Beauty Hygiene

Makeup and beauty trends have seen a rise in the 21st century- with heavy influences across pop culture, TV shows, and even literature, the hygiene aspect of makeup is often ignored or not talked about. While makeup is glamorous and fun to experiment with, there are several hygiene factors that one must take into consideration before applying foreign chemicals to your face.

The first prototype of cosmetics dates back to the early Egyptians- Cleopatra used crushed beetles to make her lips darker and women would mix clay and water for a brownish hue to use as lipstick. Most notable, however, was the use of Kohl- both women and men would rub coal, burnt ashes, and a mixture of lead and other metals around their eyes to accentuate their features. While this may seem extremely dirty and unhygienic in the modern-day, skin at the time of the ancient Egyptian civilization was much tougher and more suited to this type of application.

From the middle ages to the 19th Century, however, pale skin and muted makeup rose to prominence. Women ( For example, Queen Elizabeth 1 of England) would use a mixture known as ceruse. And though women today might like to joke about how they suffer for beauty, women who used the lead-based ceruse often ended up with muscle paralysis or in their graves. Ceruse is a mixture of lead and Vinegar that causes faces to blemish and scar, as well as causing hair to whiten and fall out.

Thankfully, by the 20th-century makeup started to become the multi-million industry we recognize today- lipsticks and other chemically tested creams, eye products, and colors hit the market. And while that is an achievement from applying Vinegar and Lead on delicate skin, there is a lot to the makeup industry that is still not hygienic or as clean as we may think. Lipstick/ Lip care

Many name-brand lipsticks contain lead, a proven neurotoxin that accumulates in the body because the body does not exhibit the chemical processes necessary to break down and assimilate any amounts of lead. Abnormally high levels of lead have been correlated to miscarriages, infertility, and cognitive issues. Found mostly in lipstick colorants or ingredient byproducts derived from raw materials like mineral oil, petroleum, or paraffin, lead amounts are not currently limited by the FDA. However, the FDA has put limits on other additives used to color lipsticks but these limits permit up to 20 parts per million of lead, an unacceptable amount according to research standards.

Many lipstick colorants use chemicals that are harmful to delicate skin which poses dermatology issues.

Eyeliner/ Eye Products

The eyes are one of the most sensitive and delicate parts of the body. Eyeliner that has been sitting on a shelf too long can induce bacteria and various fungi into the eye, which cause irritations and swellings, and even infection For example, kohl, a product used to enhance eye makeup in other countries, is linked to lead poisoning in children. Other ingredients to avoid include talc, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), urea, sulfates, and phthalates Some of these ingredients act as preservatives, stabilizers, or anti-caking agents, but they can also irritate skin or are associated with cancer risk in large amounts. Sometimes, glitter and heavy eyeshadow can block oil-secreting glands that the Cornea needs to function properly and that may cause dry eye syndrome as well as itchiness.

Foundations/ Moisturizers

Moisturizers ( especially the ones that come in jars) are exposed to microorganisms after each use. Makeup brushes and sponges absorb tiny bits of dead skin and bacteria after every use and this is reapplied on the face at each use. This leads to skin conditions that are unhealthy and dirties products for further use

What you can do

It is impossible to completely boycott makeup and that’s not what we at SHARP suggest either. We hope that the awareness of how harmful neglecting makeup can be, there is the facilitation of a healthier, safer environment.

1. Source Responsibly- Know where your products come from and how they have been sourced. Go to trusted stores and brands instead of shopping for cheap products online that could have various harmful chemicals.

2. Know your skin’s limits- Everyone has different skin and different biology. Not everyone can wear a full face of makeup or s certain lipstick brand and knowing the way your skin behaves is extremely important to protect it

3. Make sure your makeup is clean- Throwing out old products and cleaning sponges, brushes, etc. seems tedious but they help in the long run. It is important to make sure the application of makeup is happening in as hygienic of a way as possible. Makeup is fun and can be a beautiful form of expression if done correctly. The world of beauty is a bright and glamorous one- and hygiene doesn’t differentiate. Beauty and makeup influencers may not talk about it, but cleanliness in makeup is vital, and we at SHARP hope you stay appropriately safe and aware when using it. Stay safe!

Maya Ribeiro

SHARP