Toxic and Cancer Causing Agents in Facial Cosmetics

Toxic and Cancer Causing
Agents in Facial Cosmetics
Jaachim Okemgbo
2009
Background
• In 2004, a survey showed 64 percent of American
women use foundation, 81 percent of Americans use
lipstick and 59 percent of Americans use blusher.
• In 2009, a study found an average of 13 hormonealtering chemicals in the bodies of teenage girls.
• In 2007, a study found that over one-third of lipsticks
had lead levels over the federal limit.
Process
1. Create a survey
2. Go door to door through the Tri-Cities, filling out
surveys for any female that says yes.
3. Find specific names of facial cosmetics used
4. Create a list of chemicals in all cosmetics in the
study
5. Find names of products that contain most harmful
chemicals
Field Work
• Nine days
• 94 responses
• “Yes” : 28
• “No” : 41
• “I Don’t Speak English” : 25
Data
• 28 females
• 75 percent were single
• 43 percent were Hispanic, and 43 percent were
white
• 57 percent didn’t have any children
• 86 percent were citizens
• 64 percent never looked at labels
• 87 percent never had health problems from
cosmetics
• 57 percent looked into natural makeup
• 57 percent were not aware of risks from cosmetics
• 73 percent washed their faces nightly after wearing
cosmetics
Hazard Levels of Makeup
6%
30%
64%
Low
Moderate
High
Of the fifty makeup
products I looked at in my
study, three had a low
hazard level, 32 had a
moderate hazard level,
and 15 had a high hazard
level.
High Hazard Products
• Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Duos
• CoverGirl Eye Enhancers Quad Eyeshadow
• CoverGirl Professional Mascara
• CoverGirl Cheekers Blush
• CoverGirl Clean Fragrance Free Foundation
• CoverGirl Simply Powder Foundation
• Loreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Duo
• Loreal True Match Blush
• Loreal Colour Riche Lipstick
• Almay One Coat Lengthening Mascara
• Rimmel Underground Sweet Stuff Lipstick
• Rimmel Underground Kiss Off! Lip Gloss
• Revlon Colorstay Mineral Foundation
• Mary Kay MK Signature Concealer
• MAC Powder Blush
Hazard Levels of Ingredients In
Makeup
2%
24%
74%
Low
Moderate
High
Of the 338
ingredients found in
the various makeup,
249 had a low
hazard rating, 81
had a moderate
hazard rating, and 8
had a high hazard
rating.
High Hazard Chemicals
• Aluminum Powder - 1
• Benzyl Alcohol - 1
• BHA - 1
• BHT - 10
• Citral - 1
• Methylparaben - 32
• Polyethylene - 12
• Fragrance - 11
Advice
• Look at the label before buying any cosmetic
product
• Specifically look for the words
“Methylparaben,” a chemical that was found to
create hormone imbalances in teens, and
“Quartz,” a mineral that has been linked to a
high development of mutated cells.
Advice
• The company Jane Iredale had the lowest
hazard rating of all the products studies. Don’t
necessarily look for popular brand names as the
companies tend to put more toxic and cancer
causing chemicals in their products.
Conclusion
• Eye shadow, blush and foundation are the
most potentially harmful makeup items.
• The public is not well informed about the
cosmetic products they use.
Conclusion
•The government is slow to take action about
harmful chemicals found in common makeup
items.
• To be safe, look at the labels before buying
any cosmetic items.