Contrary to popular speculation, the use of cosmetics is not a modern phenomenon. Although we cannot state for a fact when our human obsession with beauty started the fact remains that it has been around for a very long time. That said; the first archaeological evidence of cosmetic usage was actually recorded in Egypt way back around 3500 BC. This proves that cosmetics have been around for thousands of years. It is said that the ancient Egyptian women actually used Kohl to darken their eyelids.
With more people caring about their appearance today, it is no wonder that perfumes, cosmetics and skin care products constitute a multimillion dollar industry that confuses customers with a wide choice of products to choose from. Unlike in the past where the absence of regulation concerning the production of beauty products led to extreme side effects such as deformities and even death, today there are governing bodies which set the guidelines for the manufacture of cosmetic products. One governing regulation that these bodies have is that companies that manufacture or sell cosmetics are liable for any side effects that may arise as a result of use of that product.
In order to prevent any liability cases, cosmetic companies have dug deeper into science to save their businesses. With the help of technology they have been able to make cosmetics safer by adding special ingredients into their products to make it more skin friendly. Here are a few examples:
Emulsifiers- Simply put, emulsifiers are small droplets of oil that are dispersed in water or small droplets of water that are dispersed in oil. Either way, the droplets that are dispersed are meant to alter the surface tension of the water and oil phases thus preventing separation. The result is usually a homogenous product that not only produces an even skin texture but is also safer to use. The emulsifiers also act by reducing trans-epidermal water loss that sometimes causes itchiness. Allergic reactions to some oils in cosmetics have also been reduced by the use of emulsifiers.
Preservatives- The addition of preservatives to make up was solely meant to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Preservatives such as benzyl alcohol have been known to kill bacteria and fungi that degrade cosmetics which eventually harm the user. The removal of mercury based preservatives e.g. thimerosal has also been carried out after it was proven to be highly toxic to the nervous and immune system.
PH stabilizers - The introduction of PH stabilizers was meant to curb unintended side effects such as skin allergies which caused a rash where the product was applied. The work of these stabilizers is to prevent any excessive acidity or alkalinity for that matter. Their creation was based on the fact that most cosmetic ingredients were barely water soluble and hence special solvents had to be developed to bring such ingredients to solution when the need arose.
What is important to remember here is that while science is reducing the harmful effects of beauty products, it is definitely wise to keep in mind that chemical combinations have become very complex and that gaining a deeper understanding of the ingredients used will prove to be very helpful in the long run especially where your skin is concerned.
