Thank Goodness for Non-toxic Skincare
We probably take non-toxic skincare for granted. However, in the grand scheme of things, the availability of safe skincare practically only happened yesterday. It couldn’t have come sooner either.
A Long History of Deadly Skincare
The idea of skincare is almost as old as the idea of beauty itself. The Ancient Egyptians are the first people known to have recorded their skincare regimes, over 6,000 years ago, but it’s likely that some form of skincare is likely to have been practiced by different peoples that existed before the development of any known writing.
Non-toxic skincare, however, is another thing altogether. At the Louvre, 52 different skincare and makeup samples from Ancient Egypt were analyzed and a significant number were found to be laced with four lead-based chemicals: galena, cerussite, laurionite, and phosgenite. Other highly-toxic substances were such as mercury and arsenic were also found. We don’t know what Pre-historic peoples used for skincare, but it’s safe to assume they didn’t understand toxicity the way we do today.
What do these substances do?
Skincare products with these substances can, at best, mildly irritate your skin and leave it looking more and more tired and splotchy. At worst, they can leach into your system through your pores and interfere with your brain, liver, and kidney functions. Definitely not something you’d want your own skincare products to be doing.
What’s more puzzling is that there is evidence to show that the Egyptians, and later, the Romans knew full well the toxic properties of lead and arsenic, describing them around 2,000 BC. However, this did not stop the Egyptians, the Romans, or subsequent civilizations from using toxic skincare products, as lead and arsenic were cheap, effective, and easily available substances.
Quite remarkably, this remained the case through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and all the way through modern times. In fact, many toxic skincare products are still readily available on store shelves today, and you might very well have a few in your home right now.
The idea of non-toxic skincare is a relatively new one compared to the long history of skincare in general. In America, the first-ever Food and Drug Act in 1906 did not even mention skincare or cosmetics. Americans would have to wait until the updated 1938 Act for cosmetics to be FDA-regulated. Even then, thanks to a prevailing lack of oversight, it would take years until non-toxic skincare and cosmetics became easy to find and purchase. It wasn’t until a few decades ago with increased consumer consciousness and a demand for more ethical business practices that non-toxic skincare became a mainstream idea.
Unexpected benefits
This new way of thinking has also brought a wide range of unexpected benefits as well. The demand for non-toxic skincare that was also ethical has led to the development of high-quality products that aren’t just good for your skin, but also good for the environment as well. As these substances no longer need to be mined and harvested in quantity and have fewer opportunities to leach into the soil and groundwater, these new non-toxic products are ultimately better for the next generation of people to inhabit the planet as well.
The drive for more ethical products has also led to new ways of developing skincare without animal testing. This movement to avoid the use of animals in product testing has led to a greater emphasis on the use of more wholesome, naturally-derived ingredients. Ultimately, this means fewer lives need to be sacrificed just so we can enjoy smooth, wrinkle-free skin.
How to keep yourself safe
Even with FDA regulations in place, some toxic skincare and makeup products still manage to slip through the cracks. This makes it incredibly important for consumers to be more vigilant about the skincare products they choose to use. Here are some quick guidelines on choosing non-toxic products for your skin.
1.) Read the label
The ingredients, the country of origin, and the skincare brand’s reputation all offer insights into whether or not your skincare product is indeed non-toxic and has passed your country’s regulations. Watch out for unfamiliar ingredients and be sure to look them up if needed. If the label uses wordplay to obscure the actual contents, you may also want to read up more on it before you buy.
2.) Buy only from a trusted seller
There are plenty of criminal enterprises out there that are counterfeiting well-known brands. There is no easy way to know what ingredients are to be found in these fakes, and it’s best to avoid them altogether. Always buy from an official store and do your due diligence when shopping from an online portal.
3.) Watch out for the following ingredients
These ingredients, while not always unsafe in the quantities used, should raise a few red flags. Avoid products with these ingredients or do further research before you purchase them:
- Phthalates
- Artificial fragrance
- BHA
- BHT
- Parabens
- Formaldehyde
- Petrolatum
- Lead
While these ingredients do not necessarily pose a risk in the quantities available in your skincare product, care should be taken to avoid overuse. Thankfully, you’re likely to be able to find non-toxic skincare alternatives without these ingredients.
