Lead in your lipstick

It's true that women will do almost everything to look beautiful at almost any price, but where do you draw the (lipstick) line?

It is now a known fact that most lipsticks contain lead and other dangerous metals such as cadmium. But did this frightening fact stop women from using lipstick? Well, of course not. If the lead in a lipstick would have an immediate effect then no woman would use it. But since lead at this level only has a long term accumulating effect and the damage is not imminent, women just overlook the harmful danger.

Lead in your lipstick is not only dangerous but also sounds scary. But what about other cosmetics and beauty products women use every day?

Deodorants, mascara, nail polish and hair dyeing products all contain dozens of toxic chemicals. Doesn't the idea that chemicals found in your facial cleanser are also the ones found in your floor scrubber bother you?

Following is a partial list of toxic ingredients found in popular cosmetic products:

Lead

Lead is found in more than 500 cosmetic products! Being a proven neurotoxin, lead is associated language and behavioral problems and miscarriage. Besides lipsticks, Lead is found in sunscreens, nail colors, and several toothpaste.

Aluminum

Aluminum is found in some antiperspirants. Aluminum is a metal associated with DNA damage and breast cancer.

Phthalates 

Phthalates are chemicals that are found in perfumes and nail polish. Phthalate is associated with early puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer.

Triclosan

Triclosan is found in soaps, deodorants and toothpastes to fight bacteria. Triclosan  can affect the body’s hormone systems and may badly affect normal breast development.

The list goes on and on, but don't women stop to wonder if the price of using those products is too high? Some of the above chemicals and many others used in cosmetic products are known to cause cancer. So why do women keep using them? Well, here we go again, making an effort to look beautiful comes with a high price.  

Tanning is bad for you

Throughout history and also nowadays, people perceive tanning in ambiguous way.

A tanned skin might suggest the person who wears it, is a peasant working in the field all day, or a high class person who can afford bathing in the sun while everybody else is working in the office under them neon lights.

Well, young western boys and girls certainly won't care for being mistaken for peasants. They just want to look good, and even if it can be argued differently, most people I know would agree that tanning does make you look better. And the underlying assumption here is that tanning doesn't turn your skin color into burning pink if you know what I mean…

The question we need to ask ourselves is what are the consequences of the exposure to the blistering sun? I'm afraid I don’t have good news for you.

It's no secret that adequate exposure to sun light creates Vitamin D, which mainly helps our body absorbing necessary calcium for our bones, but intentionally exposing our skin to the burning lights of the sun comes with a high price.

And I'm not only talking about cancer. Have you ever seen a surfer boy or a girl at the age of 40? I have to tell you their face is not a pleasant sight. Indeed, their tanned skin was a source for jealousy for many of their non-surfing friends over the years, but now their faces are wrinkled, with deep sun marks. Of course, when you surf you don't really care about anything else but that is for another post.

Tanning is like a double edge sword. Yes you will look better right after bathing in the sun, but a decade or two of accumulated exposure down the line will make your skin look scary…

As always, women (and some men) tend to overlook the long term damage and enjoy the short term benefit of looking good. And it is no different in this case.

I think that young age, together with women's uncontrolled desire to look good are to blame for throwing cautious at the wind.

In light of this burning light, you might turn to tanning beds or indoor tanning as they call it. Well, this is really pushing it. Lying in those sun beds exposes your body to deadly UV rays which significantly increase your chances for cancer.

Wake up women! It's time to draw the line. Yes to looking good – no to health damage.