by Caroline Daykin
For many women, applying makeup is as much a part of their morning ritual as getting dressed or eating breakfast. While analysis of the aesthetic aspects of makeup may rival the effort put into a college English paper, little thought has been given to the long-term safety of makeup, or whether it is necessary at all.
Recently, scientists have begun exploring the link between cosmetics and personal care products and health. Their findings provide fuel to the feminist argument that makeup exacerbates inequalities between men and women.
Skin Deep: A Resource for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Consumers
Chemicals in makeup are believed to cause myriad long-term health problems. The Skin Deep cosmetic safety database analyzes products for links to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, bioaccumulation, and organ system toxicity.
The database contains information about 29,088 products, or about a quarter of the products on the market. Products are ranked as being of low, moderate, or high hazard. Consumers can search by type of product, such as “concealer,” or they can look up a specific product or brand to discover facts about a product’s safety. The advanced search function allows visitors to search for products based on particular health hazards they want to avoid.
