18个美容行业不希望你知道的秘密
The main difference between designer cosmetics and their drugstore counterparts? Fancy packaging. In fact, some manufacturers make both high-end and drugstore product—using similar formulas! …but it doesn’t review cosmetics before they go on the market, it can’t recall a product if there’s a problem, and it has banned only about a dozen toxic chemicals from beauty products, compared with the more than 1,300 that are banned in the European Union. Choose anti-aging moisturizers and serums with vitamin A derivatives such as retinol and retinaldehyde. The next most effective ingredient: L-ascorbic acid. Nearly one in five cosmetic products contains traces of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. While the jury is still out on whether exposure is harmful, you can avoid it altogether by skipping products that list DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate , or bronopol as an ingredient. Many Brazilian blowout , keratin and other salon hair-smoothing treatments… …contain formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that has been linked to cancer. A 2011 OSHA study found that even formulas labeled “formaldehyde-free” still released a significant amount of formaldehyde gas when they were used or heated. The terms “hypoallergenic” and “noncomedogenic” are essentially marketing words with very little meaning. There are no testing guidelines or requirements governing their use. Lead is no longer allowed in paint or gasoline, but it may be lurking in your lipstick. The FDA in 2012 found that 400 shades of popular lipsticks contained trace amounts of lead. To find products without lead and other toxins, use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. There is a magic potion that will stop 90 percent of your skin’s aging… …but, according to a Marist Institute for Public Opinion poll, only one in ten Americans uses it: sunscreen. Your foundation has SPF? That’s great—but you still need sunscreen. Experts say most people don’t use enough makeup to fully protect their skin, and they end up missing important areas such as their ears, neck, and the back of their hands. Sure, those spray sunscreens make application a cinch, but think about this: You may be inhaling toxic chemicals into your lungs and bloodstream. The FDA is studying the risks, but in the meantime, be sure to spray an aerosol into your hands first and then apply. Spend some bucks on your tools. Good brushes help you apply makeup evenly and blend it in so you look more natural. Even the best makeup won’t look as good if you put it on with mediocre brushes. If your mascara is drying up and you’re in a pinch… …a couple of drops of saline solution can make it last a few more days. Never wash your face with just plain soap. Made from animal fat and salt compounds, it strips your skin of its natural oils and proteins. Use a non-soap cleanser instead. If you think everything that’s natural and plant-based is safe, think again. Poison ivy is natural. And like poison ivy, plenty of natural ingredients have compounds that can irritate your skin. “Unscented” is not the same thing as “fragrance-free.” Unscented products have masking fragrances to cover the odor of other chemicals. Here’s a trick to make you look fresh and awake: Instead of using liner underneath your eyes, line the upper inner rims (waterlines) of your eyes with a dark waterproof color. Cover problem spots with concealer, not foundation . If you try to camouflage everything with foundation, it accentuates wrinkles and doesn’t look natural. With foundation, less is always more. Go gold for a more youthful look. A little bit of gold in your foundation will neutralize redness and counteract the gray pallor that accompanies aging on all skin tones. |