Putting on makeup has become almost second nature to many women – Wake up, wash your face, and apply layers of foundation, moisturizer, and makeup. But do we always know what we’re putting on our faces? Skin is porous so some of those chemicals get absorbed into our bodies, and not all of it is as harmless as we’d like.
Don’t wear makeup? Chances are you know someone who does, and this infographic might help them stay healthier.
According to HEAL(Health and Environment Alliance), under the label you will find a hidden story about chemicals in cosmetics. Cosmetics can actually contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that affect reproductive systems, as well as other concerning compounds. Considering the number of women I know facing fertility issues, this finding should actually not be very surprising.
Women actually use anywhere between 12-15 personal care products per day! That’s quite a few ingredients our skin is consuming. In 2020, 60% of tested samples in the Netherlands contained those EDCs that can be disruptive. My theory is that maybe on their own, all of these personal care products could be considered safe and pass any health guidelines. But do they properly factor in the usage of many personal care products simultaneously? I don’t know the answer to that, but it’s a question worth raising.
EDCs have a troubling list of potential consequences, from infertility and reproduction disorders, to impaired nervous system development and breast cancer.
So what can we do about it?
As informed consumers, we can try to make sure we’re shopping for the safest products for ourselves. I’m going to have to bring up this infographic every time I wander into a cosmetics store. Avoiding this list of known and suspected EDCs will leave me better safe than sorry.