The benefits of fragrance in cosmetics have been around since the beginning of beauty. Fragrances help create the ambiance you want and evoke the emotions that you need. They can even awaken feelings of confidence, happiness and trust in you and those who are around you. The beauty industry uses perfume in cosmetics as a way to counteract any unpleasant smells that might be in their products and to protect them from getting spoiled or damaged.
Unfortunately, not all perfumes are created equal, and many times the manufacturers only use natural ingredients that can have potentially harmful side effects. That’s why it’s important that you read the label when purchasing fragrances, so you can be sure that they’re safe for you and your family to use.
Some of the major cosmetics companies have gotten better about putting their fragrances on the label, but it still doesn’t guarantee that you won’t encounter something harmful in your cosmetics. Below is a list of some of the common ingredients that you should watch out for, especially if you don’t like fragrances.
Parabens: Parabens are a chemical compound that has been widely used in cosmetics for several decades now. The only problem with these is that they have been linked to breast cancer in a handful of studies. This is probably because they have been used so often in contact lenses and other products, but they are still in cosmetics, including lipsticks and foundations.
Triclosan: This is another artificial ingredient that is commonly found in anti-bacterial hand soaps. Although triclosan is actually used in antibacterial hand soaps, the main reason that it is used in cosmetics is to prevent bacterial contamination of personal care products. It can easily end up in your makeup, if you don’t keep it away from the area. It’s used as an antiseptic and an antibiotic, so it’s a good idea to use products that are made with natural ingredients.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate are both commonly used preservatives in cosmetics. These chemicals can break down in skin cells when used at high levels, so it’s best to use lower amounts when possible. Although they’re commonly used in cosmetics, you’ll find some that are used in hand soaps as well.
One of the other things that you should be concerned about is artificial fragrances and dyes. Since these chemicals are often sprayed into your air and water, you’re more likely to come into contact with them. If you get them in your eye or your nose, they can cause some pretty nasty consequences.
Artificial preservatives can affect the skin in various ways. One of the common side effects is that it can cause redness, itching and inflammation, but in some cases, irritation of the eyes and skin can cause permanent damage. Also, because they’re made of plastic and can break down in skin, these chemicals will make it harder for you to breathe, as well. If you’re concerned about dangers of fragrance in cosmetics, you’ll want to make sure you stay away from the chemicals listed above.
If you do happen to use natural preservatives, it’s important to remember that some of them can be dangerous. Fragrance is one of the most common ingredients used in some natural preservatives. Some of these may contain toxins, such as benzene peroxide and phenol carbolic acid, which are carcinogenic in nature. Other preservatives are known to disrupt the hormonal balance in your body, so they may cause miscarriage, infertility or abnormal birth defects.
Natural preservatives will do nothing to improve the quality of your skin, so they shouldn’t be used in cosmetics either. Although they’re considered safe, they’re certainly not good for it. Even if they are, you need to make sure that the ones you choose are the purest available.
Natural preservative that’s used in cosmetics is only good for about 30 days, although it’s still good to find one that’s FDA approved, but you should be cautious about buying any product that contains this type of natural preservative. Even if it is approved, there are still dangers of fragrance in cosmetics.
You also need to find a natural preservative that doesn’t have added fragrances. Fragrances in cosmetics can be absorbed by the skin and lead to allergies, irritation and other problems. If you’re allergic to something, you’ll need to find out what all is on the label, and then be careful with it. Most importantly, use natural preservatives as much as possible, and make sure that you read the label and don’t let yourself become dependent on them.