The fact that makeup and cosmetic products contain chemicals is hardly anything new. We know it is far from natural. But how does that really affect us?
Do we know what we put directly on our skin? There is makeup that is okay to use, which is vegan and natural. Then there is makeup that is packed with unnecessary substances that actually do more harm than good. There have been many and lengthy discussions about whether or not makeup can be carcinogenic.
Many well-established makeup companies pay expensive sums to keep harmful substances in their products. One substance that has previously been banned in makeup is the substance PHMB, which is often used as a preservative in makeup. Even though the subject is not illegal today, the experts still advise against using it. The experts still say that the substance may have a carcinogenic property.
One brand that seems to circumvent this is makeup giant Estee Lauder. Every year, the company spends millions of dollars on, among other things, influencing the European Commission, through lobbying. Among other things, the European Commission decides which substances may be used in products and not. Estee Lauder also owns other major makeup brands such as MAC, Too Faced and Clinique.
If you spend large amounts of money on make-up and other cosmetic products, it should be obvious that they do not contain a lot of harmful substances. In various makeup products there are some substances that you really know too little about but still use. Nobody knows how it affects the skin in the long run because no one has researched it. But you use them anyway.
Of course, it is not just makeup like foundation and concealer that contains unsuitable substances. They also occur in nail polish and various body lotions.
Something that one should pay attention to is the table of contents. For example, if a product lacks a table of contents, it might be a good idea not to buy it. Something you should be particularly vigilant of is unknown brands or cheap brands sold in low-cost department stores.
If you had to decide for yourself, you probably would not voluntarily apply harmful products directly to your skin every day. Unfortunately, many make this completely unconscious of what their product actually contains. Just because buying a product with a well-established name does not mean that the product does not contain anything bad.
As a consumer, you have the right to be skeptical and questionable when it comes to your skin. But you also have your own responsibility to read the table of contents and see what a product actually contains. This applies to everything in beauty and cosmetics. If you know that you have sensitive skin or a slightly irritated scalp, you are often careful about what you use. This should be equally obvious when choosing, for example, deodorant, perfume and various types of body lotions and hand creams.
