What was I waiting for? Why had I bought these things in the first place? Most of the time, the answer was, "Because it smells good and came with the set." I had used the body wash, hand lotion, lip gloss, and shampoo, but the rest, I would probably never touch. It was wasted money and I knew it. The situation was made worse in that some things were so old that they had separated, curdled (I'll bet you didn't know lotion could do that.), or otherwise was no longer usable.
Combined with the information I have read over the past year or so about toxic chemicals and food additives which are perfectly legal and are allowed to be present in our food supply by the FDA and the information about makeup preservatives and fillers I learned at the makeup/makeover party I went to last night, I began to read the labels.
I found the following ingredients included in makeup, lotion, perfume, body glitter, body wash, soap, shampoo, etc. After each entry, I have included a little information about what the substance is, common uses, and potential negative effects on the human body:
Bismuth (medicinal, treatment for gastric disorders; replacement for lead, used in cosmetics for its iridescence/light refraction): can cause bismuth poisoning, which affects the kidneys, liver, and bladder. Skin and respiratory irritation may follow exposure to the respective organs. As with lead, overexposure to bismuth may result in the formation of a black deposit on the gums, called a bismuth line.
Talc (industrial lubricant, chalk, baby powder, cosmetics): may cause breathing problems, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and skin cancer. Approximately 75% of all ovarian tumors contain talc. The FDA classifies talc as "generally recognized as safe," (GRAS) which is not the same as "safe" in my book.
Propylene Glycol (solvent, humectant, food preservative, key ingredient in electronic cigarettes) FDA classified as GRAS, can cause asthma, hay fever, eczema, and allergic reactions. May cause burning and stinging when applied topically.
BHT (fuel and oil additive, food additive): may cause ADHD, cancer
Parabens (all forms) (preservative, bactericide, fungicide, food additive): Parabens mimic estrogen, which may cause breast cancer; may cause early puberty in young girls; skin irritation, contact dermatitis, rosacea; reacts with UVB light causing increased skin aging and DNA damage.
Artificial colors (food, drink, fabric, and cosmetic coloring): derived from coal tar and petroleum, nearly half of all food dyes that have been introduced have since been banned or had their use restricted; can cause ADD, ADHD, hives, thyroid tumors, liver damage, kidney damage, elevated white blood cell count indicating inflammation in the body.
Artificial preservatives (fungicide, bactericide): respiratory problems, asthma, ADHD,
Ambergris (solid, waxy, flammable grease derived from sperm whale vomit and feces): although it does not cause any ill effects, knowing that you're putting poop and puke on your skin is enough to turn most people off.
Toluene (industrial solvent, intoxicant): can cause exhaustion, confusion, weakness, drunk-like behaviors, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and color blindness.
Formaldehyde (embalming fluid): carcinogenic, can cause drying and cracking of the skin and/or welts
Fragrances: approximately 95% of the chemicals used in the manufacturing of perfumes, body sprays, and other scented cosmetics contain derivatives of petroleum, which are known to be toxic, can cause cancer, birth defects, asthma, central nervous system disorders, and allergic reactions (including headache and migraine).
I was slathering chemical slurry onto my face and body for decades without caring, knowing, or thinking about what I was doing. For all I know, I caused some illnesses, made some conditions worse, and wasted a ton of money on poisons. I feel like such a gullible fool.
Given the results of my reading, recommendations from health-conscious friends, and my own extensive research on these ingredients and how to protect my body, I threw away a white kitchen-size trash bag full of junk products that were probably slowly killing me, making me sick, and making my Psoriasis and asthma worse. It just occurred to me that I recently started wearing perfume again after a long period of not doing so. I had noticed that I was getting winded easier and that it took me longer to recover after walking up the long hill from the parking garage to my class at school on the 4th floor. I started out taking the stairs, but got so winded that I took several minutes to resume a normal breathing pattern and the inability to take a deep breath lasted for up to 2 hours. It concerned me, but I didn't put two and two together until right now this very instant. Wow, perfume is horrible for lung function! Smelling girly and pretty is so not worth me having asthma again. I was originally diagnosed in 2002 while I was living in Montgomery, AL where several things I am allergic to flourish (Goldenrod, for one). When I moved out of the state, my asthma vanished. I no longer needed a rescue inhaler or Advair.
So, I have switched to using Burt's Bees for lotion, facial cleanser, facial moisturizer, lotions, and lip balm. I use witch hazel for astringent, clean my makeup brushes with a mixture of witch hazel and tea tree oil, and I use Sweet Minerals for all of my makeup needs (except mascara, which they are formulating and will release soon). Sweet Minerals contains no fillers. [FYI, ladies, Bare Minerals contains Bismuth, which is water insoluble and the reason why you can't put their eyeshadows on wet for stronger color.] Also, Sweet Minerals gives back to the local community through sales of eyeshadow colors made for good causes, was founded in Maryland, and is growing very quickly. Get in on the ground floor and do your face a favor: try it! I fell in love from first swirl, tap, and buff.
I sincerely hope that this information at least causes you to read the labels on the products you use. Please, be aware of what is in the products you use and consume. In this life, we only get one body and one lifetime. So, treat them with respect and do not risk either.
Peace, love, and cupcakes.
No comments:
Post a Comment