You expect your makeup and cosmetics to be safe and, for the most part, they are; but some ingredients have sparked concerns about their safety in recent years. Makeup and cosmetics account for billions of dollars in research, product development, and sales. Many hours of research go into each new product before it hits the shelves in your local store. Even with all of this research, there are still some ingredients used today that you may want to avoid.

Most of these ingredients are man-made synthetics that use petroleum as their base. Some skin care experts are concerned over the use of nanoparticles, particles that are extremely small and used mainly in mineral makeup. They fear that, since these particles are so small, they may be able to enter your skin and do damage at the cellular level. More research will have to be done to determine the safety of nanoparticles in makeup and cosmetics. What are some of the ingredients you may want to avoid? The following is a list of the most common ingredients in makeup and cosmetics that have caused concern in recent years.

Ingredients That Have Health Concerns in Makeup and Cosmetics
Parabens are used in almost all types of skin care products and cosmetics. They are used as a preservative and antimicrobial ingredient. There has been concern about their effect on the body’s hormones and as a cancer causing agent.

Phthalates that are in synthetic fragrances are used to stabilize the fragrance and are also used in the manufacture of plastics. There is concern that the phthalates act as hormones in the body and disrupt endocrine function. Look for fragrances that are derived from essential oils or packaging that states the cosmetics are phthalate-free.

Urea can cause contact dermatitis, the medical term for skin irritation. This ingredient is used to increase moisture retention in products and the skin. Some of the other names for urea are imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and DMDM hydantoin. Urea is usually a crystalline powder added to products and is used in many types of makeup and cosmetics. It has the potential to release small amounts of formaldehyde into the skin.

PEG, or polyethylene glycol, contains carcinogenic compounds that are produced when the chemicals are passed through a petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. PEG includes ingredients that end in -eth (such as sodium laureth sulfate, oleth, laureth, myreth, and ceteareth), polyoxyethylene, and oxynol.

Ammonia compounds such as MEA, DEA, and TEA are considered amines. When exposed to nitrates, they can form nitrosamines, which are harmful to you health. They are used to adjust the pH of products, stabilizers, and foaming agents. Amines can cause dryness of the hair and skin, allergic reactions, and eye irritation.

Sulfates include sodium laureth and sodium lauryl. These are used in soaps, shampoos, cleansers, and detergents to enhance the production of lather. They are what make your shampoo lather and your dish soap bubble. Besides the eye and skin irritation they may cause, there is concern about the contamination with pesticides of the vegetable oils and coconuts that are used to make sulfates.

Ingredients That Have Environmental Concerns
Triclosan and chlorphenesin are antibacterial compounds that may contribute to bacterial resistance and do not break down readily in the environment.

Synthetic polymers create toxic by-products from their manufacture. They are used to enhance the feel and thickness of makeup and cosmetics. Common synthetic polymers include polyacrylate and carbomer. These are closely related in their chemical composition to liquid plastics.

Chelators are used to help remove impurities from raw materials. These compounds do not break down in the environment and commonly go under the names EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA.

Petroleum products are not only unhealthy for your skin because they do not let it breathe and can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts, but their manufacture produces toxic compounds that are not biodegradable and harmful to the environment.

These are some of the ingredients it may be wise to avoid in makeup and cosmetics. Always read the packaging so that you know what you are using on your skin. Many of these ingredients irritate your skin and can cause dermatitis; some even have the danger of interfering with your endocrine functions or may cause cancer. Look for natural ingredients in your products and be aware of what your makeup and cosmetics contain.