The Parable of Parabens: How Your Everyday Makeup Could Be Negatively Impacting Your Health
We often gawk at beauty trends of the past for using toxic substances like arsenic and lead in makeup, however, we’re not much better off today. Many of us have blind faith that the FDA wouldn’t allow harmful chemicals to exist in makeup, but if I were you, I’d check the ingredients list on your mascara. Despite many studies demonstrating the harmful effects of certain chemicals like parabens and carbon black, the FDA does not believe that the evidence is strong enough to put a ban on these largely unnecessary makeup ingredients. Let’s not get confused here, though- the evidence is so overwhelming that many European countries have classified parabens as “substance[s] of very high concern” due to their effects on fertility, and outright banned carbon black because of its carcinogenic capabilities. These chemicals are featured in many products across the U.S. such as lotions, mascaras, foundations, eyeliners, and brow pencils.
Many brands have listened to the outcry of distressed consumers, thankfully, and adapted to eliminate such chemicals. This is why you’ll find modern shampoo bottles littered with phrases like “no parabens”, or “no sulfates”, but that doesn’t guarantee their safety either. There are still plenty of risky chemicals such as the preservative BHA/BHT (investigated for cancerous effects) and DMDM Hydantoin (formaldehyde releaser) that nobody is even talking about because there are simply too many potential toxins to keep track of. Unfortunately, we can’t even trust brands that take on the appearance of a “clean beauty” manufacturer, because there’s nobody really fact-checking them at a federal level. Younger generations’ desire for eco-conscious and non-toxic products has resulted in some genuinely beneficial products to be put on the market, however, it has also bred the monster that is “greenwashing”. This phrase refers to a commonplace practice that involves brands changing the packaging and appearance of a product to seem safer and more environmentally considerate, while in reality changing very little, and most often, nothing at all about the actual chemical makeup of it. While even a small effort from brands to change their ways has merit, it is ultimately a cash grab that takes advantage of uninformed consumers, and makes it difficult for them to find truly safe products.
Not all hope is lost, as databases like the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep and phone apps like Yuka can help us make informed decisions as consumers about what we are putting on our skin. The Skin Deep database is useful if you are interested in researching a specific ingredient that you are curious about, while Yuka is the most helpful from a consumer standpoint because you can use it right in the store; simply scan the barcode of the product you’re interested in, and get a rating from 0-100 on its safety, as well as an individual breakdown of each ingredient and their risk factors. If you happen to find one of your favorite concealers has unwanted toxic chemicals in its composition, the app will recommend similar products that meet their standards for cosmetic safety.
While it is more difficult to find affordable clean skincare and makeup products, it is by no means impossible. Brands such as Honest Beauty, Well People, Burt’s Bees, Byoma, and Good Molecules all feature many great products that don’t come at the cost of your health. When the FDA fails to ban harmful substances, it falls on us to be mindful of our health and use the tools at our disposal to make informed decisions. Research some of your everyday products- you might be surprised at what you find.
Photo Credit: iStock
