Toxic Makeup

Beginning Jan. 1, in the state of California, cosmetics companies now have to inform state authorities if any of their products contain chemicals found to cause cancer or harm the reproductive system. (The federal government has a whole list of drugs that fall under this domain of being harmful.)

In addition to all of these, many scientists are looking at phthalates (which is in nail polishes and perfumes) because they were found to affect the reproductive systems of lab animals. Plus, researchers have also found that this toxin can be absorbed through the skin (based on research with lab animals.)

All of this has created a media frenzy in the country and some have become hysterical with the notion that all cosmetics now must somehow be inherently dangerous. The media has fed off this tiny scare to make people think that there is now some sort of hidden danger in the everyday cosmetics they use.

Researchers have already admitted that small amounts of chemicals found on the federal government's list are of no risk to people. This means that painting your nails once a week, more than likely, will not kill you.

In general, there are a lot of things that can be dangerous to human being when ingested in large quantities. If you drink too much water in a short time frame, you could end up with kidney failure. This doesn't mean that people should be scared of water though.

Perhaps, if someone changed her nail polish multiple times throughout the day, every day, then there would be a problem. However, most people do not expose themselves to risky levels of toxic agents (possibly) in cosmetics that would lead to major health effects.

Despite all of this, now even the European Union is attempting to set up some sort of accountability system via the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization rule (REACH). If implemented, all companies (not just cosmetic companies) would have to collect and submit data on all the risks associated with the ingredients in their products.

Experts guess that such a rule, would cost the chemical industry about $6.7 billion, but may save $70 billion in healthcare costs.

Now, people should be all for accountability when it comes to product ingredients as well as product research. However, a line has to be drawn.

The recent scare tactics to make people afraid of the products they have probably been using for years is just a bit ridiculous. Obviously, health problems are no joke, but when the science isn't there to back up any sort of major trends or concrete dangers, then people really shouldn't buy into what-if scenarios as presented in the latest round of articles and TV broadcasts.