Toxic beauty: What You Don’t Know About Your Cosmetics May Hurt You

Throughout my training as a makeup artist at AVEDA in NYC, I learned about the nasty chemicals that go into many of the cosmetic products that we use every day to make ourselves look more beautiful. These chemicals can stay in your body long after the makeup is gone, potentially causing all sorts of problems. One of the most questionable of these chemicals is parabens.

This article provides information about parabens, a potentially toxic type of chemical that is commonly used in cosmetics.

What are parabens?
The simple answer is that parabens are chemicals commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and in food and beverage processing. The main types are methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-parabens (check for these on the labels of your favorite products, and then consider replacing those products with something better). The more complicated answer is that parabens are believed to possibly be endocrine disruptors and reproductive toxins.

Why should I care?
You should care, because endocrine disruptors and reproductive toxins are chemicals that interfere with hormones and disrupt normal growth and development of intelligence and reproductive capabilities. The average woman in the U.S. uses around 12 personal care products a day, while the average teenage girl uses up to 17! If all of these products contain parabens, even in small amounts, that is a lot of toxic chemicals entering your body every day. Imagine the effect this could have over a lifetime of makeup use. You might be thinking that you are safe because you only put cosmetics on your body, not in it. Make no mistake – if you are putting something on your body (i.e.: makeup, lipstick, glitter, etc) it is going in your body.

If parabens are so dangerous why are they in my makeup?
Many people believe that some government agency, like the FDA, regulates what goes into your makeup. That if you can buy a product at your local drugstore or department store, it must be safe. This is not always the case. There is very little government regulation over cosmetics. Companies are not required by the U.S. government to perform health studies or pre-market safety testing on cosmetics. Companies can use just about any chemical they want in your makeup and they aren’t even required to disclose to you what those chemicals are.

What can I do to protect my family?
Read labels – but remember, not all ingredients have to be listed on cosmetics. If it is paraben free it will say so, this is an accomplishment that cosmetic companies are proud of and they will flaunt it! Also, keep in mind that claims like “organic”, “natural” or “dermatologist tested” are not regulated for use on cosmetics and do not mean a product is safe. Do you research and refuse to buy or use cosmetics or personal care products containing these questionable chemicals.

As a creator of makeup for actors, dancers and cheerleaders, I am particularly concerned about the health of children and teenagers who use my makeup! Pre-pubescent and pubescent teens are vulnerable to the risks of exposure to all these chemicals. My goal at JAM is to develop healthier makeup options for performers, or anyone who wants a long lasting makeup WITHOUT long lasting chemicals.