What are the harmful ingredients in cosmetics?

Cosmetics are very common items in real life. Cosmetics can maintain and beautify the skin, but some cosmetics contain a lot of harmful substances, and frequent use will damage skin tissue. Generally, cosmetics contain lead, mercury, or alcohol, which will cause problems such as skin redness and swelling.

Harmful ingredients in cosmetics

Alcohol, salicylic acid, fruit acid, mercury, lead and cadmium in cosmetics are harmful to the skin.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol has two fatal weaknesses and cannot be used on a large scale for a long time. First, alcohol is highly volatile, and as it evaporates it takes away moisture from the skin, making it dry. Secondly, high-concentration alcohol has a strong decomposition ability. While breaking down facial oils, it also destroys the skin's own water film, making the skin fragile and sensitive, and even denaturing keratin. Therefore, special attention must be paid when using alcohol-containing skin care products in the dry season.

2. Salicylic acid (BHA )

When you first use a product containing salicylic acid, your skin will feel like a peeled egg, tender and smooth. The reason is actually very simple: salicylic acid has the effect of removing aging cuticles. However, keratin cells are renewed once every 28 days. Excessive removal of the cuticle will weaken the skin's defense ability and may cause erythema, itching, tingling or allergies. Therefore, use salicylic acid with caution and it is best to avoid contact with eyes, face, reproductive organs and mucous membranes. A small number of people may be allergic to salicylic acid and are not suitable for using salicylic acid of any concentration.

3. Fruit acid (AHA)

Fruit acid mainly uses acid to thin the skin, thereby achieving an immediate whitening and exfoliating effect. Although the effect is obvious when you use it, you will find that your skin becomes thin and sensitive after a while, and you can even see the capillaries under the skin if you look carefully. Moreover, fruit acid is highly photosensitivity, so the skin is particularly prone to tanning if used in the morning.

4. Mercury and its compounds

Mercury and its compounds are banned chemicals in cosmetic ingredients, but are often added to whitening, skin lightening and freckle removal products by some informal small cosmetic workshops. If such products are used for a long time, mercury and its compounds can pass through the skin barrier and enter all organs and tissues of the body, causing damage to the body, especially the kidneys, liver and spleen, thereby destroying the activity of the enzyme system, causing protein coagulation, tissue necrosis, and symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, indifference, emotional instability, headache, dizziness, tremor, etc., accompanied by decreased hemoglobin content and red and white blood cell counts, liver damage, etc., in addition, there are also decreased peripheral sensation, centripetal reduction of visual field, hearing impairment and ataxia, etc.

5. Lead and its compounds

Lead and its compounds are usually added to hair dyes. According to national regulations, the lead content in hair dyes must be less than 0.6% (Pb), otherwise toxic side effects will occur. Lead and its compounds are absorbed through the skin and may endanger human health, especially affecting the hematopoietic system, nervous system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, cardiovascular system, immune and endocrine systems. For pregnant women, it may also affect the health of the fetus.

6. Cadmium and its compounds

Zinc compounds commonly used in cosmetics often contain cadmium in their raw material, sphalerite. Therefore, cadmium should not be contained in cosmetics as an impurity and its content should not exceed 40 mg/kg. Metallic cadmium is not very toxic, but cadmium compounds are highly toxic, especially cadmium oxides. Cadmium and its compounds mainly damage the heart, liver, kidneys, skeletal muscle and bone tissue, and may also induce high blood pressure, heart dilatation, premature death and lung cancer.