The scariest thing this Halloween is what's hidden in your makeup
Every Halloween people do their
best to come up with unique and
sometimes terrifying costumes. But
what can be even more terrifying is
what is lurking hidden in the makeup
and face paint used to give those
costumes their final touch.
Known carcinogens like lead, coal tar dyes and formaldehyde and endocrine-disruptors like parabens can be found in almost all conventional cosmetic products. Even some products claiming to be “non-toxic” can still contain heavy metals such as lead.
This does not just apply to products directed at women. Men, you also need to be aware of what is lurking in your own products.
These chemicals can have a number of different impacts on human and environmental health.
Carcinogens cause cancer and neurotoxins can impact brain development in children and memory in adults. Exposure to neurotoxins has also been shown to lead to intellectual disability, epilepsy and dementia in adults.
Endocrine-disruptors have a wide range of negative impact on human and environmental health. Exposure in humans has been linked to learning disabilities, ADHD, physical deformations in babies, cancers and infertility.
In the environment, endocrine- disruptors have been known to cause feminization of males and masculinization of females. Male frogs have been shown to be producing eggs in waters with a high-concentration of these chemicals.
The Dirty Dozen is a list of toxins commonly found in beauty and body products. Read the label and make sure none of these names appear on it:
1. Coal Tar Dyes – P-Phenylenediamine followed by five digits
2. DEA/MEA/TEA – Diethanolamine monoethanolamine
3. Ethoxylated Surfactants – Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ceteareth, oleth
4. Formaldehyde – DVDM hydantoin, quaterniums, imidazolidinyl urea
5. Fragrance – parfum, phthalates
6. PEGs – Glycols
7. Petrolatum – Mineral oil
8. Parabens – benzoic acid, propyl ester
9. Triclosan – commonly found in hygiene products
10. Talc – commonly found in cosmetics and powders
11. Cyclomethicone/siloxanes – dimethicone, cyclomethicone
12. Toluene – methylbenzene, butylated hydroxytoluene, toluol
So this Halloween, do what’s best for your health and the environment, and choose to use toxin-free products. You can easily make the switch permanently with all of your body and beauty products.
There are many places in London where you can find a healthier and natural alternative to conventional cosmetics.
Jaydancin: You can visit Fanshawe’s weekly farmer’s market where Jaydancin has a booth. This company provides hand-made, natural and organic skin care and cosmetic products. The store is located at 2454 Main St.
Purdy Natural: This company specializes in soaps, lotions, makeup, and muscle and skin balms. The store is located at 1010 Dundas St. E
Homeopathy London: Located in the Covent Garden Market, this company has many different brands of natural and toxin-free cosmetics to choose from.
For more resources and links, please visit lovethelabel.ca.
If you would like a tip card listing the Dirty Dozen, please email sustainability@fanshawec.ca.
Known carcinogens like lead, coal tar dyes and formaldehyde and endocrine-disruptors like parabens can be found in almost all conventional cosmetic products. Even some products claiming to be “non-toxic” can still contain heavy metals such as lead.
This does not just apply to products directed at women. Men, you also need to be aware of what is lurking in your own products.
These chemicals can have a number of different impacts on human and environmental health.
Carcinogens cause cancer and neurotoxins can impact brain development in children and memory in adults. Exposure to neurotoxins has also been shown to lead to intellectual disability, epilepsy and dementia in adults.
Endocrine-disruptors have a wide range of negative impact on human and environmental health. Exposure in humans has been linked to learning disabilities, ADHD, physical deformations in babies, cancers and infertility.
In the environment, endocrine- disruptors have been known to cause feminization of males and masculinization of females. Male frogs have been shown to be producing eggs in waters with a high-concentration of these chemicals.
The Dirty Dozen is a list of toxins commonly found in beauty and body products. Read the label and make sure none of these names appear on it:
1. Coal Tar Dyes – P-Phenylenediamine followed by five digits
2. DEA/MEA/TEA – Diethanolamine monoethanolamine
3. Ethoxylated Surfactants – Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ceteareth, oleth
4. Formaldehyde – DVDM hydantoin, quaterniums, imidazolidinyl urea
5. Fragrance – parfum, phthalates
6. PEGs – Glycols
7. Petrolatum – Mineral oil
8. Parabens – benzoic acid, propyl ester
9. Triclosan – commonly found in hygiene products
10. Talc – commonly found in cosmetics and powders
11. Cyclomethicone/siloxanes – dimethicone, cyclomethicone
12. Toluene – methylbenzene, butylated hydroxytoluene, toluol
So this Halloween, do what’s best for your health and the environment, and choose to use toxin-free products. You can easily make the switch permanently with all of your body and beauty products.
There are many places in London where you can find a healthier and natural alternative to conventional cosmetics.
Jaydancin: You can visit Fanshawe’s weekly farmer’s market where Jaydancin has a booth. This company provides hand-made, natural and organic skin care and cosmetic products. The store is located at 2454 Main St.
Purdy Natural: This company specializes in soaps, lotions, makeup, and muscle and skin balms. The store is located at 1010 Dundas St. E
Homeopathy London: Located in the Covent Garden Market, this company has many different brands of natural and toxin-free cosmetics to choose from.
For more resources and links, please visit lovethelabel.ca.
If you would like a tip card listing the Dirty Dozen, please email sustainability@fanshawec.ca.
