Moisturizers, sunscreens, anti-aging products, self-tanners, shampoos: depending on their composition, these cosmetics can be friends or foes of our health.
Some ingredients used in cosmetics are already classified as harmful to our health, and manufacturers are looking to replace them. Others are simply banned.
Product Aging and Harmfulness A recent study has caused a stir with an accelerated aging test that shows that a frequently used ingredient, octocrylene, which seemingly has no safety history, degrades over time into benzophenone; a substance that induces liver cancer and the development of lymphomas in animals.
However, this substance resulting from the degradation of octocrylene is found in very high concentrations as the products age. Furthermore, benzophenone is very easily absorbed through the skin… Thus, a cream that initially seems safe can become dangerous, containing a hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic compound in high concentrations…
But the good news is that, given that octocrylene is harmful to the marine environment, many manufacturers have already removed it from their products or are looking for a replacement—a step forward for the environment that will also benefit our health.
Pascal Lemontel
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