Eco beauty
The average woman uses 12 beauty products every day and applies over 175 chemical compounds to her body, but it's not just a female issue. Find out what's really lurking in your bathroom cabinet and how to become a more natural beauty.
How many chemicals are in your make up?
Chemical love
Have you ever read the ingredients label of your shampoo or deodorant? Unless you've got a degree in chemistry it makes for a pretty confusing read, so it's not surprising that most people are happily slapping chemicals all over their bodies.
Here's an overview of some of the most common chemicals found lurking in your bathroom cabinet:
- Aluminium - most commonly found in deodorants, it can cause skin irritation, inflammation and blocks pores, stopping them from eliminating toxins through perspiration;
- Petroleum derivatives - mineral oil and petroleum form the basic ingredients for many beauty products, especially lip balm; both originate from fossil fuels and can prevent the skin from 'breathing' properly;
- Parabens - these are chemicals used as preservatives in products like shampoos, moisturisers and cleansers. They can cause skin irritation and allergic skin reactions;
- Sodium lauryl sulphate - found in most shampoos, bubble baths and shower gels, this is the chemical that makes your products foam up. It can also cause skin irritation and allergies.
In September 2004, the European Union's cosmetic directive banned the use of chemicals that are strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects, but many are still being researched and therefore still found in lots of beauty products.
Organic beauty
All this talk of chemicals is enough to make you reach for the nearest natural products you can find. Look across any shop's beauty counter and you'll be confronted with plenty of 'natural', 'eco friendly' or 'organic' products, but don't be fooled by the name. There's no governing body to keep a check on cosmetics companies, so if just one per cent of the product's ingredients is certified organic, it can be labelled as organic.
Make natural beauty alternatives
If you're keen to buy organic beauty, look for the Soil Association logo. This means the product has been tested against the same strict organic standards as organic food. Essentially, if an ingredient is available organically it must be used, and if it isn't, it must meet strict criteria to ensure it isn't damaging to our health or the environment. Another way to check your product's authenticity is by searching the Organic Directory database, selecting 'cosmetics and toiletries'.
Home-made beauty
Raid your fridge and make your own natural beauty products. It's easy, cheap and you know every ingredient you're putting on your body. Check out TheSite.org's DIY beauty article for some simple recipes to get you started. We love the avocado face mask and oatmeal exfoliator.
Go green
Apply a simple green code to make your beauty regime eco-friendly:
- Reduce - avoid overly-packaged products and buy larger sizes where available. Use less whenever you can (a 10p size blob of shampoo is usually all it takes to get your hair clean), and do you really need all five hair products every day?
- Reuse - attractive jars can be washed and reused for storage and old products can be used imaginatively (that old face cream is ideal for feet...)
- Recycle - most of us wash out our food bottles and jars and recycle them, but are you so diligent with your old beauty products?
Against animal testing
Would you choose to use a certain lipstick or aftershave if you knew it had been tested on animals? Many people wouldn't, but it can be hard to tell. Look out for the 'Cruelty free bunny' logo - or search for cruelty-free products on the Go Cruelty Free website.
Toxic shock
Your tampons and sanitary towels aren't naturally bright white; they've been bleached with chlorine to look that 'clean'. This bleaching process produces dioxin, a carcinogen and pollutant that can settle in fat cells in the body. If this is putting you off reaching for your usual sanitary product, look for organic alternatives (often found in health food shops) or consider a menstrual cup, like a Mooncup. These clever little devices are cups made from silicone rubber, worn internally like a tampon. They collect the blood rather than absorbing it and can be reused, so you're not adding to landfills every month.
