They often say that beauty is only skin deep, and that is something women have understood long before they started saying that. After all, the skin is the largest organ in the body and taking proper care of it is a skill what many women have mastered. However, maintaining a fetching complexion is not as simple as it seems, especially with dangerous skin products out there.
That’s right! There is a reason why many cosmetic and skin care companies test their wares on helpless animals, and that is because beauty products have a long history of toxicity.
For example, did you know that many perfumes contain phthalates, which are known to disrupt female hormones and may even promote certain kinds of cancers? How about the fact that some hair colouring products had lead in them, as well as an ingredient known as phenylenediamine, a possible carcinogen?
But both of these examples pale by comparison to the dangers of skin lighteners and whiteners, which have been banned in many countries. But tragically, the demand for light skinned beauties is so high in many parts of Asia, that it is estimated that 2 in every 5 women use these products.
What is the danger? Well, to save some money, many companies use dangerous chemicals like hydroquinone and mercury, chemicals that have been banned in most nations, but not in Asia. While it is true that these chemicals may achieve fast results, the long term effects can be tragic. Not only have they been known to cause redness, blotchiness and peeling skin, but both chemicals are carcinogens. As you might have guessed, skin cancer is a possible result of these dangerous beauty treatments.