The Makeup of Makeup

The Chemical Make Up of Makeup

The cosmetic industry in America today is one that makes about $20 billion dollars a year and in 1996, according to Shannon Dortch in “Women at the Cosmetics Counter”, nearly 88% of women aged 18-24 were using some type of makeup every single day. Many women, though, are unaware of how makeup is made and the ingredients applied for color, thickness, and moisture.

Most cosmetics contain a mixture of some of the following substances. Water, emulsifiers, preservatives (which are added to prevent the growth of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi), thickener (to change the consistency, for example the chemical compound polyethylene glycol HO-(CH2-CH2-O)n-H), color (to make girls look nice and pretty), fragrance, and PH stabilizers.

Polyethylene glycol comes from a family of elements called the PEG family and can be found on labels in the form of PEG-6, and PEG-150(Aubrey Cosmetics). These compounds, along with polyethylene glycol, are believed to cause an increase in cancer to people who use this product, with an emphasis on women with breast cancer. PEG compounds usually have small amounts of a substance called ethylene oxide. According to experimental results reported in the National Toxicology Program's Eighth Annual Report on Carcinogens, ethylene oxide increases the incidences of uterine and breast cancers and of leukemia and brain cancer.

' Another ingredient used in cosmetics is Methylchloroisothiazolinone, which is a natural chemical which companies used in the 70’s in their products which was later on found to cause irritation to skin with other effects, but is still used today in some face washes and rinse off’s (Wikipedia) in little amounts. The formula for Methylchloroisothiazolinone is C4H4CINOS and is plant derived which is probably why it was assumed to be okay to use as a cosmetic ingredient due to the fact that it was “organic” and natural, which was later proved wrong in long term effects. Although it was found that this ingredient could and may be harmful to the skin it is still used today in such products as shampoo, conditioner, gel, and body wash.

Propylene Glycol ( C3H8O2) is another chemical compound which is found in cosmetics. It is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless compound which is found in antibacterial soaps, lotions, moisturizers, deodorants, makeup and many other products that are non-related to cosmetics such as antifreeze, paint, and wallpaper remover. Propylene Glycol is used as a humescent in these products because of it’s ability to retain moisture in skin because it somehow makes it unable for water (and moisture) to “escape” the skin. Known health effects of this chemical compound are eye irritation, skin irritation, skin drying, and de-fatting. This chemical can be so harmful to the skin that it requires a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) when companies buy it in large amounts. The MSDS states to “avoid contact from skin“.

There are also some substances found in makeup that may be shocking to most people that have been discovered in past years by the Food and Drug Administration. For example cerebrosides. The raw material for cerebrosides in cosmetics comes from “cattle, oxen or swine brain cells or other nervous system tissues“(fda.gov). Alternatively, the raw material may be received from plant sources. Industry cosmetic scientists say that using cerebrosides in skin products and cosmetics results in a smoother skin surface and better moisture retention. They are marketing it as something that makes the skin healthier and look better, but avoiding the fact that it comes from the brain cells of a cow.

Lipstick is a cosmetic that is the most popular and probably the one that has been around the longest. The original origin of it has yet to be discovered but it’s known to been used first in Babylon almost 5000 years ago (Wikipedia) and the way they would do this is by crushing jewels and applying it on there lips, which is very different from how it was made when Cleopatra would use it. It is said that the ingredients