There is a school of thought that natural ingredients are best for products which are applied to the skin. However, many consumers have long come to realize that this is often unrealistic as natural ingredients break down rapidly and lose their effectiveness unless they are preserved. Also, some natural ingredients are only available at certain times of the year.

It is no wonder therefore that businesses such as the beauty and cosmetic industry are very dependent on synthetic or artificial ingredients for the manufacturing of cosmetics. This vibrant, lucrative, worldwide industry has a very close relationship with the use of chemicals for the manufacturing of its products. A close look at a shampoo bottle with its list of chemical ingredients may tell a very different story than the label which boasts its natural properties.

Many health concerns for cosmetics have emerged from the use of products in cosmetics derived from petroleum, sulfates and paraben. Some cosmetic manufactures have responsibly chosen not to use products such as formaldehyde, toluene, heavy metals (eg, lead and arsenic) and methylene glycol based on test results which have pointed to cancer causing or other possible harmful effects on the body from their use. So other than going back to the inconveniences of nature and using only natural products which are freshly picked from a garden or forest, how does a consumer ensure that they are using products which are safe for the health?

unsafe products

While there are no foolproof ways to ensure that every cosmetic purchase is a safe one, there are actions a consumer can take to limit exposure to unsafe products. Read the labels and look for products that are free of known toxic or carcinogenic ingredients. For example, when buying nail polish, choose those that are without formaldehyde. Also, be prepared to stop using cosmetics which produces a bad reaction in your body no matter how expensive it is or how beautiful or glamorous it makes you look. Don't follow every new product or style which is being marketed as the hottest item. Do the research to see whether they contain ingredients which are cause for concern.

Lastly, remember that there are always trade-offs. These may be between safety and price or safety and convenience or availability. The most important thing you can do as a consumer is to make wise decisions based on knowledge.

Ann Marie Rodriques

PeaceWater Services

Send questions or comments to peacewaterservices@yahoo.com or follow me on Twitter@PeaceWaters or https://twitter.com/PeaceWaters