prefer to use bubble baths and soaps with bright colors. With men, they find it necessary to cover up gray strands of hair thus the need to use hair dyes.

FD&C color pigments are usually made from tar and they can also cause irritation to the skin. They are most commonly found in eye makeup, lipsticks, hair dyes, nail polish and even with your colored medicinal tablets. These color pigments are for enhancing natural color to create a visual effect tempting enough for consumers to buy them.

Hair dyes contain coal tar and phenylenediamine, both are known carcinogenic that also causes inflammation of the scalp and in some instances, blindness. With regular use of hair dye products, the risk of developing bladder cancer is much higher than those who don’t use them. Bright nail polishes contain toluene, together with color pigments, they are more than toxic causing headaches, confusion and memory loss. Daily exposure to toluene may induce hearing loss.

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Concerns about Inhalation of Titanium Dioxide, a common ingredient in mineral makeup.

Health concerns regarding the inhalation of Titanium Dioxide, a common ingredient in mineral make-up has patrons asking if it is safe.  Titanium dioxide is usually used as a UVA/UVB inhibitor and is usually found in face powder and sunscreen.

UK studies have shown that the inhalation of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) may in fact pose health risks.  Cosmetic manufacturers use a TiO2 nano particle which may cause lung cancer when inhaled.  However, TiO2 found in creams are deemed safe as they are not airborne and stay in the upper layers of the skin when applied.

Consumers need to be wary about nano particles found in cosmetics, chemicals, detergent and other household implements.  Despite studies, nano particles are so small they may penetrate our skin and travel up our blood stream which may cause us more harm than good.

This piece of news has women and other cosmetic users shocked.  Most women have shifted to mineral brands thinking that they are safer alternatives to the traditional kind.  Mineral brands are thought to use crushed minerals, natural and organic ingredients, contain no perfume, talc, additives and other fillers which pose health risks to users.

Before trying out a mineral brand of make-up, consult their website if their products contain TiO2, lead and other toxic chemicals.  Always remember that mineral may not be natural and it always pays to be conscious in the end.

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