Should I Switch To Organic Makeup?

What are some of the first things we do in the morning? We shower, brush our teeth and, for many people, apply makeup. Beauty is a $55 billion industry, and its roots are deep.

Ancient Egyptians and Cleopatra created cosmetics from rocks, minerals and plants. The cosmetic applications were both practical — dark pigments lining the eye helped protect against bright sunlight — and aesthetically pleasing. One of the earliest eye shadows created in Egypt was a bright green made from mineral malachite. Cleopatra used a deep blue eye shadow made from ground lapis lazuli (a bright blue gemstone flecked with pyrite). Black kohl was used to darken eyelashes. Lipstick and blush was made from red ochre, and henna was used for nail polish.

But with the recent and growing interest in organic products, the cosmetic industry is now in the spotlight. And there are concerns over possible toxic ingredients present in beauty products.

A FoxNews.com article notes that environmental safety groups warn consumers against purchasing products with parabens, utilized as a preservative, and phalates, which have been linked to cancer and birth defects. However, there are others who disagree with the claims.
“The studies that I’ve seen that claim things like parabens are harmful or cause breast cancer, there’s nothing substantiated from those,” Dr. Doris Day, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center, told the news site.

Yet others insist on the need to be mindful of what is being put on skin, our largest organ. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate cosmetics and their ingredients. However, cosmetics are tested regularly. The cosmetic Ingredient Review, or CIR, is a nonprofit that works with the FDA and provides safety records. Experts like toxicologists, chemists and medical researchers test cosmetics and their ingredients for safety. They are checked for lead, arsenic and mercury levels, among other toxins, to make sure their levels remain safe.

For more information about our treatments and how we can help with your skin rejuvenation, visit us at www.yourlaserskicare.com, or call to make an appointment with our board-certified physician in Los Angeles at (323) 525-1516.