10 Chemicals in eye makeup that should be avoided & bull; hello healthy

Makeup is supposed to make you look prettier, but aesthetics come with no kidding consequences when you consider the toxic chemicals lurking behind eye shadow packaging, eye liner, mascara, glitter eye garnishes, to false eyelash adhesive.

Beauty experts say these chemicals can cause irritation, redness, dry eyes, scaly eyelids, and other serious long-term health conditions.

Here are 10 chemicals to avoid, and your ways to find better alternatives.

Harmful chemicals that are often found in eye makeup

1. Carbon black

Carbon black is commonly used in industry as a dye and strengthening agent because it is very fine, so it can blend with any element.

These chemical compounds are suspected carcinogens and can cause adverse health effects through inhalation, ingestion (ingestion), or direct skin contact. Citing the CDC Occupational Safety Guidelines, if inhaled, chronic exposure to carbon black causes decreased lung function, airway constriction (emphysema), myocardial dystrophy, organ system poisoning, and DNA damage. Carbon black can cause dryness of the skin with repeated and prolonged contact.

Carbon black is sometimes found in powder form in eye makeup, such as eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, and powdered eyebrow. It will appear on the label as carbon black, D&C Black No. 2, acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and thermal black.

2. Ethalomine group

Ethalomina is present in a variety of makeup products, from eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, to foundation and perfume. Monoethanolamine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) are prime examples of ethanolamine - a chemical group consisting of amino acids (building blocks of protein) and alcohol.

Citing Safe Cosmetics, nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA) is listed as a carcinogen in the National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens. Experimental studies have shown that NDEA causes liver cancer and kidney tumors in mice, and cancer of the nasal cavity in hamsters. TEA and DEA have been found to be hepatocarcinogenic agents (produce or tend to produce cancer in the liver) in female mice - the overall results are uncertain in human studies.

Studies have found that DEA affects male reproductive health. DEA changes the structure of the sperm, causing abnormalities that affect the ability of the sperm to swim and fertilize an egg. In addition, although the most likely route of exposure of the ethanolamine group is through direct skin contact, DEA accumulates in the liver and kidneys - causing organ poisoning as well as possible neurotoxic effects such as tremors. Another study suggests that memory function and brain development in children can be permanently impaired from mothers exposed to DEA.

To find out if your eye makeup product contains ethanolamine, check the packaging and look for compositions with the following names: Triethanolamine, diethanolamine, DEA, TEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, lauramide DEA, linoleamide MEA, myristamide DEA, oleamide DEA, stearamide MEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate.

3. BAK

Benzalkonium chloride (BAK / BAC) is a chemical used as a disinfectant, detergent, and antiseptic. These chemicals are found in hand sanitizing gels, first aid products (to prevent infection of minor cuts and abrasions), topical skin antiseptics, hygienic disposable towels and wet wipes, and disinfectant solutions used to clean surgical instruments.

Benzalkonium chloride is also sometimes used as a preservative in eyeliner, mascara and makeup cleaning fluids. BAK has been reported as a toxic agent for epithelial cells of the eye. These cells keep dust, water, and bacteria from getting into the eye, and provide a smooth surface on the cornea to absorb and distribute oxygen and nutrient cells from the tears throughout the cornea.

There aren't many studies out there looking at the long-term effects of benzalkonium chloride on the skin, such as when using eyeshadow. However, the Cosmetic Safety data center states that there is sufficient and compelling evidence that benzalkonium chloride is a toxic agent that has immunity to the body, skin, and respiration, with laboratory tests hinting at a mutative (carcinogenic) effect. Further, studies show the substance is a skin and eye irritant - redness, blurred vision, pain - and can damage the skin and eyes with the amount of damage depending on the length of exposure.

BAK may be listed in your favorite eye makeup product under a variety of names including, Alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; Benzalkonium chloride solution; Quarternary ammonium compounds, Benzylcoco alkyldimethyl, chlorides; quaternium-15 or guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.

4. Prime yellow carnauba wax

These waxes are commonly used in the cosmetic industry as a protective coating found in mascara and eyeliner to stiffen products and make them waterproof, as they are insoluble in water and in ethyl alcohol.

A number of occupational safety studies and guidelines state no specific adverse health effects (results are not conclusive or information is not available). However, overexposure can cause physical irritation to the eyes. Prime yellow carnauba wax clogs the oil glands in the eye and can cause dry eye disease, which affects 3.2 million women aged 50 and over in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Using beauty products that contain wax is not a good idea, says Dr. Dr Leslie E. O'Dell, director of the Dry Eye Center of Pennsylvania in Mechanicsburg and Manchester, quoted from Fox News. However, Japanese candles might be a better alternative, says O'Dell.

5. Formalin

Formalin, or formaldehyde, is a colorless, flammable corrosive gas with a pungent odor. The main route people are exposed to formaldehyde is by inhaling the gas. The liquid form can be absorbed through the skin.

Acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) exposure to formaldehyde through inhalation can cause respiratory symptoms, and irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Limited human studies have reported an association between formaldehyde exposure and lung and nasopharyngeal cancer.

Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, but there are also those who do not have the same reaction to formaldehyde exposure. Repeated or prolonged contact with the skin can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some individuals, with symptoms such as redness, itching, and a red rash and swelling of the skin that can cause blisters.

Formaldehyde can be listed on your eye makeup label as is (formalin or formaldehyde, formaldehyde), but may also appear as quaternium-15, DMDM ​​hydantoin, and urea.

6. Parabens

Parabens are preservatives commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products. This preservative is very effective in preventing the growth of mold, bacteria and yeast which can cause the product to spoil quickly, thus extending the shelf life and safety of the product.

The FDA says there is no reason for consumers to worry about parabens in cosmetics. Parabens have been safely used for nearly 100 years as preservatives in the food, medicine, and personal care and cosmetic industries. Parabens are derived from para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) which occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, cherries, carrots, blueberries, and onions. PHBA is also naturally formed in your body by the breakdown of several amino acids.

But some researchers feel there may be reason for concern. Parabens are absorbed through the skin and easily transported into the bloodstream. They also interfere with the endocrine glands and are linked to reproductive toxicity, precocious puberty, and breast cancer. Parabens can also make dry eye conditions worse because they block the release of oil from the oil glands to line the eyelids.

When reading labels, avoid any ingredients with the suffix "-paraben". Parabens used most commonly in cosmetics are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.

7. Aluminum powder

Aluminum powder is widely used to give color makeup. Aluminum powder itself is classified as a neurotoxin, is labeled as "high risk" by Cosmetic Safety, and has been linked to organ system toxicity.

This neurotoxin is thought to be much worse than mercury because it has been thought to interfere with various cellular and metabolic processes in the nervous system and other tissues, said a study published in the journal Pediatrics. We all have some mercury in our bodies, along with some other bad toxins, but the body does a pretty good job of getting rid of the toxins before they can actually cause any real damage. If there is long-term exposure to aluminum powder (and if especially in combination with thimerosal) it can interfere with the body's ability to excrete mercury, and as a result can make any amount of mercury in your system more toxic.

Makeup products may list aluminum powder on the label as LB Pigment 5 or metallic pigment.

8. Retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate

Both are derivatives of vitamin A that have been linked to cancer and reproductive disorders.

Retinoic acid increases the photocarcinogenic activity of UVB rays in mice and increases the duplication of skin lesions. Retinyl palmitate also increases the presence of squamous cell neoplasm - an early skin cancer. Retinoic acid can irritate the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract.

9. Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide is generally safe, but titanium dioxide in powder form is classified as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). These powder particles are so small that they are easily inhaled and can build up in your lungs or in your cells, where they can damage DNA and cause cancer. As a result, health risks are much more likely in powdered or sprinkled beauty and personal care products, than in creams.

On the eye makeup label, titanium dioxide is listed as is or as TiO2.

10. Talc

Some talc may contain asbestos, a carcinogenic compound, and should therefore be avoided in powder products, such as eyeshadow, unless it is known to be asbestos free. Even asbestos-free talc should be avoided in the pelvic area.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes talc containing asbestos as carcinogenic to humans. Talc exposure has been linked to mesothelioma, a tumor of tissue lining organs such as the lungs, stomach, and heart. Previously, talc exposure was linked to the development and pathogenesis of lung cancer.

Talc also increases lung load. The powder that is inhaled can interfere with the mechanism by which the lungs are cleared and reduce inflammation, which can damage cells and potentially cause cancer. To help prevent inhalation by consumers, the powder used in loose powder products in the United States is ground to a relatively large particle size that is difficult to inhale. Talc exposure, especially through direct contact with the skin, such as from eye makeup and personal care products, can also cause respiratory problems characterized by shortness of breath and coughing.