Five ingredients to avoid in cosmetics and skin care

June 17th, 2013

Even if you do not use makeup on a daily basis, which many of us do not, we wear many other products like cleansers, moisturizer, sunscreen, and perfumes daily. As much as we love our cosmetics and skin care, there are ingredients of which we need to be aware. Below are the top 5 ingredients that you should try to avoid: 1) Parabens: Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics to help prevent the growth of bacteria. They have been found in breast cancer tumors and also contribute to increased skin aging and DNA damage. 2) Phthalates: Phthalates are used as a solvent in cosmetics to help other agents dissolve better in creating a solution. They are known to cause reproductive and developmental toxicity. 3) Triclosan: Used as an antibacterial agent, triclosan is suspected of interfering with hormone function and may increase incidence of allergies. 4) Propylene glycol (also known as antifreeze): Used as a detergent, solvent, wetting agent, foaming agent and conditioning agent, repeat exposure to propylene glycol can cause buildup in the system and may lead to skin irritation, nausea, headaches and more. 5) Mineral oil: This is a moisturizing agent used to lock moisture in skin and is also part of the formulation for perfume in cosmetics. It has been known to potentially clog pores and could also decrease lung function, leading to pneumonia. Many cosmetic companies have become more aware of the potential risk of these ingredients and are making products that omit their use. In many cases, infrequent contact with these ingredients is not harmful but repeated exposure to them can be very dangerous. The bottom line: it is important just as important to know what you put on your body as it is to know what you put in it. Read labels carefully and if in doubt, ask a professional to gain additional knowledge about the product.

Muse Studios Makeup Artist serving Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. info@musestudiosus.com, (703) 593-4316.

 

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