Safety Buying Tips: Avoid These Harmful Ingredients in Beauty Products

We live in a wicked world where sometimes money comes first. This penchant for the buck applies just as much, if not more so in beauty, health and cosmetic products.

Unless you are informed, you can easily be misled into believing that a very dangerous product is actually very good for you. One of the key reasons that expose all of us to this risk is the limited control being exercised by authorities over what are termed "herbal" preparations. The term "herbal" is being used to denote that a product is made from only natural products and is therefore safe to use.

Many an organization producing these "herbal" wares include harmful artificial ingredients. Their success is through the limited regulations as already stated which also permit them to include other non-herbal ingredients in the full knowledge that there are no statutes to catch this indiscretion on their part. Remember: the objective of a product maker is profit first and your wellbeing last.

If the law allows it or does not specifically proscribe it, many a manufacturer will use any means to improve the return for the investor no matter the potential or real danger to the consumer. It is therefore up to you the consumer to ensure that all products that you use are safe.

Below are potential hazards in personal health care and cosmetic products for your benefit.

-Products with many ingredients.

Some of the ingredients in these wares may not have been adequately tested for their individual effect and may also not have been tested together with others or chemicals in use with supporting, competitive commodities or other chemicals one may come across after using the beauty/health care product in question.

-Unnamed ingredients or ones listed in code

The manufacturer may want to retain secrecy on the chemical used. You can not therefore find out if you can use the merchandise safely.

-Preservatives

Commodities with the following preservatives should be avoided: diazolidinyl urea, benzethonium chloride, methylisothiazolinone, BHT, phenoxyethanol, imidazolidinyl urea, and BHA, have been known to cause dermatitis and can be an irritant.

-Fragrance/Scent/Perfume

Many scents are made up of many chemicals. Some of these chemicals you may react to. The manufacturers need not specify the ingredients that make up the scents. Some hazardous substances include tolune, ketone, benzyl chloride and many others.

-Talc

Some talc contain asbestiform fibres which have been thought to influence cancer of the ovaries.

-Amines

In some instances products with amines in combination with other chemicals can result in cancer. Cocamide MEA is one such ingredient.

-Parabens

These chemicals upset the body's hormones, can cause skin sensitivity and may result in allergy reactions and are suspect in breast cancer cases.

-Coal tar derivative colors.

There are some colors made from coal tar that can cause cancer. Although regulated the full extent of their effect is unknown.

-"Dying To Look Good"

Buy this very useful book which will guide you in selecting products that are safe.

-Read the labels

The most important of thing you to ensure safety for your loved ones against the potential hazards in beauty and personal care products is to read the labels on all the commodities that you intend to use. You would rather not use the product if you are not sure that the ingredients in it are safe.

*Christine H. Farlow (Author), Dying to Look Good : The Disturbing Truth About What's Really in Your Cosmetics, Toiletries and Personal Care Products (Paperback), Amazon.com