Skin care
7 Beauty Ingredients That Are Illegal…Just Not in the USIf you think European beauty products are better, you might be right -- or at least the ingredients in cosmetics might be better for you. Read on to find out why |
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You're probably familiar with formaldehyde in certain hair straightening products -- it was big news in 2012 when the FDA stepped in and asked certain companies to take it out of their formulations. "Because of the Brazilian Blowout controversy, most brands now offer safer options," says Robinson. "Given this change, I feel consumers and stylists will be a lot safer."
While the hair care industry may be moving in the right direction, there are dozens of other products that contain formaldehyde, and nail polish is one of the worst offenders. Opt for "three free" polish brands like Butter London, SpaRitual, and Zoya, which do not contain formaldehyde.
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Older comments
Good to know.
by caitlin_bickel Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 02:52PM Report as inappropriate
I hate that they do this to us in the US.
by tiffany_gallehugh Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 12:42PM Report as inappropriate
Liked. Too bad didn't name some common examples
by Dee Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 11:45AM Report as inappropriate
That's a lot of chemicals but I don't believe they are harmful in just cosmetics because they r such small amounts
by kfloyd01 Friday, May 10, 2013 at 09:19AM Report as inappropriate
Contrary to popular belief, oxybenzone is actually good for your skin. It's non-phototoxic (doesn’t cause skin reactions in the presence of sunlight). Trace amounts of oxybenzone can be absorbed into the bloodstream via topical application but is readily metabolized and excreted in the urine. Benzephenone is a substance found in plants that have been shown to actually kill cancer cells. Some benzophenones have been shown to have estrogenic properties and anti-dihydrotestosterone after being fed or injected to rats or applied to rat cells in lab dish, whereas benzophenone itself was shown to have no effect at all. There is research showing it is not linked to estrogenic activity. There is one study that showed it stimulated breast cancer cells in vitro (meaning in a lab dish). But that is vastly different from how oxybenzone is used in sunscreens. Oxybenzone was not shown to have hormone-disrupting effects when used as directed in permitted concentrations. Research to the contrary has been disproven by the European Union’s Scientific Committee for Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers, which is why oxybenzone is still permitted as a viable sunscreen throughout the European Union. In fact, the EU’s usage level for oxybenzone is higher than what is permitted in the United States (10% vs. 6% maximum). Later research on this topic has either been in-vitro or has focused on controlled doses of benzophenones given to fish, which isn’t representative of how these chemicals are used by people.
by hiddenexpose Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 01:42PM Report as inappropriate
I appreciate the fact that the article is balanced regarding the ingredients that are not yet proven safe or unsafe.
by AstridB Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 01:18AM Report as inappropriate
Thanks for the info.
by Alana_Danes Friday, April 26, 2013 at 07:57AM Report as inappropriate
One of my my creams have hydroquinone in it, good to know.
by nicky22 Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 07:11PM Report as inappropriate
It was a great article showing some alternatives...although I think some are not as bad as others.
by CinnaBlaze Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 06:56PM Report as inappropriate
It's a shame that these ingredients are still being sold if they're harmful.
by Monique3 Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 06:27PM Report as inappropriate