If you’ve turned on a television or walked down the street recently, you’ve probably heard something about gluten-free diets. This new trend is a serious health necessity for those with celiac disease, but it also has been shown to improve a host of problems from digestion complications to autism. When it comes to skincare however, does this health trend hold any weight?
When thinking of animal testing laboratories, most of us picture wire cages stacked along cold white walls as mournful eyes peek through steel bars. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too real in hundreds of labs across the country. If you think there’s nothing you can do to help, you’re mistaken. More and more beauty lines are ceasing animal testing. You just have to know what to look for.
Chemicals have become so entrenched in our consumer lifestyle that we barely even notice how many of them we are consuming or applying to our body each day. Your facial cleanser alone probably contains about 10 different chemical compounds. One of these is likely a sulfate.
Over 50% of your standard beauty products contain polyethylene glycol compounds (PEGs). According to the International Journal of Toxicology (IJT), this chemical has been associated with health problems from severe skin irritation to breast cancer, yet the US Department of Health still considers the compound safe for cosmetic applications.
Recent media coverage has begun to expose the dangers of phthalates in beauty and skin products. What makes these compounds so alarming is that they are proven to enter the human bloodstream through the skin, yet remain present in many products intended for use on infants.
A popular ingredient in skincare and cosmetics, silicone is advertised as a miracle solution for everything from concealment to anti-aging. However, recent studies show that the same qualities that make the mineral attractive to cosmetic manufacturers can prove problematic to users over time.
The word alcohol is used very loosely in the English language; usually the word is used in reference to ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, most commonly used in alcoholic beverages. In the cosmetics industry however, you may also find ingredients such as benzyl or cetyl alcohol. The question is, are any of these chemicals beneficial when it comes to your skincare?
Many of us who are trying to reduce our carbon footprint have found ways to reduce our use of gasoline, plastic bags, and other petroleum-based products. But did you know that most, if not all, of your standard skincare and cosmetic products contain petrochemicals? Moreover, petroleum is not only unhealthy for the environment; it poses a risk for your skin too.