Page 7 - Edge: Issue 6 March/April 2019

“I do use my cleanser, toner, and moisturizer from Keep Me Safe every day at least once to keep my skin clear,” Day said.
Formaldehyde is a chemical often found in cleaning agents, permanent-press fabric, and some forms of insulation. It can also be spotted in many soaps, nail polishes, eye shadows, mascaras, nail treatments, shampoos and blushes. Formaldehyde is
added to these products to act as a preservative and has recently been linked to cancer, increased risk of asthma and allergies in kids, and other respiratory problems.
Japan, Sweden, and parts of Europe have all banned formaldehyde from cosmetic products but in the United States, only Minnesota has banned it from children’s products.
Another chemical that can be found in cosmetic products is coal tar. Coal tar is a by-product of coal processing. It is used in cosmetics such as hair dyes, shampoos, and dandruff/scalp treatment. Coal tar was one of the very first occupational exposures linked to cancer among chemicals.
Not only have many chemicals that are included in cosmetic products been found to directly link to different forms of cancer, they are still being used in all of the products that many use daily.
It makes sense that products which are sold to be put on
As of 2018, 1,328 chemicals had been banned from usage in cosmetic products in Europe whereas the United States has only banned 30 of these chemicals.
our skin and nails, or in our hair, should be safe and free from toxic chemicals. As many studies have shown, there are chemicals in some of these products which can cause different forms of cancer.
Many of the chemicals found in cosmetics, such as formaldehyde, Triphenyl Phosphate, Petroleum, Propylparaben, Fragrance, Phthalates, and Oxybenzone,
have all been banned in other countries but the United States has yet toputabanonanyof the potentially harmful chemicals. As of 2018, 1,328 chemicals had been banned from usage in cosmetic products in Europe whereas the United States has only banned 30 of these chemicals.
Keeping track of everything you are putting on your skin may be much more important than it seems considering the amounts of chemicals being included in the products we trust. These companies are selling us products that we are supposed to trust to complete the task that they have promised to.
Whether it’s moisturizer containing a drying agent you didn’t know about or a makeup product with a possibly cancer causing chemical, it is always good to learn about what you put on your skin and the ingredients in the things you use everyday. You may be surprised at how many things you find are actually harming your skin rather than helping. 6
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