2024-01-23 16:38:45
Makeup was one of the star gifts last Christmas, and it will certainly be once more on February 14, Valentine’s Day. But even if we know the tastes and needs of the person to whom we are going to offer this gift, we must be careful. Choosing products suited to each age and skin type is essential if you want to maintain healthy skin.
Makeup, like other cosmetic products – lipstick, eye pencil, eye shadow, face powder, blush, mascara, etc. – is characterized by complex formulations and is available in different formats and textures. There are liquid, semi-solid and solid makeup (usually in powder form). You must make your selection taking into account your age, your skin type, your phototype, also the sensitivity, elasticity and degree of hydration of your skin, the risk of developing an allergy following application of the product. product and other parameters. Powders, for example, can easily dehydrate the skin. People with dry skin should therefore opt for another format.
Entrance doors into the body
Attention ! These products are often applied to sensitive areas: around the eyes where the skin is thinner as well as on the lips and mucous membranes which do not have a stratum corneum to prevent penetration. Additionally, the risk of ingesting a lip product is higher, as it can easily be carried inside the mouth by saliva and the tongue.
Cosmetic products are available in a wide range of formats. Jessica Johnston/Unsplash, CC BY
The area around the nose is also critical. At this location, powder or mist products, such as makeup, shine and highlighters, can be inhaled, which once more allows them to penetrate the body very easily. For all these reasons, the safety of the ingredients used in the formulations of these products is of the utmost importance.
Heavy metals, nanomaterials and other harmful substances
This is because makeup products may contain harmful substances such as heavy metals. Despite their known toxicity, some of these compounds appear in makeup formulas as impurities or trace amounts, without being included in the ingredient list.
(Cosmetics include beauty products such as makeup, but also hygiene products. According to the European regulation concerning cosmetics, manufacturers must mention on the packaging the list of ingredients which are used in the composition of their products, editor’s note).
For example, beauty products were found to contain arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury and nickel. Some of these compounds cause concern, such as lead, found in glosses, or nickel, chromium and cobalt identified, in high concentrations, in certain eye shadows, particularly imported from China.
Heavy metals are even found in children’s makeup toys. There is an aggravating factor here which comes from the fact that children’s skin is thinner and still developing. It is therefore more vulnerable to the passage of substances and is more likely to react.
Another cause for concern is the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which increase durability, improve the spreadability of an emulsion, and have the ability to form a film. Repeated exposure to these chemicals has been observed to be detrimental to human health. A recent study found that the highest levels of PFAS are detected in water-, oil-, or clothing-resistant makeup as well as long-lasting products.
Nanomaterials have also colonized the glamorous world of makeup. They improve the texture and sensory experience. Although their safety is still being studied, we now know that they remain in the epidermis, without penetrating the body.
However, the situation is different when these tiny particles are inhaled: they can then cause lung problems. The danger lies in powder or mist products that are applied near the nasal area.
(When a cosmetic contains a nanomaterial, in the list of ingredients displayed on the packaging, the term “nano” must appear following the name of the substance in question. But in France, recently, health authorities have warned of the presence of unauthorized nanomaterials, and not mentioned on the packaging, in certain cosmetic products, editor’s note.).
At what age is it recommended to start wearing makeup?
Taking all of the above into account, it depends on the maturity of the person and the knowledge they have acquired regarding these products. In general, it is not recommended to start before the age of 15 or 16: you need to know the ingredients, know how to use the different products and how to clean your skin following putting on makeup.
The user must also adopt certain hygiene rules, such as washing their hands before and following applying makeup, properly washing brushes and other utensils used for application and not sharing products with others. ‘other people. In addition, you should be alert to the appearance of possible skin problems.
Adolescents and young people who are learning regarding makeup must purchase products adapted to their skin, which is often oilier. Using the wrong products can lead to or exacerbate acne or other skin dysfunctions. In general, they should opt for simple, hypoallergenic, oil-free and fragrance-free products to avoid skin irritation.
Generally, it is easier to follow these recommendations when purchasing cosmetics made in Europe because you can then be sure that they are manufactured to certain standards. We can go further and rule out long-lasting products, those that are resistant to water or other elements or materials, and those that require continuous application.
And don’t forget to use specific products if you have sensitive skin, as your skin is more likely to react with a poorly formulated makeup product.
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#Risky #substances #skin #sensitivity #makeup #caution
