It's a common belief that synthetic cosmetics offer almost no benefits. Yet, synthetic cosmetics gained popularity due to a series of simple economic factors. First, they're incredibly easy to buy. Right now, sitting at your computer or with your phone, think about where you can buy toothpaste, face cream, or shampoo. You'll likely come up with over 100 places, not even counting the internet where everything can be ordered for delivery.
The second crucial factor is that everyone uses synthetic cosmetics. The overwhelming majority of people on the planet use such products daily. Think back to when you decided to buy toothpaste from any well-known manufacturer. You probably can't—that moment likely seemed insignificant.
Here's a paradoxical fact: the percentage of people who check the ingredients before buying a cosmetic product is very low. This is strange, considering the buyer will use this product regularly, and it will impact their body. Our views on this matter are shockingly ignorant—officially, we don't check the ingredients because the relevant authorities have already done it for us.
Unfortunately, this excuse doesn't work. The culprit isn't government neglect or manufacturers' conspiracies, but rather debatable standardization. The chemical industry constantly discovers new compounds. A significant portion of them are excellent for, say, cleaning dirt from hair.
The subsequent work involves identifying, improving, and producing conditionally safe compounds for humans. They won't burn a customer's skin upon application, but negative consequences can appear after prolonged use. Tracing the impact of a particular product on the body is only possible after a long period.
Moreover, to deem a compound harmful, a sufficiently large sample and specific conditions are required. Given the individual characteristics of the human body, it's difficult to establish how a particular chemical compound will affect an organism. Natural cosmetics have an advantage in this regard: their ingredients are non-toxic, and humanity has had ample time to study their properties.
Discussing the impact of all components used in synthetic cosmetics would require a specialized encyclopedia. However, it's essential to highlight some popular ingredients in this article.
Let's start with sulfates: SLS, SLES, ALS, ALES, Cocamide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and others. They are actively used in cosmetic products, from shampoos to liquid soaps. Besides cosmetology, they are heavily used in the production of cleaning agents. Sulfates accumulate in the body and can cause diseases. They provoke skin dryness and irritation, accelerate aging, and dry out and weaken hair.
Parabens are harmful components typically found in deodorants, shower gels, aftershave lotions, shampoos, and toothpastes. They easily accumulate in the body, affect hormonal balance, and can lead to the development of oncological diseases.
Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine. These are often used in shampoos, gels, bath foams, and other products due to their foaming properties. However, triethanolamine and diethanolamine are also carcinogens that accumulate in the body and cause oncological diseases.
Polypropylene Glycol—a petroleum derivative—is found in every other cosmetic product. This substance dries and degreases, provokes allergies, and, with prolonged accumulation, acts as a poison destroying cellular proteins.
Phthalates—an ingredient known to all lovers of pleasant-smelling cosmetics. They also give skin softness and elasticity. However, their beneficial functions end there. Phthalates are strong carcinogens and negatively affect the hormonal system and reproductive function.
This is just a fraction of the harmful ingredients in cosmetics. In reality, there are many more. Therefore, it's crucial to carefully choose cosmetic products before purchasing.
