45% of People Worry Almost Toxic Makeup — Should You?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for making sure that food, drugs and other consumer products — including cosmetics — are safety. But you may exist surprised to learn that they exercise not actively regulate the contents of corrective products sold in the United states of america. Therefore, the makeup yous habiliment may contain chemical ingredients that could be harmful to your health.

Mutual contaminants found in cosmetics range from lead and asbestos to phthalates and more. They can exist institute in lipstick, powders, fragrances, nail polish, lotions and other dazzler products. The health risks associated with this dangerous list of hidden ingredients include cancer, fertility issues, hormone imbalance and neurological bug, to name just a few.

Nosotros surveyed 1,000 Americans to approximate their concern and knowledge of toxic risks from makeup products. Fundamental findings reveal:

  • 45% of people are concerned about the potential dangers of unregulated cosmetics.
  • 55% of American women wrongly presume the FDA regulates cosmetic ingredients.
  • 1 in 3 people NEVER check corrective ingredients.
  • 46% of frequent makeup-wearers proactively review cosmetic ingredients before making a purchase.

In this post, nosotros explore the results and provide useful tips on how to identify safer makeup options.

Majority of Women Unaware of FDA Makeup Regulations

Percentage of American women who assume the FDA regulates cosmetic ingredients

Americans trust the FDA to oversee the safety of products they apply every mean solar day, including cosmetics. As our survey shows, that trust has led 55% of female respondents to wrongly assume that the system regulates makeup ingredients. And 59% of men made the same mistaken assumption.

The FDA has been regulating the cosmetics industry since the 1930s, but it has created no substantial guidelines manufacturers must follow. As clarified by the FDA, "The police force does not crave corrective products and ingredients, other than color additives, to take FDA approval earlier they get on the market." In contrast to the FDA's more detailed oversight of food and drug products, corrective manufacturers are non required to share their product formulas or even register with the FDA. They are left to regulate themselves.

Compared to the rest of the world, U.S. regulations of chemicals and contaminants in makeup products are drastically limited. An assay by the Ecology Working Group (EWG) identified more twoscore nations that take developed specific and strict regulations for the ingredients of cosmetics and personal care products. Some have restricted or completely banned more than 1,400 chemicals from use in cosmetics. The FDA has likewise taken similar measures to ban and restrict such chemicals for safety reasons — but just for a full of 9 chemicals.

Can Toxic Chemicals in Makeup Really Hurt Me?

How much of an impact tin subconscious chemicals in makeup really have on your health? For many years, studies have shown that peel absorbs cosmetic chemicals, allowing them to enter the bloodstream. Powder makeup products may exist inhaled, bringing potential contaminants such as asbestos into the airway and lungs. Lip makeup may besides be ingested past repeatedly licking or biting your lips, delivering the chemicals to your stomach and digestive system.

The amount of exposure to any harmful chemic is a central factor in its potential bear on on your wellness. For frequent makeup-wearers, daily apply of a variety of products leads to chronic exposure over many years.

Health Risks from Makeup

Due to the broad spectrum of contaminants that may be present across a wide variety of makeup products, the list of potential resulting health issues is long. Some common health concerns connected to toxic cosmetics include:

  • Cancers, such every bit chest cancer and cancerous mesothelioma
  • Fertility issues and nativity defects
  • Neurological issues
  • Hormone imbalances
  • Asthma
  • Thyroid bug

The risks of developing serious wellness problems such as these must exist weighed against the level of trust y'all have in the manufacturers of your preferred makeup products.

33% Never Check the Ingredients in Makeup

Number of people who check cosmetic ingredients

Many people examine the labels of their food products, or what goes in their bodies, before making a purchase. But, according to our survey results, i in three people never look at the ingredients of new cosmetics, or what goes on their bodies. When nosotros intermission that response down by gender, the numbers shift to 20% of women and 49% of men who never examine makeup labels.

Unsurprisingly, frequent makeup-wearers are the most proactive, with 46% in the habit of reviewing corrective ingredients before making a purchase. Knowing what to look for — even for the biggest makeup lover — is non easy or straightforward.

How to Spot Toxic Makeup

How to identify toxic makeup and cosmetics

I of the biggest obstacles in deciphering the dangers lurking in a makeup label is that not all of the potentially harmful ingredients are actually listed.

For instance, contempo research uncovered that more than one-half of the popular cosmetic products they tested contained significant evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used to increase durability and water resistance in makeup. Nigh none of the PFAS-heavy products included the chemicals on their ingredients labels. PFAS are known to cause multiple health problems, such equally cancer, high cholesterol and weakened allowed systems.

One common makeup ingredient y'all may see on labels but mistakenly assume holds no take chances is talc. Often added to cosmetics to help absorb moisture, talc can exist perfectly safe. But dangers ascend from the possible contamination of talc with asbestos, a microscopic cancer-causing natural fiber that tin do severe damage to your lungs. Talc and asbestos are natural minerals that often grade close together geologically, resulting in the need for all talc deposits to be tested for asbestos. If manufacturers skip that step, consumers risk developing asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.

Lead is a harmful heavy metal and naturally occurring impurity that tin can show upward in lipstick and any eye products containing kohl. High levels of lead tin can cause serious anemia, neurological issues and kidney issues in children. Fifty-fifty low-level atomic number 82 exposure has been shown to cause learning and beliefs bug. The ingredients of cosmetic products marketed to children should be examined closely.

Another carcinogenic ingredient ofttimes plant in beauty products is formaldehyde. Often used in smash smooth, smash glue and eyelash glue, the chemic has been completely banned from cosmetics in Japan and Sweden.

Additional chemical contaminants to look for on cosmetic labels include:

  • Triclosan: Oft found in body wash and toothpaste
  • Phthalates: Often constitute in boom smooth, fragrances and hairspray
  • Parabens: Oft used in moisturizers and soaps
  • Toluene: Oftentimes found in boom polish
  • Carbon Black: Oftentimes found in mascara, lipstick and eyeliner

How to Identify Toxic vs. Safe Makeup Products

Understanding the terminology in makeup labels

Deciphering the ingredients listing on your cosmetics is no easy feat. The chemic names tin can be confusing, equally manufacturers oft identify certain chemicals past alternating names. Use these tips to meliorate your odds of finding safe makeup products.

Don't Trust Makeup Labels

Certain phrases on dazzler products should not be trusted. The terms "natural" and "organic" do not guarantee a product has no toxic ingredients and there is no legal continuing to verify their accuracy. Likewise be mindful that products labelled "long-lasting" or "habiliment-resistant" may incorporate PFAS, which are chemicals known to cause serious health issues.

Trustworthy Resource for Safe Makeup

Multiple organizations dedicated to making makeup safer for everyone have created valuable online and in-app databases that can assist y'all decipher the health dangers hidden in your cosmetics' ingredients. Many too provide recommendations for nontoxic makeup products.

  • Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
    • Features data on more than 74,000 products from the scientists at EWG
  • Campaign for Prophylactic Cosmetics
    • Created by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
  • Retailer Report Carte: Who'southward Minding the Store?
    • Research the actions of your favorite stores on issues of toxic chemicals in their products
  • INCIDecoder
    • Search by products or ingredients to discover the full details on all ingredients and their culling names

Wearing makeup is a daily practice for many Americans, yet so many assume the cosmetics they apply each day are safe. Beingness mindful of the potential dangers of toxic makeup, especially during regular cancer screenings, tin brand a difference in achieving a healthy future.

What is in makeup infographic

Methodology:

The survey featured in this post was conducted on YouGov Direct. One thousand U.S. adults ages 18 and older were surveyed on Aug. xi, between 11 a.yard. and v:32 p.one thousand. Eastern time. Data is weighted based on historic period, gender, education level, political affiliation and ethnicity to exist nationally representative of adults 18 and older in the United States. The margin of error is approximately 4.v% for the overall sample.