Ugly face of your beauty regime

Every day we pile tons of products on our skin to make it look more attractive. Here’s a look at what those chemicals are doing to our bodies
Whether we’re slapping on beauty products, spraying on deodorant or slathering hair dye, we all strive to look and smell good on a daily basis. However, we often do it without even a second thought to what we are actually applying to our bodies. Women who use make-up daily are flooding their bodies with as much as two kilos of chemicals each year. So what are the hidden consequences of our product-rich beauty regimes?

LIPSTICK: It's tempting to apply lipstick several times a day, but do we ever stop to think about where it actually disappears to? Could it be that the sweet treat we scoffed for lunch was accompanied by a petroleum-laced lipstick coulis? The average woman will eat two pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Most lipsticks contain petroleum derivatives. So try brands based on beeswax, plant oils or vitamin E.

OLD MAKE-UP Despite recommendations eye make-up should be thrown away after six months, a shocking 92 per cent of women admit they keep their mascara for longer. And twothirds of them use eye make-up that’s over two years old. Mascara can be a breeding ground for bacteria. A lot of women suffer from itchy, watery and red eyes when they keep makeup for long and share it with their friends. Pay heed to dispose it the next time around.

HAIR DYE Those who use permanent hair dye are 2.1 times more likely to develop bladder cancer (as are their hairdressers). Both ammonia and paraphenylenediamine (PPD) — a chemical substance widely used in dyes — can cause allergic reactions too.

TOOTHPASTE You've been faithfully brushing twice daily since childhood. But some pastes contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)—known to cause recurrent mouth ulcers. It's been prohibited in bubble baths because it can cause rashes and infection.

TEETH WHITENING KITS A pearly white smile is obviously appealing but teeth whitening kits can have their pitfalls too. Over-the-counter whitening kits use chemicals with a low pH which are highly acidic. Acid softens and dissolves tooth enamel which can mean your teeth could end up weaker and looking more yellow.

ANTIPERSPIRANT Aluminium in antiperspirants has been highlighted after tests on women who've had mastectomies found high levels of metal in their outer breast tissue. Research has showed that metal could cause cancer and tests suggest parabens — chemicals in beauty products and toiletries — are also linked with the killer disease.

SANITARY PRODUCTS Toxic Shock Syndrome, is a rare but potentially fatal disease, linked to tampon use. Some pads may also contain chlorine-bleached wood pulp. Chlorine bleaching produces an unwanted byproduct called dioxin which has been linked to cancer, endometriosis and immune system suppression.

ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP Around 79 per cent of liquid soaps and 29 per cent of bar soaps contain triclosan — an antibiotic designed to kill a wide variety of germs. However it seems the need for cleanliness could actually be too effective and lead to bacterial resistance. This in turn can contribute to incidence of MRSA. This chemical is an unnecessary addition to most products and retailers should phase out such products as soon as possible.

MUMS AND BABIES BEWARE! One of the main things to avoid during pregnancy are laurel sulphates (often in shampoos and toothpaste). Our skin absorbs around 60 per cent of products. So what we apply to our skin goes into our system which is then absorbed by the foetus. Parabens (often in deodorants, shampoos and make-up) have been linked with cancer so should also be avoided. Don't bathe your baby in anything apart from plain warm water for at least a month after the birth. Their skin is tender and thin and the chemicals that they absorb leave them with skin problems for the rest of their lives. Use olive oil on dry cracked skin or even breast milk! Baby wipes often contain propylene glycol, a chemical that carries moisture in cosmetics. A common ingredient in anti-freeze and paint it's classified as a safe toxin. Talcum powder contains a substance similar to asbestos and the use of talc has been linked to increased cases of ovarian cancer. — Daily Mirror
(Source: Mumbai Mirror, Page 34, 23rd Sept 2007)