It would be safe to say that most Canadians use at least one or two grooming products every day – more likely eight or nine. But is it safe? When you start listing the personal care products that go into your daily grooming ritual – think shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream, lipstick, body lotion and many more – it is imperative we ask that question.
Most people use cosmetics and grooming aids on themselves and their children without a second thought. Surely products such as baby powder, diaper cream, lip balms, liquid makeup and grandpa’s after-shave wouldn’t be so readily available on store shelves if there was a potential health hazard.
There is bad news and there is good news. Canadians should be aware that over 10,000 chemical ingredients are used in the manufacture of personal care products. Product ingredients are chosen for their unique qualities to combine with other chemicals to perform in ways consumers want and purchase them for: to moisturize skin, redden lips, dye hair, clean pores and cover blotchy skin.
The situation is far from pretty when one considers that many of these chemicals are commonly used in industry-plasticizers to soften concrete and degreasers to wipe grime off auto parts, for example. Others are used in pesticides and herbicides for field crops, or in the manufacture of plastics, detergents and toys. The problem is that at least some of these chemical components are confirmed or suspected carcinogens, are toxic to the reproductive system or known to disrupt the endocrine system (which regulates hormones).
Made to penetrate
Imagine day after day smearing a product on the skin that contains a chemical known to cause cancer (common carcinogenic products used in beauty products are formaldehyde, lead acetate and coal tar), or licking lips and ingesting a lipstick ingredient not meant for consumption. Cosmetics do not remain on the skin surface-they are made to penetrate. For example, scientists have found parabens (preservatives) in breast tissue and fragrance components in human fat. Scientists have also observed the hormone systems of fish and wildlife thrown into disarray from cosmetics rinsed down drains which make their way into rivers and lakes.
The good news is that Health Canada does a good job of regulating what goes into the manufacture of cosmetics to ensure they are safe to use and pose minimum health risk to Canadians. The department maintains a “hotlist” of ingredients that are banned or limited for use in cosmetics to inform manufacturers of the rules (the list is available on Health Canada’s website).
So with fairly stringent regulations operating in Canada-more stringent than in many other countries-why should we be worried? First of all, unless a chemical ingredient is confirmed as a carcinogen (or toxic in some fashion) which often takes years of research and testing, it may still be on the market. A second problem is not all manufactures are honest about the ingredients they list on the label. It’s a formidable task for Health Canada to monitor and test every single of the thousands of beauty products in various brands found in stores around the country.
So consumers need to be ever vigilant. Always check the labels, and choose products that contain fewer rather than more ingredients with names you can pronounce. Be careful of unrealistic or exaggerated claims that suggest major or permanent changes after using their product. Find cosmetic companies that take the safety and health of both consumers and the environment seriously. Always read and follow directions carefully. If you have an adverse effect after using a beauty aid in the way prescribed, report it to the manufacturer.
Plan to attend the annual Healthy Living Show at the Mennonite Heritage Village on Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You will find vendors offering natural supplements, organic foods and safe cleaning products. A cooking demonstration featuring grains is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., and sessions on women’s health and nutrition and mental health are planned.
