According to activists like the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, these include parabens (used as preservatives), petrochemicals and their by-products (found in skin creams, foundations, lip balms, and more) mercury (found in mascara and eyedrops), lead (found in lipsticks), dioxane (potentially found in shampoos and body washes) and phthalates (found in some nail polishes, hair sprays, and fragrances).
Not only have some of these ingredients been identified by the World Health Organization, the CDC, and others as carcinogens, but some also fall into a category known as "endocrine disrupters," chemicals that mimic or block the effects of hormones in the body. These have the potential to affect a variety of hormone-related diseases and conditions.
"The evidence may not be as definitive as some would like, but there are some strong associations suggesting women routinely exposed to some of these ingredients may increase their risk of developing breast cancer later in life," says Vassar College professor Janet Gray, PhD, who, together with experts from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, compiled a report on what we know so far about the environmental links to breast cancer.
Of greatest concern, she says, are women under 25, a time when breast tissue is developing and is more susceptible to outside influences.
Making these and other safety concerns even more relevant today: the relatively new science of nanotechnology. This is the process of making chemical particles so small that cosmetic ingredients can penetrate far deeper into the skin.
Moreover, many are also concerned about a chemical loophole known as the "fragrance umbrella." This essentially allows companies to claim a kind of proprietary formulation status that precludes them having to disclose the ingredients.
Bailey says no one is hiding anything.
"Fragrances are complex formulations—that's the only reason all the ingredients aren't listed," he says.
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