Our society has become completely germ phobic. Every product on the market has some kind of super ingredient that supposedly protects us from tiny little microorganisms that will make us sick or cause infection. Did you know that almost 80% of all liquid soaps on the market are anti-bacterial? So, when people would talk to me about how important it is to throw out my old cosmetics, I have to admit I would nod in agreement and then roll my eyes once their backs were turned. I was one of those people who believed it was our society’s bacterial obsession at play as well as being a big scam by the cosmetics companies to get us to keep buying their products.
But, the truth is, the danger of using old makeup is very real, not only because of bacteria (which is bad enough!), but because of the ingredients within the actual products. The FDA does not place as stringent policies on cosmetics as they do on food, which means cosmetics companies can use whatever chemicals they want that are known to cause skin reactions and even cancer. The EU is far more progressive in that it has banned over 1,100 of these chemicals, while the US FDA – only about 11. What do these numbers mean? If you live in the US, Canada, or any nation that imports skincare and cosmetics from the U.S. (i.e. the majority of the world), you need to be THAT much more careful about what you’re putting on your face. Preservatives may make cosmetics temporarily safe, but they last for only a certain amount of time (hence, the need to clean out your makeup drawer).
How long can you hold onto products? Here’s a basic breakdown: Read the rest of this entry »
