I have got a different kind post today in the form of a guest writer! Zara Lewis from High Style Life has shared some important tips for reading cosmetic labels. I can be a compulsive shopper at times so I found these to be very informative and I will definitely be keeping them in my mind the next time I pop into Boots "just for a look"and I fill a whole basket....
Our lives would have been much easier if we didn’t have to read the labels on everything: food, beauty products, detergents, medicine… But, even if it takes you quite some time to read it, information you find there are important and should not be taken lightly. Just think about people with peanut allergies forgetting to read that the product they are about to use contains traces of peanuts? With or without allergies, reading labels is important and here is what you should know about it.
The most important symbols
It’s not all about the list of ingredients on a cosmetic label, sometimes symbols in form of little drawings that seem irrelevant can help you a lot. For example, little open jar and little hourglass stand for expiration dates. The jar stands for PAO (Period After Opening) and it shows you how long will the product stay safe after you open it (for periods longer than 30 months). Hourglass on the other hand stands for ‘Best before end of…’ and it always marks the period shorter than 30 months.
Avoid aluminum
Even though you may think that aluminum is used for production of foil only, it is also present in cosmetic industry. Aluminum in powder form is very much present in cosmetic industry, mostly in self-care products such as deodorants. The sad news is that aluminum is a neurotoxin and it has some really bad side effects. There are some studies that linked aluminum to breast cancer and even some brain disorders. This happens because you deliberately clog your pores to prevent sweating, and that is not natural. Instead, try using products with beeswax and baking soda which are natural and harmless.
Protect your eyes
Eyes are extremely sensitive and skin around them is incredibly gentle, so you should be careful with the products you use. Girls usually opt for a bit more aggressive makeup removers, but it can leave the skin dry and irritated. To avoid this, use organic eye shadow and mild cleansers even if that means that you will have to remove your makeup a bit longer than usual. It is better to spend more time in order to protect your health than to hurry all the time and be sorry later. When buying a product, look for Non irritating mark on a label, it should be gentle for your skin.
Steer clear of parabens
It is practically impossible to imagine a product that does not contain parabens, even though it is considered harmful. Parabens are chemical preservatives which allow companies to make products that last longer, but luckily the usage is much reduced in past years. However, because people have started avoiding parabens, there is a newer preservative called phenoxyethanol (sometimes referred to as ethylene glycol monophenyl ether). It is said to be a safer alternative and sometimes even labeled as “certified organic”, but be careful: not only can it cause skin irritation, but it can damage the brain as well. it is so controversial that Japan has banned the use of it in all cosmetic products, and other countries have limited the use to only a single percent.
Even if it seems too meticulous and boring to you, try not to ignore labels but read them carefully and thoroughly. Remember, the shorter the ingredient list, the more likely it is that the product is natural. Learn about the abbreviations and ‘scientific’ names for simple things, it will make your life much easier, and you will not have to worry about using products which are bad for you anymore.
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