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INFOGRAPHIC: Chemicals in Beauty Products

Posted on: February 12th, 2013 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

More companies than ever are trying to go green or organic to meet the rising demands of beauty product customers. Organic beauty products with fewer chemicals continue to increase and flood the market, and we think more natural beauty products is a great trend to take hold. However, the number of chemicals still used in many beauty products today is eye-popping and a little disturbing. Granted, not all chemicals are harmful or dangerous, but shouldn’t we all take steps to move back toward our roots and create the best cosmetic options possible? Don’t we have an obligation to make make up and beauty products healthy and safe to use for all consumers? Check out these alarming facts about the chemicals used in today’s beauty products, and how many chemicals the average person puts on their skin each day.

Facts About Chemicals in Beauty Products

There are more than 10,500 different ingredients used in personal care products.
Global, plant-based pharmaceutical market valued at $19.5 billion in 2008
Global beauty industry valued at $50 billion in 2010.
Women use on average 12 products containing 168 ingredients and 515 chemicals every day.
Men use on average 6 products containing 85 ingredients every day.
Children are exposed to 61 ingredients every day.

Average Number of Chemicals in Beauty Products

Hairspray – 11
Blush – 16
Foundation – 24
Deodorant – 15
Shampoo – 15
Eye Shadow – 26
Nail Polish – 31
Perfume – 250
Body Lotion – 32
Fake Tan – 22
Lipstick – 33

Chemicals in Makeup

In a Campaign for Safe Cosmetics test of 33 popular lipstick brands, they found that 61% of lipsticks contained lead, with levels up to 0.65 parts per million. The FDA did a follow-up study and found levels up to 7.19 parts per million. 5 of the 10 most contaminated brands are made by L’Oreal. There is no safe level of lead exposure.

Regulation (Or Lack Thereof) of Chemicals in Beauty Products

FDA has no authority to require companies to test products for safety. FDA does not review or approve the vast majority of products or ingredients before they go on the market.
FDA has no authority to require recalls of harmful cosmetics. Manufacturers are not required to report cosmetics-related injuries to the agency – they’re supposed to do so voluntarily.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) safety panel has assessed fewer than 20% of cosmetics ingredients, and found only 11 ingredients or chemicals to be unsafe.
Products labeled “Natural” or “Organic” often contain synthetic chemicals – “organic” products are only required to contain as little as 10% organic ingredients by weight or volume.
Federal law allows companies to leave many chemicals off the label – nanomaterials, ingredients considered trade secrets, components of fragrance (fragrance may include any of 3,163 different chemicals).

Sources

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/myths-on-cosmetics-safety/
http://safecosmetics.org/
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/chemicals-linked-to-breast-cancer/cosmetics/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1229275/Revealed–515-chemicals-women-bodies-day.html
http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice

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Top 4 Things You Didn’t Know You’d Learn in Cosmetology School

Posted on: June 15th, 2012 by Heather No Comments

Some people out of the loop don’t take cosmetology seriously. They think we sit around all day just making people pretty. While that’s definitely part of it and easily the best parts of our jobs, there is so much more to cosmetology school, and you might be surprised at some of the things students learn. Cosmetology students take substantive courses that teach them far more than the processes for creating the latest hair styles or achieving the perfect shade of highlights. In cosmetology programs, students are often required to take courses that educate them about the anatomy and physiology of the body, trichology, and the proper sterilization procedures for hair styling equipment, and so much more. Cosmetology schools help a student obtain a well-rounded, serious and meaningful education so that the student can provide the best services for the client. So check out the top four things you would never guess a student learns in cosmetology school and discover why cosmetology is a career that is valuable and should be taken seriously!

Anatomy and Physiology of Hair, Skin and Nails

Stylists will take extensive courses in cosmetology school that cover the physical make-up of the body and an understanding of anatomy. Because cosmetologists come into contact with the scalp region, it is important that cosmetologists understand its construction so as to spot potential issues and avoid harmful effects of treatments like infections or rashes. Ever heard of trichology? It deals with the scientific study of the hair and scalp, and it’s not something to be taken likely!

Safety, Sanitation and Sterilization

Hairstylists learn how to properly clean hair rollers, irons, brushes, scissors, combs and every other tool they use in a cosmetology program. Cosmetology students also learn how to maintain an immaculate work station for client safety and their own safety. They learn how to spot illnesses in the scalp and protect other clients from being exposed to a client’s dandruff or lice problem. By learning these skills, cosmetologists learn how to avoid negligent situations in the workplace for which they and their salon would be held legally liable, and prevent customers from ending up with serious health conditions that will tarnish your and your salon’s reputations.

Chemistry of Color, Treatments and Beauty Products

The typical program at a cosmetology school requires 1500 to 2000 hours of coursework depending on your state, and that includes real, hands-on practice styling hair and performing other beauty services. A majority of these hours are spent in learning how to properly mix hair color and perform special hair treatments for clients. Stylists will learn how to use relaxers and perform a partial or full set of highlights. A student can complete these hours over a 9- to 15-month course depending on their state. There are specific requirements that must be met within the program in order to take board exams and get licensed. One of the most important requirements a student must meet is a set number of hours (determined by the boards of cosmetology or cosmetology schools) dedicated to theory and the study of chemistry. Studying the chemistry of hair color is one of the most important skills a beauty student learns, because more often than not they will work in a salon where stylists are responsible for mixing their own color.

Business Skills like Salesmanship, Ethics, Client Relations and Shop Management

Working with clients and being able to relate to them is an important aspect of being a stylist or other personal appearance worker. Many salons depend on stylists to market to new clients and promote the salon. A stylist is largely responsible for building their own loyal client base. A stylist will usually study professionalism and communication with clients in a beauty school program. Cosmetology students will often find that sales and marketing skills, critical thinking for ethical decisions, client relations and retention, and salon and spa management are skills they get with the cosmetology school package.

These are 4 things that every cosmetologist should learn in beauty school. Cosmetology school exposes students to valuable information that directly helps them become better professionals in the workplace, and keeps the public safe and satisfied.

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California “Non-Toxic” Nail Polish Study Found Toxins

Posted on: April 23rd, 2012 by Becca No Comments

Little ones who dream of growing up and becoming professional cosmetologists, nail techs, or any other profession that helps women be as beautiful as they can be do not usually consider their dream a dangerous one, and it should not be. A recent report released by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) about tests done in California nail salons brings up concerns however. In most positions that deal with beauty products day in and day out, there is significant exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. This is not a real issue usually as beauty schools train their students to deal with these safely. The problem comes, when as the report notes, products are mislabeled.

The DTSC randomly selects brands of nail polish to test for toxins that are labeled as not containing them. Recently, they discovered that several brands that claimed to not contain any toxins at all actually did contain certain ones in varying amounts. While consumers are exposed, and there is the potential for harm, the real harm lies with those who are exposed all day every day, the workers.

What does this mean for those who work in the nail field and for those who are training to do so? Basically, enjoy your job, but always remain aware of the dangers just like in any other job. And be proactive. Do not believe everything label you read. It has already been proven that they cannot be trusted. Be your own advocate and do not rely on others to do it for you.

What do safety precautions in nail salons and nail technician schools look like? Well, choose to work in salons that are well ventilated, and if you own a salon, make sure it is well ventilated for the sake of those who work there. Wear the most protective mask available regardless of what the product label says, and take frequent breaks. Also, keep up with reports that are released so that you can know which brands have been found to contain chemicals that they claim not to.

No one else is going to do it for you. Do the best you can with the information you have and take your well-being into your own hands. If you begin to feel ill from chemical exposure, go out and breathe some fresh air during your next break. Keep masks handy, and do not allow yourself to be exposed any more than necessary. Most importantly, as this study shows, don’t always trust the labels and do your research.

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Get the Lead Out, FDA, and Get the Lead Out of Lipstick

Posted on: February 16th, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

Lead was once considered a material solely found in paint and other products manufactured before the ’90s. However, many products on the market today contain lead, including children’s toys that were recently pulled from shelves. The dangers of lead toxicity range in severity from vomiting and headaches to memory loss, hypertension and miscarriage.

With so many women who put on lipstick to get a little fabulous for Valentine’s Day, the issue of lipstick containing a small amount of lead was brought to everyone’s attention once again. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calmed consumers by posting on their website that the amount of lead in lipstick is minimal, and since the product is made for topical use only, there’s not enough in the product to be a cause for concern.

Prior to the FDA putting the rumors regarding the dangers of lipstick to rest, the coalition the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics stated that there is no safe amount of lead, especially when you take into consideration how much lead accumulates in the human body over time. In addition, pregnant women and children may use lipstick, and there’s no way to determine exactly how much lead is safe for either group.

At the beginning of the month, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics suggested to the FDA to enforce a limit on the amount of lead in lipstick. The response to the urgent letter was announced by the FDA soon after in the form of the web post made by administration to inform consumers that there’s no immediate danger in the lead levels. In fact, the pigments in the cosmetics have a cap on the amount of lead in them; however, the cosmetics themselves don’t have any limits implemented at this time.

The consumer group questioned the remarks made by the FDA. This lead to the FDA re-releasing data that was found last year dealing with the levels of lead in 400 different lipsticks. From these findings, the FDA concluded that the average lipstick contains 1.11 ppm of lead. Although lead isn’t an actual ingredient in lipsticks — it’s due to contamination of the raw ingredients — the consumer group still urges the FDA to apply restrictions to the amount of lead in cosmetics. The administration has made no further statements on the subject at this time.