Protecting Girls From Harmful Cosmetics
Chemicals in Makeup are Linked to Cancer and Other Disorders
A 2008 report by the Environmental Working Group showed 9 out of 10 girls are wearing makeup regularly by the time they are 14. In fact, the number of girls aged 11 to 14 who use makeup every day has doubled in two years! Yet girls are most vulnerable to the chemicals in makeup – many of which are linked to breast cancer – during the years when their bodies are developing!
The Ingredients in Cosmetics
The cosmetic industry has been increasingly targeting our daughters over the last decade, with a range of cutesy products designed for young girls. As one mother stated to the author, "As a mother, I allowed myself to be persuaded that 'kiddy makeup' was okay because it was just the same as playing dress up. I assumed that the products would be extra safe because of the age range it was marketed to." However, a look at any of the "kiddy" cosmetics will quickly show an alarming range of ingredients whose name most people can't pronounce (which usually means chemicals). Do a bit more research and parents will find that there are ingredients like phthalates which are linked to breast cancer, birth deformation, asthma and early puberty. They will also find lead, formaldehyde and other harmful ingredients.
Many of the ingredients in makeup and skin care products mimic the effect of oestrogen. This is of great concern, because it is widely accepted amongst scientists that it is the increased exposure to oestrogen in the environment that has lead to the rise in breast cancer over the last 50 years. (Breast Cancer Network (NZ) report, 2006)
Strategies for Protecting Daughters From the Chemicals in Cosmetics
The first thing to do is start reading labels, particularly the ingredients list. As a rule of thumb, if a person can't pronounce it – she shouldn't buy it! Be suspicious: Words like "natural" or "hypoallergenic" look reassuring, but they may well be misleading.
Women should educate themselves and their daughters. There is a lot of information on the net about the chemicals in cosmetics issue. A good place to start is at SafeCosmetics.org. There is also an alarming report that is worth reading, even if it is a bit scientific, at breastcancernetwork.org.nz in an article entitled "Insidious Oestrogens."
There are also places that will educate girls on cosmetic safety. For instance, as part of their Building Social Confidence program, one business, Grace Academy, is arming girls with the information they need to make safe and healthy choices in cosmetics and skin care. "There are safe products available, if you know what to look for. We also teach girls about natural products they can make themselves." said Karen McIlveen, principal of Grace Academy.
Women can learn to make their own cosmetics and skin care products! Women often assume that they have to pay a fortune for a product that is good for their skin, but that couldn't be further from the truth! It is just as easy to make natural products in the kitchen, which are often better for the skin than anything they can buy in the shop. Mothers can teach daughters to make lip glosses, face masks and bubble baths in just a few minutes, knowledge that will save her a lot of money down the track! Recipes can be downloaded at Safe Cosmetics.
Shop in places that sell organic and natural products. Health stores often have natural cosmetics and skin care products, but again, read the labels carefully. Just because products are in a health store doesn't mean they are free of harmful chemicals.
Limit one's overall exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals. While bodies have an inherent ability to get rid of excess oestrogen, many of the man-made compounds can't be broken down and end up accumulating in the body.
One way to reduce the load on bodies is to use glass containers as much as possible, as plastic containers often have these harmful chemicals. Another way to reduce exposure is to avoid all shop-bought cosmetic and skin care products, including shampoos and deodorants. In fact, some of the worst offenders are sunscreens, with five out of the 6 having oestrogen mimicking ingredients. Instead seek out products that are made from 100% natural ingredients. For instance, aromatherapy businesses often make up their own skin care products which are natural and wonderful for the skin.
Ultimately, mothers may have to refuse to allow their daughter to wear makeup and skin care products until her body has stopped developing. As she is most vulnerable when her body is developing, taking such a stand may protect her from breast cancer in the long run.
The pressure being brought to bear on cosmetic companies is slowly forcing them to withdraw these chemicals from their product lines. However, it will be some time before it is safe to use shop-bought products. In the meantime, women must protect their daughters from being exposed unnecessarily to products which may cause them harm later in life. Some exposures to chemicals are out of women's control but limiting their children's exposure to shop-bought products is one thing they can, and must, control, to ensure their future.
Young Girls Love to Wear Makeup
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