Cosmetics With Chemicals

I recently received some very interesting news about certain over-the-counter products that are widely used and distributed. It’s long been known that over-the-counter products are often filled with chemicals that are not good for your body and skin. That’s one of the reasons they are sold at a low price point when compared to specialized cosmetic products with more natural and organic ingredients. It’s true – and we’ve all heard it – that these companies often spend as much or even more on expensive packaging than on the ingredients themselves. There is plenty of scientific evidence that it’s important to buy your cosmetics carefully and with an eye toward your overall health and wellbeing.

Here’s a fact: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only minimal impact upon the use of chemicals used in cosmetics because they have escaped effective regulation under the antiquated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The results from a variety of environmental studies underscore the widespread and systemic failure of current law to protect the public from chemicals, many of which persist in the environment for decades or far longer, that are associated in animal studies with cancer, reproductive problems and behavioral effects.

Therefore, as much as possible, we need to be our own advocates to protect ourselves and loved ones from toxic compounds that are frequently used in everyday consumer products.

Look at an ingredient list in a typical over-the-counter product, and you may see phthalates, triclosan, parabens and artificial musks – all of which have been found to alter the hormone system and may be carcinogenic in some cases. Other ingredients, hydantoin and imidazolidinyl urea, release formaldehyde – are known carcinogens, something we certainly don’t want on our skin. We don’t want a woman of any age, particularly a young woman or teenager who might be pregnant someday, to have toxic chemicals in their bodies.

Environmental pollutants found on people include flame retardants, Teflon chemicals, synthetic fragrances, the plastics ingredient bisphenol A and the rocket fuel component perchlorate. The body burdens of environmental pollutants, a mix of industrial chemicals, synthetic cosmetics ingredients and chemicals used to treat consumer products, are strikingly equivalent among the Americans tested by governmental and independent research organizations across the US. However, regulations are lacking and not prioritized, as these chemicals have had widespread use for a long time and industry resistance is strong.

So, before you pick up any cosmetics over the counter, take a good look at their ingredients. What is in them could be hurting you. Sure, your skin may feel smoother in the short term, but in the long term, it’s just not worth it.

Instead, I recommend our product line, Dr Barad Illuminated SkinCare®, which is exclusively formulated with natural, mostly plant-based but active anti-oxidants and nutrient-rich ingredients to effectively support cellular mechanisms for reversing skin damage. It can assist aging and thinning skin to restore a more youthful state by helping to increase hydration, collagen and elastin. The different products in the line are customized to address different skin problems. Simply put, Francesca is pure and clean – it’s what I use on my skin.

My job as an aesthetics expert is to direct you to the very best options and keep you away from those cosmetic products that in the long term do more harm than good. Next time you go for any type of skin care or make-up, be sure to look at the ingredients. Natural is better.