Today an average person uses at least 10 personal care products daily. According to Environmental Working Group and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ study, women use at least 12 products whereas men use around six products daily.
Although FDA and other health offices in other countries could suggest that unwanted cosmetic or personal care product ingredients are used in tiny or even minute amounts in the final products. Additionally, it is stated that these small amounts are too small to induce any damage.
Yet, here is an interesting question that comes to inquiring minds? Is there an additive or a cumulative effect of all these chemicals in our beauty products, which we use daily?
Here is a list of products used daily.
Personal care products
Yes, at least 17 products. The list can get longer depending on the user.
- Facial cleanser
- Toner
- Day moisturizer with or without SPF
- Night cream
- Eye cream
- Facial serum
- Facial oil
- Broad spectrum sunscreen
- Lip balm with or without SPF
- Makeup cleanser
- Hand cream
- Body lotion or oil
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Hair styling products
- Soap or shower gel
- Deodorant
Color Cosmetics
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Mascara
- Face and/or eye primer
- Powder
- Highlighter
- Contouring cream or powder
- Lipstick and/or lip gloss
- Blush
- Bronzer
- Eye pencil or eyeliner
- Cream or powder eye shadow
As you can see, it adds up. Using “considered safe” or “low levels” of potentially dangerous or unwanted chemicals (i.e. parabens) in many products for days, months and even years could take their toll in an additive or cumulative way. For instance, substance X was used at 0.1% in one product that you use daily. In other 10 products (again used daily) let’s assume substance X is also used at 0.1%.
What would be the total amount of substance X that one could be exposed per day?: 11 products x 0.1% equals 1.1% total per day. Further the chemical properties of susbtance X (i.e. absorbance rate or bioaccumulative properties) are different story. Thus, with the number of products used, the concept of “safe ingredients when used at minimal levels” should be considered under a whole new light.
What can we do?
As listed above, it is a little hard to stop using them all together. Before pregnancy or getting sick, one should actively focus on their wellness by reading the product labels and learning about the unwanted chemicals. Becoming an informed customer by reading labels, asking questions and making informed decisions will protect us and our loved ones.
Baktım günlük olarak 17 değilse de duş aldığım bir günde ben de 12 ürün kullanıyorum. Gerçekten az değil. Parabenler konusunda bir gün kurşunda olduğu gibi çıkıp pardon bu zararlıymış demelerinden korkuyorum.
Author
Merhabalar :) Parabenler konusunda da soyle yazilar var : https://drebru.com/category/guzellik/articles/kozmetik-icerikler/parabenler/ . EU bazi parabenleri yasakliyor. :)