What’s in Your Beauty Products? M


by lisa Tate


any consumers assume the popular cosmetics, soaps, lotions and hair care prod-


ucts they buy from salons and drug and department stores are safe. Why would consumers buy and use prod- ucts on their skin, lips, eyes and hair if they were harmful? “This wasn’t even a question I had ever asked myself, be- cause I was so confident in the products I used, and the companies that produce them,” says Kristin Adams, founder and CEO of Afterglow Cosmetics. However, most makeup and beauty products contain multiple synthetic and potentially dangerous chemicals, many of which have been banned in other countries. The Environmental Work- ing Group report called “Skin Deep” found almost 90 percent of more than 10,000 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated by government regulators. Even more disturbing is that of the 20,000 differ- ent off-the-shelf cosmetic products for sale in the U.S., more than 80 percent of the products surveyed contained one or more ingredients that have caused documented adverse reactions in hu- mans and animals. It’s staggering to realize the typical adult uses nine cosmetics and personal- care products each day with an aver- age daily load of about 126 chemicals. Most of these chemicals are absorbed into the body through the skin. Others, found in lipstick and lip balm, are actu- ally ingested.


what ingredients should we avoid in our beauty routine?


n Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Para- ben: May mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers. Found in most commercial skin care products.


n Petrolatum: Can cause highly allergic reactions. Contamination concerns. Usually the primary ingredient in lip- gloss.


n Propylene Glycol: Alters skin struc- ture for enhanced skin absorption. A skin irritant that can cause allergic reactions.


n Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: May alter skin structure, which allows chemicals to penetrate more deeply into skin. Acts as a foaming agent and commonly found in shampoo, face wash and toothpaste. Also a skin irritant that can cause al- lergic reactions.


n Stearalkonium Chloride: An anti- static agent used in hair products. Non-reproductive organ system toxicity, neurotoxicity, and irritation (skin, eyes or lungs).


n Synthetic colors: Certain synthetic colors have been linked to develop- mental and reproductive toxicity and neurotoxicity. Synthetic colors may be listed as the following: FD&C Blue 1 Aluminum Lake or D&C Red 27 Lake.


n Synthetic fragrances: Neurotoxicity, allergies/immune-toxicity, and miscel- laneous concerns.


n Phthalates: Linked to reproductive birth defects in baby boys. May damage lungs, liver, kidneys.


nTriethanolamine: May form carcino- genic compounds called nitrosamines in the body after being absorbed - among the most potent cancer-causing agents found.


n Bismuth Oxychloride: Chemical structure resembles arsenic and it is a known to cause itching, rashes and cystic acne.


n Mineral Oil: A distillate of petroleum that clogs pores and can aggravate acneic skin.


nTalc: Mined mainly in India and has a high level of contaminants. Chemically, the ingredient’s structure resembles aspetice. Used in body powders and children’s products, talc can cause cancer.


Need help determining what’s in


your makeup? Visit www.cosmeticdata- base.com.


Frustrated by the lack of beauty product options that were safe for consumers, Afterglow Cosmetics was founded to offer healthy cosmetics that out-perform traditional cosmetics and are both natural and fashionable. “We quickly realized there was simply noth- ing else out there that could compare to the luminescent finish, gentleness and the quality of pharmaceutical grade and certified organic ingredients,” Adams explains. Developing color cosmetics was a


natural progression for Adams, drawing on her expertise in color and pigment mixing, and her family’s experience in chemical engineering and even nutri- tion. She founded Afterglow Cosmetics and began to develop safe, nurturing cosmetics with a range of colors that spoke to the artist and naturalist in her. “Now I work with some of the most innovative and creative chemists and other experts, developing new and exciting natural, organic and mineral cosmetics. I truly believe that quality can be achieved naturally without the standard, and often toxic, petro-chemi- cals and synthetics found in traditional cosmetics. You can create naturally glamorous looks without sacrificing color palette or product effectiveness,” Adams adds. Do you need to open your cosmet- ic bag and purge the old cosmetics that may contain harmful ingredients or be contaminated with bacteria? When you replace them, take the time to consider what is in the products you are purchas- ing. Your beauty is worth it.


Afterglow Cosmetics products are free of potentially toxic ingredients. For in- formation visit www.AfterglowCosmet- ics.com and www.CosmeticsDatabase. com. See ad on page 2.


natural awakenings July 2010 23


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