MY BEAUTY · what you can do to avoid them. Parabens Parabens are a preservative included in...

84 Australian Natural Health www.naturalhealthmag.com.au

MY BEAUTY

084-089_Natural Makeup.indd 84 24/06/13 4:50 PM

COSMETIC FAÇADE

Make-up can be filled with hidden nasties or tested on animals for the sake of beauty. Lisa O’Neill researches

the history of make-up and how far we have come in order to bring you products that come naturally.

Cosmetics have spruced up our appearance and scent for thousands of years in various

forms. In Ancient Egypt, castor oil was used as a protective balm for the skin and even the Bible references the painting of eyelids in approximately 840 BC. !e Chinese stained their "ngernails with sap from the acacia tree to distinguish class in 3000 BC and the Japanese geisha once wore lipsticks of crushed sa#ower petals.

In the 21st century, the range of cosmetics available to the consumer is mind-boggling. For better or worse, the simple products once used to enhance our features have been swamped by a list of must-haves that each have their own ingredients list a mile long.

If you’re the type that just rubs in some coconut oil for moisturiser, stains your lips with a couple of berries left over from breakfast and pinches your cheeks for colour, then I applaud your commitment to all that is natural. However, considering the booming sales of cosmetics, I’d suggest the majority of ladies (and some gents) in Australia have heaving beauty cabinets mirroring my own. Lipsticks that last all day, perfumes so potent they enter the room before you do and mascaras that fatten your lashes triplefold, lining up in their pretty packaging, promising that the look of a movie star will emerge post-application.

It’s easy to be romanced by the marketing gu$ and I’m afraid I’ve been

an easy target over the years, but do you have any idea what goes into these miracle workers? !e Australian Government amended its Industrial Chemicals (Noti"cation and Assessment) Act 1989, in 2007, to include a cosmetics standard that protects us to a degree, from cosmetic giants selling us arsenic-laden foundation. However, according to Joanna Immig from the National Toxics Network (NTN), Australian standards still have a long way to go.

“Australia is lagging behind in the regulation stakes,” Immig says. “So much gets imported these days and I think it’s hard for the government to keep up.”

!e NTN "ndings have shown there are cosmetic products sold in Australia

www.naturalhealthmag.com.au Australian Natural Health 85


containing parabens, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrance (which Immig believes is “one of the worst toxic o$enders”), heavy metals (commonly, lead), sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and nanomaterials. Without a chemistry degree, the typical consumer is blissfully unaware of what these nasties are and their associated health risks. We dug deeper into three of the most controversial substances in Australian cosmetics and what you can do to avoid them.

ParabensParabens are a preservative included in cosmetics to stunt the growth of bacteria. All products with a shelf life beyond a couple of months require a preservative, which is why parabens (a cheap and easily sourced option) are so commonly included.

A UK study in 2004 (Darbre et al 2004) found the presence of intact parabens in human breast tumours, causing concern in regards to their usage in everyday products, especially underarm deodorants due to their ability to be absorbed by the skin.

!e Australian Government body National Industrial Chemicals Noti"cation and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) has advised the sample size of the research was insu%cient to establish that these chemicals actually caused the breast tumours. However, they also concede that further research into the link between parabens in cosmetics and breast cancer is needed. Parabens have been con"rmed to mimic the action of estrogen, meaning they are capable of a$ecting our hormones.

While further research is conducted, you need to ask yourself whether it is a risk worth taking, especially as consumer demand has led to many companies creating paraben-free products.

To avoid parabens, check ingredients lists for anything ending in ‘paraben’, such as butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben or propylparaben. !ey’re commonly found in make up, hair products, moisturisers and even shaving products. Since the

Parabens have been confirmed to mimic the action of estrogen, meaning they are capable of affecting our hormones.


MY BEAUTY


Darbre study in 2004, most major cosmetic companies conceded to remove parabens from underarm deodorants.

Sodium lauryl sulfateSoduim lauryl sulfate is a very cheap cleanser and an e$ective foaming agent, which has made it a popular inclusion in cosmetics. In fact, it’s so e$ective at cleansing and foaming that SLS is also used to degrease car engines.

!e NICNAS have received a large number of enquiries regarding the substance being hazardous to human health despite SLS not being listed on various national lists of poisonous or hazardous chemicals that the NICNAS refer to.

!e public concern and national data indicates an increase in consumer exposure to the substance (through cosmetics, food and toothpaste among other household items) led the body to conduct a review of SLS.

!e contact with human skin was of most concern and through its research, the NICNAS discovered that SLS has been proven in human clinical trials to irritate skin, the respiratory tract and oral mucosa – especially in individuals who are predisposed to recurrent mouth ulcers. !e research concluded by stating, ‘the human health hazards are low’ due to the low concentration of SLS in cosmetics, but the risk to humans depends on the amount of exposure to the chemical. With a cupboard full of cosmetics applied on a daily basis, resulting in regular contact with the skin and hence absorption by the body, it’s worth excluding this substance from future buys.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is easily found on ingredients lists with not too many variations of its name, but also avoid close relative sodium laureth sulfate, which displays similar properties. SLS is typically found in mascara, nail varnishes and removers, shampoos and cleansers.

PhthalatesDepending on the type of phthalate, it can be used in the cosmetics world as a plastic softener, fragrance or solvent for dyes.

!e NICNAS is currently investigating the hazardous e$ects of phthalates after widespread concern of the health e$ects, which appears more than justi"ed. Studies have shown some phthalates tested on animals had such a toxic e$ect it caused reproductive problems.

!e European Union has banned the usage of three phthalates – dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) in cosmetics after classifying them as CMR (carcinogen, mutagen or reproductive toxicity) substances. According to Immig, the EU is “often regarded as the most progressive regulator on chemicals” and we should be looking to their system as a guide.

!e US, where Australia imports a large amount of cosmetics from, has banned six phthalates from children’s toys but has imposed no restrictions, as yet, on phthalates in cosmetics.

While NICNAS is continuing to monitor international regulation, it still hasn’t advised bans on phthalates, which means consumers need to be proactive in avoiding products containing them.

Phthalates can be found in perfume, eye shadow, moisturiser, nail polish and hairspray,

but most alarmingly, they are often not listed. Use products from companies committed to producing phthalate-free products.

The safe zone!e investigation of toxic

substances in cosmetics was a

AGE DEFYING RESULTS

Delivered by science Developed from nature

20% OFF your next purchaseSimply ‘Like’ the La Mav Facebook page and use the

code ‘anhmag’ at lamav.com. Valid until 31 August 2013.

lamav.comfacebook.com/lamavorganicskincare

www.naturalhealthmag.com.au


mine"eld, with plenty of inconclusive statements and ongoing research that led me to believe Australian regulators have taken a ‘head in the sand’ approach. Consumers need to make the decision whether they are happy to use products that include potentially harmful chemicals, even if they are at low levels (which become much higher as we layer numerous products on our face and body every day).

One lady who has swum against the tide is Irene Falcone. Two years ago, Irene su$ered fatigue so severely she struggled to walk up a simple &ight of stairs, and stopped to ask her herself what she was putting in and on her body.

“I went home and actually looked at the back of my beauty product labels for the "rst time and realised I was layering myself in chemicals every single day,” Irene says. “So I threw everything away. I had no beauty products left and decided to replace everything with the most natural products I could "nd.”

Considering the booming industry of organic and natural make-up, Falcone sorted through thousands of products to determine which ones are the ‘real deal.’ Her self-proclaimed “obsession” has turned into a hugely successful blog and online store, nourishedlife.com.au

“I started to look and feel amazing, alive and sparkly,” Falcone says. “I was so excited by all of this I started to blog about my journey, my "ndings and how I felt, and the response from Australian women was huge.”

Falcone is most concerned by the usage of parabens and she attributes a lot of her tiredness to previously using many products containing them. She believes she has found a natural alternative to every beauty product and that the result is superior.

Her top product is Lavera’s Beauty Balm 6-in-1 that can be ordered on her website. NH

EYESYoungblood’s Mineral Lengthening Mascara $48.50If you tear up at the cuteness of puppies and toddlers with the frequency I do, you need to ensure the mascara inevitably seeping into your eyeballs is all natural. I love Youngblood products and frequently

dust on their loose mineral foundation and pressed eye shadows, but their lengthening mascara is a winner as it thickens lashes while separating them (one of my pet hates is clumpy lashes). Pauline Youngblood Soli created the brand speci!cally for patients recovering from harsh medical procedures and after her patients experienced dramatic success, she decided to make it commercially available.For more on Youngblood products visit: youngbloodmineralcosmetics.

com.au.

FACELavera’s Beauty Balm $29.95Adhering to strict guidelines, like Germany’s BDIH, has quali!ed Lavera as a certi!ed natural cosmetics company committed to high quality products made from natural materials. The Lavera Beauty Balm (or BB cream) is a ‘6-in-1’ product that combines moisturiser, concealer and foundation to create a "awless look while mattifying, re!ning pores and protecting skin from free radicals. Lavera’s Beauty Balm combines daily moisturisation with just a touch of make-up for a naturally "awless complexion. The lightweight formula offers long lasting hydration and a natural glow. Organic acai berry provides moisturising and anti-oxidant bene!ts while natural mineral pigments provide light coverage and an even !nish. Order Lavera products locally from: nourishedlife.com.au.

NAILSScotch Natural Nail Polish $22.95A slick coat of nail polish is one of the best ways to turn a day from drab to fab in my opinion. However, there’s nothing fab at all about the number of toxic substances in nail polish. The Scotch Naturals nail

polish range is 100 per cent toxin free. The water-based formulas deliver long-lasting, salon quality results that don’t chip for days and there are over 20 colours to choose from. With

no ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone or heavy metals, the Scotch Naturals range is eco-friendly, vegan and cruelty-free. Purchase online at: nourishedlife.com.au/nails

NATURAL BEAUTIES

Falcone is most concerned by the usage of parabens and she attributes a lot of her tiredness to previously using

he

polish range is 100 per cent toxin free. The water-based formulas deliver long-lasting, salon quality results that don’t chip for days and there are over 20 colours to choose from. With

no ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone or heavy metals, the Scotch Naturals range is eco-friendly, vegan and cruelty-free. Purchase online at:nourishedlife.com.au/nails

cosmetics company committed to high quality

The Lavera Beauty Balm (or BB cream) is a ‘6-in-1’ product that combines moisturiser,

"awless look while mattifying, re!ning pores

The lightweight formula offers long lasting

anti-oxidant bene!ts while natural mineral

even !nish. Order Lavera products locally


MY BEAUTY


MY BEAUTY · what you can do to avoid them. Parabens Parabens are a preservative included in...

Documents

Transcript of MY BEAUTY · what you can do to avoid them. Parabens Parabens are a preservative included in...