Recently, LUSH launched a campaign to shine the light on cosmetic testing on animals and got people to sign a petition, in hopes that it will put an end to it.
In this campaign, they acted out what goes on behind the scene from the end to the start of such testing. Their "animal subject" was a human .
View video:
This issue has been one of the hot topics for the longest time, and I recall having to write essays for it in my studies when I was studying in Australia. I had to take both sides of the argument into consideration.
My stand in regards to this from then, is still the same now.
It is an unnecessary. Just because we are the "smarter" animal, it does not give us the right to conduct tests like these in the notion of "Better them than us".
It's businesses that are money driven that results to such acts as chemicals are cheaper or produces more impacting results in the short term than using natural ingredients.
What I mean by short term results?
Enjoy now, suffer later.
Since I am on the topic of cosmetics, lets look at the harmful ingredients to avoid in them?
Read here for the list of harmful ingredients in our daily skincare products!
A prove that these ingredients are being used in beauty products, let's do a simple search on the ingredients used 2 foundation products from 2 different but popular makeup brand.
(I cropped out the brand names, but if you know makeup... You will figure them out)
Talc: As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It has been strongly linked to ovarian cancer, which has become the fourth most common fatal cancer in women.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate: It is used to absorb, reflect or scatter UV rays; it protects the skin from sunburn and other damaging effects of the sun. Shown to have hormone-mimicking effects. It can interfere with cellular signaling, causing mutations, and lead to cell death. This reaction may also be implicated in cardiovascular disease. May cause allergic reactions.
Silica: Used to absorb sweat and oil, but prevent light reflection, and improve spreadability. Amorphous silica is considered safe for use in cosmetics, while crystalline Silica is linked to a variety of health hazards, including cancer, allergies, and organ system toxicity.
Boron Nitride: It offers excellent adhesion, some whitening of the skin, and low friction on the skin, which explains why it feels silky and soft upon application and on your skin. Although it's not the best oil absorber, it won't change the colour in your foundation, eye shadows, or blushes if you have oilier skin.
Dimethicone: A silicone-based polymer that provides a smooth application. It fills in uneven texture and fine lines, which helps create a smooth and flawless look in products like primers, foundations, and lotions.
That is 3 harmful ingredients out of 5 and they make up of the larger quantity in the product. Hmm...
Water: Ok, this is easy to understand. Skip.
Cyclopentasiloxane: Used to give a silky and slippery feeling to the touch and acts a mild water repellent by forming a protective barrier on the skin. It can also fill in fine lines and wrinkles, giving the face a temporary “plump” look. May cause mild skin and eye irritation. There are many concerns regarding the harmful effects it may have on the environment (i.e. marine life).
Polymethyl Methacrylate: widely known as a plastic component used in products, it is appearing as an ingredient in a number of cosmetics and aestheticians' offices as a filler for wrinkles and fine lines. Considered safe but it does list concerns that it can be a carcinogen, cause allergic reactions, immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity.
Butylene Glycol: Used as a solvent, as a viscosity-decreasing agent (to thin creams and gels so they’re easier to use), and as a conditioning agent. May be irritating to the skin, eyes, and or nasal passages, but it is the least potentially irritating of all the glycols.
PEG-10 Dimethicone: A synthetic, silicone-enhanced polymer that functions as skin protectant and helps products adhere to skin better. Not much information if it has any effects on human body yet.
That is also 3 out of 5, but it seems like compared to the first product, this is the better one out of the 2. But would you risk it? We apply foundation on a pretty substantial portion of our body and for areas with pretty thin thickness of skin, for quite a duration.
Another product I want to mention is lipstick, ladies use them everyday (every hour) and it is something that we actually consume. A few months back, I saw the post of the presence of lead in very popular makeup brand popping up everywhere on Facebook.
Click on image below to be directed to news video:
In short:
But lead is not the only toxic in lipstick, yes, there are more:
Cadmium: Linked to stomach tumors
Carmine: A red pigment/dye derived from insects native to South America and Mexico that live as parasites on cactus plants. Used as a colorant in food, cosmetics and textiles. Has been associated with severe allergic reactions.
Petroleum or Mineral oil: Help moisturize your lips by sealing in existing moisture, it does not treat dryness. Actually dries lips, so you have to keep applying the lip balm in order to get the desired, moisturized effect. It’s a vicious cycle.
Titanium dioxide: Used to block UV rays, but becomes dangerous to human health when it makes up 25 percent or more of a product’s composition.
Menthol, camphor, and phenol (sometimes listed as carbolic acid): Used to treat cold sores due to its drying properties but can lead to dryness, irritation, and peeling or flaky skin. Skin exposure to high levels of phenol has resulted in liver damage, diarrhea, dark urine, and hemolytic anemia.
Parabens: Used for their antimicrobial properties and are specifically known under the names methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. Acts like estrogen in the body and disrupt normal hormone function.
Fragrance (likely contains phthalates): linked to cancer and birth defects.
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It is quite a chunk-full of harmful/ synthetic ingredients that we use on ourselves without much knowledge just to make ourselves beautiful, right?
SO WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
After knowing, comes action.
I am not asking you to forgo beauty products all together~
There are alternatives, choices that dont practice acts like these:
Or are loaded with things that can make us sick:
We are the drivers of the beauty industry, if we stopped purchasing toxic makeup or from companies, they will ultimately have to change to cater to our preferences and needs.
In the next few posts to come, I will share with you alternatives that are:
In the meantime, you may read my review on Jane Iredale Cosmetics!
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