How far would you go to be the fairest of them all? In
Elizabethan times, women rubbed lead on their face and mercury
in their lips to achieve beauty. The health problems were
innumerable and serious. During the Italian Renaissance, a
certain Signor Toffano created an arsenic-laced face powder.
This lovely little gimmick was marketed as a way for rich women
to rid themselves of their unwanted husbands. One flick of a
powder puff was enough to see him buried. Today we would baulk
at such a risk but we still happily slather ourselves in
chemicals so strong they are handled with protective clothing
in laboratories. Is it possible the cosmetic industry is still
peddling beauty to die for? How do we know, after all just
reading the ingredient list in a moisturiser seems to require a
biology degree.

Lets start with the ubiquitous sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).
This chemical is used in almost everything from toothpaste to
shampoos. But its side effects can include eczema, irritated
eyes and skin (with prolonged exposure) and possible
inflammation and infection of the urinary tract and vagina.
Checking children's products to make sure they use the less
harsh sodium laureth sulphate is a good idea as SLS has been
shown to permanently damage children's eyes.

Other dodgy ingredients include EDC's. These gender-bending
chemicals are linked to falling sperm counts in men. Some, like
Nonylphenol used in cosmetics, Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA)
and E320 (which can leach into cosmetics from PVC containers)
are restricted by the EU with a defined tolerable daily intake.
However, overtime they build up in our body tissues and some
experts consider there is no safe level for use.

Alpha hydroxy Acid (AHA). The cosmetic industrys favourite
discovery AHA and BHAs are fruit and milk sugar exfoliates
respectively. They work by rubbing off the outer layer of skin
to expose the younger-looking? skin beneath. They cannot, as
advertisers suggest, permanently improve your skin. In fact,
they could ruin it. The epidermis (top layer) of skin is an
important barrier protecting the body from UV rays and
chemicals we come in contact with. The body's natural reaction
to having it rubbed away is to create a thicker tougher
epidermis, trapping you into a cycle of exfoliating. If you
choose to regularly use products containing AHA's then you will
also need to use a stronger sunscreen. AHA's have only been
around ten years and their long-term effects are still unknown.

Natural products and extracts show the beauty industry has got
wise to our desire for a more natural life. But too often
"natural" ranges are just repackaged old products with small
amounts of "extracts" added to keep the consumer happy. Really
?natural? products may also need higher levels of preservatives
to keep them from going off, and so end up with the same number
of chemicals found in all cosmetics and toiletries. Finally of
course natural products such as plants and animal extracts can
easily be as poisonous as chemicals.

Baby soft skinBabies and young children are particularly
susceptible to infection, so products for children under three
must have 50 times less microbes then adult products- according
to EU law. This does mean they have many more preservatives in
them- including benzoates. Benzoates can cause gastric
irritation, mouth numbing and urticara and are often used in
baby wipes. Perhaps the best option is to choose products with
the smallest list of ingredients possible, and use baby soap
and water where possible.

Animal magicThe Romans once painted their nails with a mixture
of animal blood and fat. While this would horrify the public
today there are a surprising number of animal products on our
bathroom shelves. If you are a vegetarian this can make life
difficult. Some animal-derived ingredients are pretty easy to
spot other telltale names include:

Tallow, CI 77267, CI 77268, Collagen, Elastin, Gelatin,
Hyaluronic Acid Keratin, Musk, Serum Albumin, Unipertan

Even if cosmetics say they have not been tested on animals, the
individual ingredients are sure to have been tested, but not
necessarily by the manufacturer.

Are you worth it?

Before you get too alarmed remember few people suffer serious
health problems from cosmetics although many find certain
products don't agree with them. Buying simpler products, that
don't make us pay for wildly unrealistic advertising is
probably a good idea. Cosmetics and toiletries can clean us,
make us smell sweeter and enhance our looks but for real health
and beauty, throwing money at the beauty counter is not an
answer.

Boring but true: the only way to make your skin and hair
healthier, and eyes brighter are the old tried and tested
methods of health and nutrition. This means eating a balanced
diet, drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep. It
also means staying out of the sun, exercising regularly and
quitting smoking. It may not come in the most glamorous
package- but your body and health are definitely worth it.

About The Author: I work with the Green Directory
http://www.guidemeg reen.com and the Ethical Directory
http://www.getethic al.com to promote a greener and healthier
lifestyle. I also promote eco friendly Jobs and Employers at
http://www.jobs. guidemegreen. com