November study reveals potentially dangerous chemicals in mainstream makeup

A study released in November by George Mason University revealed that popular makeup and skincare products contain four dangerous chemicals — paraben, paraben metabolites, BPA and UV filters.

Companies like Glossier and Covergirl contain chemicals that are linked to future infertility and damaged skincare, according to Dr. Anna Pollack at George Mason University. An article by fashionlaw.com claims teenagers in America spent an average of $368 on skincare and makeup in the past year. 

Dr. Pollack conducted a study of 143 women who were 18 to 44 years old. After collecting urine samples, she searched for environmental chemicals — parabens, antimicrobial preservatives, benzophenones and UV filters. She concluded that the low level exposure to a mixture of chemicals found in makeup and skincare products may affect female reproductive hormone levels and UV filters that are associated with a decrease in reproductive hormones, decreasing  a women’s chance of having children.

Paraben, the common chemical found in major liquid makeup products, is a chemical used to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold. While makeup brands use it with the intent of protecting its users, the same chemical used in a bottle of Coke could be found in $40 Too Faced foundation. 

Not only liquid makeup is dangerous to the skin, but popular skincare brands like Cetaphil and Aveeno contain similar parabens found in foundations and concealers. 

According to Teenshealth.com eight out of 10 teenagers have acne. When teenagers have acne-prone skin and apply products with parabens and UV filters, they are increasing their exposure to these chemicals, according to Pollack.

 When YouTubers Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson released their Conspiracy palette on Nov. 1, junior Stella McKinney left her fourth hour to buy it online. 

“I really trusted [the palette] because I’ve been following Jeffree for a long time [on YouTube] and his video series was well-made,” McKinney said. “Most of the shades were fine but two of them, the purple and blue, made my eyelids swell and itch. It was annoying because each palette was $30 and I bought two.” 

Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson’s palette contains Ethylhexylglycerin — a preservative similar to parabens that protect makeup from molding. According to Janet Nudelman, director of program and policy at Breast Cancer Fund, claimed that the problem with ethanolamines is that they can be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.

While this chemical may not have been what directly effected McKinney’s eyes, Star’s palette contains chemicals that are harmful to its users in the long run.

“I feel like buying makeup online is a luck-thing,” McKinney said. “I was going to get the big size palette, but if they also have problems I’m not going to spend $60 on that.”

Purchasing higher-end brands like Too Faced and Fenty may include less harsh chemicals compared to drug store brands. But not every teenager has $368 to spend on makeup a year — let alone expensive, “paraben free” makeup. 

Junior Amanda Collins spends her free time doing different glam makeup looks for her Instagram. When told about the parabens and harsh chemicals found in these popular products, Collins advised to always use the healthier products.

“If you get makeup that lasts longer you will be stuck with horrible makeup on your face for a long time,” Collins said. “One thing you could always do is get a setting spray or powder which helps to make your makeup last longer.”

Pollack isn’t reprimanding teenagers to stop using makeup, but to simply watch how much of the harsh products they are frequently using. Splurging on a nicer quality of liquid makeup that may be “paraben-free” leads to better skin care now and in the future.

“What we should take away from this study is that we may need to be careful about the chemicals in the beauty and personal care products we use,” Pollack said in an article for George Mason University. “We have early indicators that chemicals such as parabens may increase estrogen levels. If this finding is confirmed by additional research, it could have implications for estrogen dependent diseases such as breast cancer.”