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Medical Video: Makeup Mistakes to Avoid | Ali Andreea
Makeup should make you look prettier, but aesthetics come with non-playful consequences when you consider toxic chemicals hiding behind packs of eye shadow, eye liners, mascara, glitter eye decorations, and false eyelash adhesives.
Beauty experts say, these chemicals can cause irritation, redness, dry eyes, scaly eyelids, and other serious long-term health conditions.
Here are 10 chemicals to avoid, and how you can find better alternatives.
Hazardous chemicals that are often found in eye makeup
1. Carbon black
Carbon black is commonly used in industrial fields as a dye and reinforcing agent because of its very fine nature, so it can blend with any element.
These chemical compounds are suspected as carcinogenic agents and can cause adverse health effects through exposure to inhalation, ingestion (ingestion), or direct contact with the skin. Citing the Safety Guide CDCIf inhaled, chronic exposure to carbon black causes a decrease in lung function, airway constriction (emphysema), myocardial dystrophy, organ system poisoning, and DNA damage. Carbon black can cause dryness to the skin with repeated and prolonged contact.
Carbon black is sometimes found in powder form in eye makeup, such as eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, and powdered eyebrow (powdered eyebrow pencil). This will appear on labels as carbon black, D & C Black No. 2, acetylene black, black channel, black furnace, lamp black, and thermal black.
2. Ethalomina group
Ethalomina is present in a variety of makeup products, ranging from eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, to foundation and perfume. Monoethanolamine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) are the main examples of ethanolamine-chemical groups consisting of amino acids (building blocks of protein) and alcohol.
Quote Safe CosmeticsNitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA) is listed as a carcinogen in the National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens. Experimental studies show that NDEA causes liver cancer and kidney tumors in mice, and cancer of the nasal cavity in hamsters. TEA and DEA have been found as hepatocarcinogenic agents (produce or tend to produce cancer in the liver) in female mice - the overall results are uncertain in human studies.
Studies have found that DEA affects male reproductive health. DEA changes the structure of sperm, causing abnormalities that affect the ability of sperm to swim and fertilize eggs. In addition, although the most likely exposure route of the ethanolamine group is through direct contact with the skin, DEA accumulates in the liver and kidneys - causing organ poisoning and also the possibility of neurotoxic effects such as tremor. Other studies show that memory function and brain development in children can be permanently disrupted from mothers exposed to DEA.
To find out if your eye makeup product contains ethanolamine, check the packaging and look for compositions with the following names: Triethanolamine, diethanolamine, DEA, TEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, lauramide DEA, linoleamide MEA, myristamide DEA, oleamide DEA, MEA stearamide, TEA-lauryl sulfate.
3. BAK
Benzalkonium chloride (BAK / BAC) is a chemical used as disinfectant, detergent and antiseptic. These chemical compounds are found in gel hand sanitizers, first aid products (to prevent infections in minor wounds and abrasions), topical skin antiseptics, disposable hygienic towels and wet wipes, and disinfectant solutions used to clean surgical instruments.
Benzalkonium chloride is also sometimes used as a preservative in eyeliner, mascara and makeup cleansing liquid. BAK is reported as a toxic agent for eye epithelial cells. These cells keep dust, water, and bacteria from entering the eye, and give a smooth surface to the cornea to absorb and distribute oxygen and nutritional cells from tears to the entire cornea.
There are not many studies out there that examine the long-term effects of benzalkonium chloride on the skin, such as when using eyeshadow. But, data center Cosmetic Safety states that there is sufficient and strong evidence that benzalkonium chloride is a toxic agent that has immunity to the body, skin and breathing, with laboratory tests suggesting a mutative (carcinogenic) effect. Furthermore, studies show that these ingredients are skin and eye irritants - redness, blurred vision, pain - and can damage the skin and eyes with the amount of damage depending on the length of exposure.
BAK may be listed on your favorite eye makeup products under various names including, Alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; Benzalkonium chloride solution; Quarternary ammonium compounds, Benzylcoco alkyldimethyl, chlorides; quaternium-15 or guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.
4. Prime yellow carnauba wax
These candles are commonly used in the cosmetics industry as a protective layer found in mascara and eyeliner so that products can stiffen and make them waterproof, because these products are not soluble in water and in ethyl alcohol.
A number of studies and work safety guidelines state that there are no adverse health effects (results are not conclusive or information is not available). However, excessive exposure can cause physical irritation to the eyes. Prime yellow carnauba wax clogs the oil glands in the eye and can cause dry eye disease, which affects 3.2 million women aged 50 and over in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Using beauty products that contain candles is not a good idea, Dr. Dr. Leslie E. O'Dell, director of the Dry Eye Center of Pennsylvania in Mechanicsburg and Manchester, reported from Fox News. However, Japanese candles may be a better alternative, O’Dell said.
5. Formalin
Formalin, or formaldehyde, is a colorless, flammable corrosive gas with a sharp piercing odor. The main route for people exposed to formalin is to breathe the gas. The liquid form can be absorbed through the skin.
Exposure to acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) formaldehyde through inhalation can cause respiratory symptoms, and irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Limited human studies have reported an association between formaldehyde exposure and lung and nasopharyngeal cancer.
Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, but some do not have the same reaction to formaldehyde exposures. Repeated or prolonged contact with the skin can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some individuals, with symptoms such as redness, itching, and red rashes and swelling on the skin that can cause blisters.
Formaldehyde can be listed on the label of your eye makeup as is (formalin or formaldehyde, formaldehyde), but it may also appear as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and urea.
6. Parabens
Parabens are preservatives commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products. This preservative is very effective in preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria and yeast which can cause the product to break down quickly, thus extending the shelf life and safety of the product.
The FDA said there was no reason for consumers to worry about parabens in cosmetics. Paraben has been safely used for almost 100 years as a preservative in food, medicine, and personal care and the cosmetics industry. Parabens come from para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) which occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, cherries, carrots, blueberries, and onions. PHBA also naturally forms in your body with the breakdown of several amino acids.
But some researchers feel there might be a reason for concern. Parabens are absorbed through the skin and are easily transported into the bloodstream. They also interfere with the endocrine glands and are associated with reproductive toxicity, early puberty, and breast cancer. Parabens can also make dry eye conditions worse because they block the release of oil from the oil glands to coat the eyelids.
When reading labels, avoid any ingredients with the "-paraben" suffix. Parabens used most commonly in cosmetics are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.
7. Aluminum powder
Aluminum powder is widely used to give color makeup. Aluminum powder itself is classified as a neurotoxin, labeled "high risk" by Cosmetic Safety, and has been associated with organ system toxicity.
This neurotoxin is considered far worse than mercury because it has been thought to interfere with various cellular processes and metabolism in the nervous system and other tissues, said a study published in the journal Pediatrics, reported by Medical Daily. We all have some mercury in the body, along with some other nasty poisons, but the body works well enough to repel toxins before they can actually cause real damage. If there is long-term exposure to aluminum powder (and if it is mainly combined with thimerosal), this can interfere with the body's ability to release mercury, and as a result it can make any amount of mercury in your system more toxic.
Makeup products can include aluminum powder in the label as LB Pigment 5 or metal pigment.
8. Retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate
Both are derivatives of vitamin A which have been linked to cancer and reproductive disorders.
Retinoic acid increases photocarcinogenic activity of UVB rays in mice and increases the duplication of skin lesions. Retinyl palmitate also increases the presence of neoplasm squamous cells - the onset of skin cancer. Retinoic acid can irritate the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract.
9. Titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide is generally safe, but powdered titanium dioxide is classified as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). These powder particles are so small that they are easily inhaled and can accumulate in the lungs or in your cells, where they can damage DNA and cause cancer. As a result, health risks are far more likely in powder and sow, beauty and personal care products, than in creams.
In eye makeup labels, titanium dioxide is listed as is or as TiO2.
10. Talc
Some talc may contain asbestos, a carcinogenic compound, because it must be avoided in powder products, such as eyeshadow, unless it is known to be asbestos-free. Even asbestos-free talc should be avoided in the pelvic area.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes talc as carcinogenic in humans. Talc exposure is associated with mesothelioma, tissue organ tumor tumors such as the lungs, stomach and heart. Previously, exposure to talc was related to the development and pathogenesis of lung cancer.
Talc also increases lung burden. Inhaled powder can disrupt the mechanism by which the lungs are clean and reduce inflammation so that it damages cells and has the potential to cause cancer. To help prevent inhalation by consumers, the powder used in powder products in the United States is ground to a relatively large particle size that is difficult to breathe. Talc exposure, especially through direct contact with the skin, such as from eye makeup and personal care products, can also cause respiratory tract disorders characterized by wheezing and coughing.
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