Are Cosmetics Chemical Ingredients Safe?

Beauty products come in different forms, types, and purposes, depending on what they are meant for. Cosmetics are made up of different organic compounds extracted from either organic materials, such as plant or animal matter, or synthetic ones, like mineral oil or petroleum jelly. Cosmetics have different functions. Those intended for daily facial care and skin maintenance may be utilized to protect or cleanse the skin or the body.

Cleansers are the most important part of any cosmetics. In addition to removing dirt and oil, they also exfoliate the top layer of skin to reveal younger-looking or fresher-looking complexion. Facial cleansers are normally cream-based, but some lotions and creams in the market are made up of natural extracts that serve as a mild astringent. Cleansers should not be chosen according to the brand, rather, the product should meet the following criteria. They should be suitable for everyday use, cause no allergy, and should be oil-free.

Sunscreen is another important part of all beauty products, especially among summer and pregnancy products. It protects the skin by keeping it free from sunburn. Most sunscreens have strong sunscreen components, such as zinc oxide. Others are water-based and have an SPF of 30.

Moisturizers are the second most important part of all cosmetics. They help to keep the skin soft and supple, and provide necessary hydration. Most moisturizers are water-based, but there are some oil-based cosmetic products available. Their main ingredients are petrolatum, and some plant oils.

Some manufacturers use silicone additives to increase the shelf life of their cosmetic products, and they are widely used. Parabens, which are synthetic preservatives, are known to cause allergic reactions in people with certain types of skin. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently lists parabens as a substance that may be harmful to women of all ages. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel considered this additive to be inadequate as a beauty product chemical, and have placed it on the list of cosmetics that may be harmful to the skin.

There are many regulations in place to ensure that the cosmetics that are sold are safe for consumers to use. The U.S. FDA regulates cosmetics, and they are required to include warning labels for products that contain lead, asbestos, mercury, and other hazardous chemicals. The European Union (EU) Beauty Products Regulations ban the use of toxic ingredients such as dioxane, triclosan, and artificial fragrance compounds. The EU also requires companies to abide by their own strict regulations, and their cosmetic products are subjected to stricter testing than cosmetics from the US and other areas of the world.