Every day we use soap and detergents to wash, face creams and body to make our skin soft, shampoo and conditioner for silky hair , not to mention then dell'innumerevole amount of cosmetic products that we women have our vanity case: lipsticks , eye shadow, eye and lip pencils, kajal, enamels and mascaras of every color. But have you ever wondered what's inside the products we use daily ?
few months ago made headlines a study stating that a woman spreads every day 515 types of chemical additives . Although the study was readily denied by Unipro (and people like me: 0)) , just stopping at least once a read labels of the most common cosmetics and detergents, to meet the terms and acronyms sometimes difficult to say that very often prove harmful to the skin and cause allergic , sensitization or irritation.
I PRESERVATIVES or any substances that must be added cosmetics containing water to avoid development of mold or bacteria. Among the most common are:
- FORMALDEHYDE : we find lots of products in common use and, unfortunately, is also widely used in the preservation of cosmetics. Products like foundation , shampoo and varnishes that contain formaldehyde as well as being a preservative is a powerful bactericide. Although it was established that it is carcinogenic, formaldehyde continues to be contained in a wide range of products, albeit at very low concentrations.
- PARABENS : the six principal parabens that can be found in the formulations on the market are methylparaben , Ethylparaben , propylparaben , isobutylparaben , Butylparaben and benzylparaben and are used as preservatives in moisturizers, solar in toothpastes, shampoos, in cleansers, deodorants, shaving gel in short, in many cosmetics for everyday use, even in so-called "natural" or "organic." E 'is ample evidence that these substances penetrate the skin and remain intact within the tissue, accumulating. Although law enforcement agencies in the European Union, including parabens are seriously suspected of being carcinogenic .
- Quaternium 15 : always part of the preservative. And 'present in many cosmetics for make-up of the eye, in the foundation, but also in shampoos and lotions in sunscreens. E 'harmful because it releases formaldehyde is toxic and gives rise to sensitization.
- Kathon CG : is another preservative, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial action, colorless and odorless in dermocosmetici content, products and personal care products Home. From the toxicological point of view, the Kathon CG, was classified as irritant, primary despite a great use. E 'can be found on the labels of synonyms as grotan , EUXIL or ISOTIAZOLINA .
- MEA-DEA-TEA They are not the names of three cute sisters, respectively, but the initials of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, Triethanolamine, and there are many compounds in cosmetics. We can almost always find them in products that are then foam shampoo, soap and shower gel and give rise to nitrates and nitrosamines, or carcinogens.
- para phenylenediamine (PFD): this substance by the name hard to pronounce, the often meet when we go to the hairdresser, it is the most important dye used for permanent hair colors. Very often gives rise to sensitization so that this substance was banned by many European countries.
- PHTHALATE : one of the most offending substances, of which we already widely spoken, is also widely used in cosmetics. According to a report of Greenpeace , a large number of fragrances for men and women of the best brands contains two substances that can have adverse effects on health: just phthalates and synthetic musks .
- SURFACTANTS : are substances with foaming properties, detergents and solubilizers. Are obviously present in all the products that cleanse the body and hair and are undoubtedly the most popular sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) . Are not carcinogens, as was thought until a few years ago, but being very aggressive it is best to choose products containing surfactants, especially the more delicate and limit its use.
- TOLUENE Read toluene and immediately think to nail care and indeed the toluene is the solvent used to easily spread the glaze. Unfortunately, it has been linked to nervous system disorders and can also cause kidney damage. To run for cover, some cosmetic companies have taken away by members of their glazes the offending substance. Perhaps our nail polish will crumble faster, but we can be certain not to poison us.
- PERFUME : all cosmetics generally have a pleasant smell. We tend to think that the fragrance in products for personal hygiene is completely harmless, but it is not. 95% of chemicals used in perfumes and fragrances in cosmetics are synthetic compounds derived from oil and since the scents have a low molecular weight can penetrate more easily into the skin and can cause allergies or breathing difficulties.
- HYDROQUINONE : reading labels products for lightening the skin is easy to find this compound, a phenol that turns out to be harmful, irritant and dangerous for the environment. Although it was forbidden to use it as a skin-lightening, this substance is still used in hair dye , although at low concentrations.
- COAL TAR : often in dermatology to treat psoriasis uses the tar treatment. Among them, the more effective the Coal Tar or the mineral tar that, for its business and reducing antiseborroica, is used in many caves itch creams and treatments for the scalp but it can give rise to phenomena photosensitization.
- ALLUMINIUM : we find it in lots of products, and food, and of course could not miss one of the components of many cosmetics, especially deodorants and antiperspirants , which can contain up to 20% of aluminum salts as the hydrochloride hydrate of aluminum and zirconium. Prolonged use of these substances is related to risk of breast cancer as salts aluminum can significantly damage the DNA of cells, stimulating their degeneration into cancer cells.
With this list of products harmful to health and the environment, we had no intention to scare or convince you to empty the vanity case! We just try to let you know which products are safer to use and move toward a consumer awareness cosmetics, preferring those natural, organic, fair trade and have not been tested on animals .
