Is makeup not good for us?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but we still seem to accentuate our features with makeup. So what exactly is in makeup products and should we trust these substances? Could makeup actually be bad for us? Ancient Egyptians grind up a mineral substance containing primarily lead sulphide to rim around their eyes,creating a sultry cleopatra look. Little did they know that lead is a potent neurotoxin which can lead to learning and behavioural difficulties in children. Later,creams,lotions and blush containing compounds of the radioactive element,radium were also sold to women,promising a youthful glow,until the harmful effects of exposure to radioactivity was discovered.
But makeup has come a long way and now there are only trace amounts of lead found in the products. Lead is found in nature,and is therefore,an unintentional contaminant from the manufacturing industries. Lipstick is about 47% oils,36% pigments,17% waxes and 5% other compounds including preservatives. The oils are primarily castor oils,extracted from a bean which contains the protein,ricin - one of the most toxic substances on this planet which has been used as a biological weapon. However,the process of extracting castor oil involves heating,thereby denaturing ricin and rendering it inactive.
Pigments now use synthetic dyes due to cost and production efficiencies,alth although traditionally,red pigments were extracted from dried and crushed cochineal insects. Some blue pigments are created with ferric ferrocyanide. Cyanide is extremely deadly,however,in this compound structure,cyanide has a very strong bond to iron. As a result,it is unable to come apart to poison us by eye shadow.
When it comes to mascara,its better to toss the tube after 3 months of opening. Harmful bacteria of the streptococcus species and certain fungi were discovered thriving in 36.4% of mascara tubes. This is especially important for contact lens wearers,as bacteria can easily enter the micro abrasions caused by the lens itself. Parabens have also been a big concern as they're present in a myriad of cosmetic products. Paraben works by mimicking oestrogen and binding to oestrogen receptors. This can cause the expression of genes to be changed and communication within cells to be altered. Additionally,it can lead to the growth of certain breast cancer cells. However,many products are switching to paraben - free,and a lot of research still needs to be done in order to reach any definitive conclusion.
But makeup has come a long way and now there are only trace amounts of lead found in the products. Lead is found in nature,and is therefore,an unintentional contaminant from the manufacturing industries. Lipstick is about 47% oils,36% pigments,17% waxes and 5% other compounds including preservatives. The oils are primarily castor oils,extracted from a bean which contains the protein,ricin - one of the most toxic substances on this planet which has been used as a biological weapon. However,the process of extracting castor oil involves heating,thereby denaturing ricin and rendering it inactive.
Pigments now use synthetic dyes due to cost and production efficiencies,alth although traditionally,red pigments were extracted from dried and crushed cochineal insects. Some blue pigments are created with ferric ferrocyanide. Cyanide is extremely deadly,however,in this compound structure,cyanide has a very strong bond to iron. As a result,it is unable to come apart to poison us by eye shadow.
When it comes to mascara,its better to toss the tube after 3 months of opening. Harmful bacteria of the streptococcus species and certain fungi were discovered thriving in 36.4% of mascara tubes. This is especially important for contact lens wearers,as bacteria can easily enter the micro abrasions caused by the lens itself. Parabens have also been a big concern as they're present in a myriad of cosmetic products. Paraben works by mimicking oestrogen and binding to oestrogen receptors. This can cause the expression of genes to be changed and communication within cells to be altered. Additionally,it can lead to the growth of certain breast cancer cells. However,many products are switching to paraben - free,and a lot of research still needs to be done in order to reach any definitive conclusion.
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