7 Harmful Ingredients In Cosmetics And Beauty Products: These Beauty Ingredients Can Be Dangerous For Your Skin And Health

Beauty products aren't simply spotted on the shelf and added to the shopping cart anymore. There's a whole lot more research that goes into buying them. After all, they are sitting on the skin of your face and body so it's quite necessary to be careful about it. Lipsticks, mascaras and body scrubs may look glistening and gorgeous from the exterior but it's difficult to tell what's inside. Waxes, oils, fragrances and sometimes there can even be substances much more harmful. It may be difficult to tell what's inside the bottles and jars that contain beauty products. Encased in matte finished cases and gold coloured tubes, it's not easy to look past it. When they said seeing is believing, it wasn't necessarily true in the case of harmful ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products.

Beauty products that do not have formulas approved by regulation authorities, a specific point of origin or aren't clear with their ingredient list can be difficult to trust. This is because there's no telling what is inside their formulas. Sometimes even when ingredient lists are disclosed, they are simply lines of jargon that are difficult to decipher. So what do you do when you need to purchase a beauty product the next time; stop buying them completely? Not on our watch. What we recommend is bookmarking this article and keeping an eye out for these 7 harmful ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products.

Be Aware Of These 7 Harmful Ingredients In Cosmetics And Beauty Products That Can Be Dangerous For Your Skin And Health

The next time you purchase any beauty product; whether it's for your hair, body or face, ensure that it isn't jam-packed with harmful ingredients like these ones.

1. Parabens

Parabens feature on top of our list because of how common it is in products. It is a group of chemicals that are present in numerous beauty products which range from face masks to shampoos. Parabens are used to increase the longevity of products as a preservative but can end up disrupting the hormonal balance of the body.

2. Phthalates

These are chemical compounds which are used to soften plastic or affect the consistency of substances. They are used to make nail polishes less brittle when worn and make hair sprays softer and less stiff in the hair. Phthalates are linked to disruption of the endocrine system.

3. SLS or SLES

These terms can be broken down as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. They are substances responsible for making beauty products foam and lather more to give that squeaky clean feeling so many desire. This is why they are commonly used in face washes and shower gels. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate can cause irritation on the skin.

(Also Read: How To Get Thick Hair Naturally: 5 Amazing Ingredients For Strong Hair)

4. Mineral Oil

Take a long hard look at the next expensive bottle of beauty oil that you buy. If mineral oil features in the list, be warned. Used as a filler in multiple lotions, oils and creams, mineral oil can clog the pores and coat the skin, leading to acne and pimples.

5. Formaldehyde

This is one of the most deadly chemicals that can be featured in beauty products. It is used in the making of nail polishes and eyelash glue. Formaldehyde is a dangerous toxin that can be inhaled and can lead to irritation of the skin as well as of the respiratory tract.

6. BHT

This chemical stands for butylated hydroxytoluene and is used in a wide variety of beauty products to prevent its changing of colour or texture when exposed to air. Though BHT goes by ingredient lists as an antioxidant, it can cause skin irritation and may even be a carcinogen.

7. Lead

This heavy metal is often found in makeup products like lipsticks and eyeliners. Sometimes trace amounts of it can be ingesting when smacking one's lips or reapplying lipstick. Exposure to lead has serious consequences as it can lead to cognitive and behaviour-related issues.

(Also Read: 9 Products That Celebrate Natural Beauty)

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