Makeup should make you look prettier, but aesthetics come with unremarkable consequences when you consider toxic chemicals hiding behind mascara. (Read List of Toxic Chemicals Banned)
Beauty experts say these chemicals can cause irritation, redness, dry eyes, scaly eyelids, and other serious long-term health conditions.
Here are 5 chemicals to avoid in mascara, and your way to find a better alternative.
Black Carbon is commonly used in industry as a dye and reinforcing agent because of its very fine, so it can blend with any element.
These chemical compounds are suspected of being carcinogenic agents and may cause adverse health effects through inhalation exposure, ingestion, or direct skin contact. Citing the CDC Safety Guidelines, if inhaled, chronic exposure of black carbon causes decreased lung function, airway narrowing (emphysema), myocardial dystrophy, organ system poisoning, and DNA damage. Black carbon can cause dryness of the skin with repetitive and prolonged contact. (Read Carbon Uses in Daily Life)
It will appear on the label as black carbon, D & C Black No. 2, black acetylene, black channel, black furnace, lamp black, and thermal black.
Ethalomina comes in a variety of makeup products, ranging from eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, to foundation and perfume. Monoethanolamine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) are prime examples of ethanolamine-a chemical group composed of amino acids (protein-building blocks) and alcohols.
Citing Safe Cosmetics, nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA) is listed as a carcinogen in the National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens. Experimental studies show that NDEA causes liver cancer and renal tumors in mice, and cancer of the nasal cavities in hamsters. TEA and DEA have been found as hepatocarcinogenic agents (producing or predisposed to produce liver cancer) in female mice – the overall results are uncertain in human studies. (Read Chemicals Known to Cause Cancer)
Studies have found that DEA affects male reproductive health. DEA changes the structure of sperm, causing abnormalities that affect the ability of sperm to swim and fertilize eggs. In addition, although the most likely route of exposure to the ethanolamine group is through direct skin contact, DEA accumulates in the liver and kidneys – causing organ poisoning and also possible neurotoxic effects such as tremors. Other studies have shown that memory function and brain development in children can be permanently disrupted from mothers exposed to DEA.
To find out if your eye makeup product contains ethanolamine, carefully pack and look for the composition with the following names: Triethanolamine, diethanolamine, DEA, TEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, lauramide DEA, linoleamide MEA, myristamide DEA, oleamide DEA, stearamide MEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate.
Paraben is a common preservative used in cosmetics and personal care products. These preservatives are very effective in preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria, and yeast which can cause the product to quickly break down, thereby lengthening the shelf life and product safety.
The FDA says there is no reason for consumers to worry about parabens in cosmetics. Paraben has been safely used for almost 100 years as a preservative in food, medicine, and personal care and cosmetic industries. Parabens come from naturally occurring para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) in many fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, cherries, carrots, blueberries, and onions. The PHBA also naturally forms in your body by breaking down some of the amino acids. (Read Categories of Essential Biochemical Compound)
Paraben is a common preservative used in cosmetics and personal care products. These preservatives are very effective in preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria, and yeast which can cause the product to quickly break down, thereby lengthening the shelf life and product safety.
The FDA says there is no reason for consumers to worry about parabens in cosmetics. Paraben has been safely used for almost 100 years as a preservative in food, medicine, and personal care and cosmetic industries. Parabens come from naturally occurring para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) in many fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, cherries, carrots, blueberries, and onions. The PHBA also naturally forms in your body by breaking down some of the amino acids.
But some researchers feel there may be reasons for concern. Parabens are absorbed through the skin and easily transported into the bloodstream. They also disrupt the endocrine glands and are associated with reproductive toxicity, early puberty, and breast cancer. Parabens can also make dry eye conditions worse as they block the release of oil from the oil glands to coat the eyelids.
When reading labels, avoid any material with the “paraben” suffix. The most commonly used parabens in cosmetics are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben. Meanwhile, you need to be careful of chemicals to avoid in mascara.
These waxes are commonly used in the cosmetics industry as a protective coating found in mascara and eyeliner so that the product can become stiff and make them waterproof, since the product is insoluble in water and in ethyl alcohol.
A number of safety studies and guidelines state that there are no specific adverse health effects (inconclusive results or information not available). However, excessive exposure can cause physical irritation to the eyes. Prime yellow carnauba wax clogs the oil glands in the eye and can cause dry eye diseases, affecting 3.2 million women aged 50 and over in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Using candle-containing beauty products is not a good idea, says Dr. Dr. Leslie E. O’Dell, director of the Dry Eye Center of Pennsylvania in Mechanicsburg and Manchester, quoted by Fox News. However, the Japanese candle may be a better alternative, O’Dell says.
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Girls, there are some harmful chemicals to avoid in mascara. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC / BAC) is a chemical used as a disinfectant, detergent, and antiseptic. These chemical compounds are found in hand-washing gel, First Aid products (to prevent infections of cuts and minor blisters), topical skin antiseptics, disposable hygienic towels and wet wipes, as well as disinfectant solutions used to clean the surgical instruments. (Read Harmful Chemicals in Antibacterial Soap)
Benzalkonium chloride is also sometimes used as a preservative in eyeliner, mascara and makeup cleanser. BAK is reported as a toxic agent for epithelial cells of the eye. These cells keep dust, water, and bacteria from entering the eye, and provide a smooth surface of the cornea to absorb and distribute oxygen and nutritive cells from the tears throughout the cornea.
BAK may be listed on your favorite eye makeup product under various names including Alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; Benzalkonium chloride solution; Quarternary ammonium compounds, Benzylcoco alkyldimethyl, chlorides; quaternium-15 or guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.
Those are the examples of the chemicals that have to be avoid in mascara. Hope this article is useful.
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