In Russia, the question of the harmfulness / usefulness of cosmetics is not very relevant yet. And those who are interested in the quality of products that enter the body not only with food, but also through the largest organ – through the skin, can only follow the discussions that are unfolding in the West and in the United States. In the past few months, an active campaign has begun in the United States to tighten policy towards cosmetics manufacturers. And then a short video came out, clearly explaining why this is so important.
In general, the movement for the production of safe cosmetics has been working in the United States for several years now. Since 2004, the Cosmetics Safety Database has been in existence, constantly providing information on safe and dangerous personal care products. But in the last few months, the discussion about the importance of paying attention to what we put on and rub into our skin every day has acquired a special status – the Safe Cosmetics Bill is being considered in the US Congress.
Annie Leonard, one of the movement’s leaders, has released a short video that explains why it’s so important to be not only vigilant when choosing beauty products, but also civic consciousness and speak out in support of this bill – so that there will be state rules on what you can and cannot do. use in cosmetics.
Countless chemicals that are perfectly legally used in the manufacture of cosmetics have not been tested at all, have not been studied thoroughly enough, or are even definitely poisons. Many of the chemicals already proven to adversely affect the endocrine system are extremely widely used, such as triclosan (found in 75% of all liquid soaps in the US; the same ingredient that makes antibacterial soap so) and triclocarban (most commonly found in in deodorizing bar soap).
Not so long ago, scientists have found a whole list of reasons why these components should not be used in cosmetic products. At the end of July this year, the Natural Resources Defense Council submitted a proposal to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the use of triclosan and triclocarban in soap and other body products. These ingredients are widely used in the production of antibacterial soaps, shower gels, deodorants, lip gloss, shaving gels, dog shampoos and even toothpaste. They can be found in the products of many well-known brands, such as Colgate (Colgate).
Although they have been used for decades, they have long been proven to be no more effective at preventing disease than ordinary soap and water. In other words, these components actually do only two things: allow companies to put the word “antibacterial” on their products and pollute the water and, as a result, the environment.
In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tested 84 samples of sewer sludge from different regions of the United States, triclosan was found in 79 samples, and triclocarban in all 84 … Studies in 2007 also showed that in plants that grow along the route of sewage flow , the concentration of these chemicals is high. As a result, these substances end up not only in those plants that grow near wastewater, but also in those that grow near water bodies, where waste water is eventually discharged … At the same time, triclocarban is a very stable compound and does not decompose for about 10 years. Triclosan breaks down into… dioxins, carcinogens that have been proven to cause cancer. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in just two years – from 2003 to 2005 – the content of triclosan in the bodies of Americans increased by an average of 40 percent!
In addition, these chemicals disrupt the endocrine system. The insidiousness of triclocarban lies in the fact that it does not demonstrate hormonal activity by itself, but it does affect other hormones – androgen, estrogen and cortisol. In addition, it affects thyroid hormones.
“As a mother, I want to make sure that the shampoo, sunscreen, bubble bath and other care products my daughter uses are safe,” says Annie Leonard, creator of the Makeup Story video. – If I buy all these products in a pharmacy in a special children’s section and they have a special label, then they must be safe, right? The labels are inspiring: gentle, pure, natural, no harmful ingredients, pediatrician recommended, dermatologist tested, and of course, no tears shampoo.
“But when you flip the package, put on the magic magnifying glasses, read the strange names printed in small, small print, and then drive them into a search engine on the Internet, you will find out that the product for the child may contain sodium laureate sulfate, diazolidinyl urea, ceteareth- 20 and other components that are usually paired with carcinogens such as formaldehyde or dioxide, Annie continues. “Carcinogenic substances in baby shampoo?” Are you kidding me??
Annie’s own investigation showed that the danger exists not only for children, but also for adults. The average American bathroom is a minefield of toxic chemicals. Sunscreens, lipstick, moisturizers, shaving creams – most cosmetics and care products for children and their mothers and fathers contain chemicals that lead to the development of cancer or other diseases.
The information received inspired Annie Leonard to create the video “The History of Cosmetics” and join the movement for safe cosmetics.
“It turns out that although you and I, we are all trying to choose safe products created by responsible companies, the most important decisions have already been made before that – manufacturing companies and the government have decided for us what should appear on store shelves,” says the author of the film.
Here are some makeup facts that Annie learned while making the video:
– All foamy products for children – shampoos, body gels, bath foams, etc., containing sodium laureate sulfate, also contain a complementary component – 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen that also causes kidney, nervous and respiratory diseases. systems. Unlike some other countries, the US does not regulate the use of formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, and many other toxic ingredients. As a result, they can be found in many well-known brands, including Johnson’s Baby!
– In theory, if you use sun protection, then you are safe … No matter how, because a large number of those substances that provide a protective effect lead to the development of cancer, and can also disrupt the production of estrogen and thyroid hormones. More than half of all products contain oxybenzone, which disrupts the endocrine system, while it accumulates in the skin. A study by the Centers for Disease Control showed that oxybenzone is present in the body in 97% of the subjects!
– What danger can lurk in a tube of lipstick? And we apply it quite a bit. None, unless you’re against lead. A study by the Safe Cosmetics Movement found lead in nearly two-thirds of the most famous lipstick brands. The highest levels of lead were found in the products of brands such as L’Oreal, Maybelline and Cover Girl! Lead is a neurotoxin. There is no concentration of lead that is considered safe for children, but it has been found in all samples of children’s facial products!
Since the Russian government is unlikely to think soon about how to make our products safer, we can only hope that the tough rules for cosmetics manufacturers in the US and Europe (where they have long begun to solve this problem) will affect safety and those products that enter our market, as well as self-education – study the composition of cosmetics and search for information about their effect on the human body on the Internet.
ps The NTV channel also conducted its own investigation into what is used as ingredients in cosmetics, you can watch it