High-quality cosmetics? A must for your health! 

The marketing industry and advertisers are well aware of the impact of the enticing promises of eternal youth, the intoxicating scents, and the attractive packaging that cosmetic products offer every day.

Little by little, people are becoming aware of the harmful effects of chemicals in food and the importance of transparent labeling. But what about the cosmetics we apply to our skin and hair?

What real effects might these products have on our bodies and our health?

Increasingly, researchers are showing that the ingredients in personal care products can cause damage to the hair and skin, as well as to the immune system and the eyes, and may even lead to much more serious degenerative conditions.

Industrial Cosmetics to Be Wary Of

• Eye makeup products that are applied very close to the mucous membranes and can be absorbed by the very sensitive skin in those areas.
• Hairsprays, perfumes, and face powders, which are volatile and therefore often inhaled, but which are irritating to the respiratory tract in any case.
• Lipsticks that are constantly licked and swallowed, as well as toothpaste.
• Face creams, body lotions, and sunscreen, as well as shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products—all of which contain toxic and harmful substances that are absorbed through the skin.
• Let's not forget household detergents and laundry products, which—even when used in small amounts—are in constant contact with our skin through our clothing.

Studies conducted over long periods and across a wide range of populations estimate that there are more than 10,000 different ingredients in personal care products. 

They conclude that the average adult uses nine personal care products daily, which contain an average of 126 different chemicals. Women, on average, may even use as many as 15 cosmetic products per day.

You should know right now that what you put on your skin can be more dangerous than what you eat. In fact, when we eat, enzymes in our saliva and stomach already work to neutralize or eliminate certain harmful substances. 

On the other hand, when chemicals are applied to the skin, they are absorbed directly and enter the bloodstream—without being filtered—and quickly reach vital organs.

These chemicals tend to accumulate over time because the body generally lacks the enzymes needed to neutralize or eliminate them. 

Despite the abundance of chemicals—approximately 70,000 of which are commonly used worldwide—and the harmful nature of the chemicals used in cosmetics (one in five products poses a cancer risk), health authorities do not see the need for mandatory testing before these products are sold.

The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that nearly 1,000 new chemicals are introduced into cosmetic products each year, and some independent organizations estimate that nearly 90 percent of these are toxic.

Why should you be more careful about your skin?

Our skin is much more than just the outer boundary of our physical body; it is also the body’s largest organ, performing numerous essential functions.

1. It protects your internal organs from injury and serves as the first and most important line of defense against infections.

2. It helps eliminate waste through perspiration.

3. It plays a role in the immune system by forming a protective barrier against viruses and harmful bacteria, preventing infectious agents from entering the body.

4. It is covered with a layer of beneficial bacteria. This healthy skin flora acts as an effective immune barrier.

5. The skin also plays a role in thermoregulation to maintain an optimal body temperature regardless of environmental conditions.

6. The skin is also responsible for maintaining water balance—a delicate balance that is essential to good health.

7. It helps supply the body with vitamin D, a vitamin that is increasingly recognized as essential to health.

8. Rich in receptors, it sends sensory and proprioceptive information (heat/cold, pressure, pain) to the brain, enabling the body to react and adapt to potentially dangerous conditions in our environment.

Our skin is essential to our health!

And just as choosing healthy, toxin-free foods allows us to optimize or maintain our good health, it is vital to exercise discernment when selecting the products we apply to our skin or that come into contact with it.

Choose your natural cosmetics with full knowledge of the facts

Currently, there are no regulations governing beauty products, and affixing a label that includes the word “natural” and intended to inform consumers that the product is of high quality is by no means a guarantee, since it is neither a certification nor a quality control measure.

According to some organic consumer groups, the term "organic" is not used correctly in personal care products the way it is in food products.

In fact, some so-called organic beauty products contain only a very small percentage of organic ingredients, and some brands use ingredients that are merely derived from natural sources but are completely processed and ultimately contain a large amount of synthetic and petrochemical compounds.

How can you make sense of the vague and ambiguous labeling on cosmetic products? 

Let’s start by focusing on a compound called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), or ammonium laurel sulfate (ALS), a chemical that is very commonly used in the cosmetics industry.

It is a surfactant, detergent, and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners. 

It is found in almost all shampoos, scalp treatments, hair dyes and bleaches, toothpastes, liquid soaps (for the body and hands), makeup removers, liquid laundry detergents, as well as in bath oils and bath salts.

Although sodium lauryl sulfate is derived from coconuts, the final product used in cosmetics is indeed a chemical and is no longer natural in any way.

In fact, the manufacturing process for SSL involves ethoxylation, which results in the contamination of this agent with a 1,4-dioxane molecule, forming a salt—a carcinogenic byproduct. All derivatives of sodium lauryl sulfate—an emulsifier used to make products lather—are considered to pose a “moderate” risk to varying degrees.

Further studies on these substances have revealed certain effects—some more harmful than others—that they cause, namely skin and eye irritation, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption and reproductive effects, as well as organ, biochemical, or cellular toxicity, with the potential for mutations leading to cancer.

It is clear that animal studies are conducted by having the animals ingest or have the product applied (to the eyes) in its pure form—unmixed and undiluted—as it is used in cosmetic products. 

Any substance—even a natural one, such as essential oils—used undiluted in this manner can cause harm. This is obviously not considered “normal” use of such products.

One thing is certain: a number of studies conducted on human volunteers who used LSS daily as a mouthwash or on their skin have reported damage to or irritation of the oral mucosa and skin. 

Researchers observed peeling, a burning sensation, and an increase in canker sores on the oral mucosa. Dermatologists reported skin irritation lasting up to 3 weeks, as well as a reduction in the skin’s microbial flora and disruption of skin moisture levels. Accidental ingestion of the product could even lead to nausea and diarrhea in some cases.

Do not swallow your toothpaste if it contains LSS-type substances.

Damage to cellular DNA or carcinogenic effects are more difficult to measure due to the scarcity of scientific studies. 

But what is certain is that the ethylene oxide present in sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) poses significant risks, and that 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of ethylene oxide, is described by some experts as “probably carcinogenic to humans” and toxic to the brain, the central nervous system, the kidneys, and the liver. It also contaminates groundwater.

Is it to avoid taking sides or to prevent public panic that the organizations publishing the results of these studies hide behind statements such as: “These substances pose real health risks. These risks vary depending on the level of exposure and individual sensitivity to the substance.”

In conclusion, humanity is still playing the role of the sorcerer’s apprentice when it comes to the lack of perspective and the long-term consequences that the repeated and cumulative use of these types of chemicals could have for future generations.

In any case, if you want to avoid 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, do not use products containing derivatives of the ethoxylation process—that is, any products whose ingredient lists include the following suffixes: "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "ETH," "PEG," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol."

Given this proliferation of chemical ingredients, the only certainty is that biochemistry is highly complex and that we cannot truly assess the long-term consequences of the “chemical cocktails” contained in various cosmetic products. 

Indeed, while it may be possible to test and assess the risks or safety of individual ingredients taken separately, when they come into contact with one another, new, random molecular bonds form, giving rise to other unexpected chemical compounds whose long-term effects are often unknown and certainly underestimated.

It is known that some of these unintentional chemicals belong to the nitrosamine family.

How can we assess the toxicity of personal care products?

We have already mentioned that women use an average of 15 cosmetic products per day. For your information, it’s worth noting that, based on this daily usage, the body’s annual absorption of chemicals and toxins is estimated at nearly 5 kilograms.

At first glance, the daily use of products such as shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel, day creams, or body lotions may seem insignificant, yet it directly exposes you—through your skin—to thousands of chemicals that remain lodged in your body for years. 

This toxic buildup, which accumulates over time, can become a significant contributing factor to health problems of varying severity—or even serious illnesses. These risks will, of course, be heightened if you do not pay attention to your diet and overall lifestyle.

Doctors have observed that conditions such as fibromyalgia, thyroiditis, and multiple sclerosis are much more common in women. And although it is very difficult to establish a direct link between daily exposure to chemicals in cosmetics and the health problems experienced by women, one cannot help but consider a connection between these two factors.

If we are mindful of these issues, we cannot help but think about the consequences of these countless chemicals on future generations. It’s important to note that many current animal studies on toxic substances show that certain effects appear after two or even three generations. It’s clear that the same may be true for the human race.

Cosmetics: How to Minimize Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

1. First of all, do you really think you need that many products to start your day? There’s certainly a way to simplify your life and, at the same time, take some pressure off your wallet.
2. Next, look for the "BIO" or "Genuine Organic Products" labels.
3. If the ingredient list contains unpronounceable names, that's already a bad sign…
4. Ask yourself if you would eat the items on this list.
5. Choose fragrance-free products. Keep in mind that a single “artificial fragrance” can contain hundreds, or even thousands, of chemicals, and fragrances are a common cause of allergic reactions.
6. Pay attention to the order in which the ingredients are listed. Manufacturers are required to list ingredients in descending order based on the proportion of each ingredient used in the product. This means that the first ingredients listed are the most significant in this formulation.
7. Buy products packaged in glass bottles rather than plastic ones; this way, you’ll avoid certain chemicals that can leach from the plastic itself, including bisphenol A, which also poses serious health risks.
8. If you choose a plastic bottle, make sure it is labeled "BPA-free."
9. Drink plenty of purified water every day to help your body eliminate toxins.
10. Eat plenty of organic fruits and vegetables—especially brightly colored ones—which will help you maintain a healthy, well-functioning body thanks to the antioxidants and many other nutrients and minerals they contain.
11. If you are truly concerned about the well-being and future of the human race and our beautiful planet Earth, you can take your efforts a step further by seeking out products made through fair trade or by companies with an ecological philosophy—ones that work for the well-being of the Earth and animals and pursue ecological goals. You can also avoid products that have been tested on animals.

In conclusion, the best way to ensure you get high-quality skincare products is to make them yourself using simple or all-natural homemade ingredients whose origin you can be sure of.

This new approach is currently very popular, and recipes for making these products are easy to find online or in books available at health food stores or shops that carry natural and organic products.