Did You Know? Makeup Lovers Risk Accumulating Up to 2 Kilograms of Chemicals a Year!

There's no denying that today, as many as 70% of women wear makeup!! And now that accessing information has become so easy—just one click away—women can get an enormous amount of information, allowing them to try a wider variety of makeup looks and have even more fun with it. They can choose a makeup style to match their own taste: those who love the fashion runway look might go for a style inspired by supermodels on the catwalk, while others might prefer a Japanese or Korean makeup style. Either way, there are countless tutorial clips and guides available on various websites, or even on YouTube, where professional and amateur makeup artists alike share techniques and tips. And while women are having fun with makeup,  a hidden danger is creeping closer all the time! Did you know that the cosmetics used almost every day contain between 80 - 90% chemical ingredients? If the skin isn't properly cared for and protected, not only can it become dull and develop wrinkles, but the body also risks accumulating up to 2 kilograms of chemicals per year, which can lead to skin problems, hormonal imbalances, or even cancer.

What's been described so far is only the immediate or short-term skin problem. In the long term, as mentioned above, women absorb nearly 2 kilograms of chemicals from cosmetics of all kinds each year on average. While enzymes in saliva and stomach digestive juices may be able to break down the chemicals in lipstick, cosmetics that are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream cannot be neutralized at all and end up accumulating in the liver, since the body has no way to eliminate them through the skin or excretion. This is one cause of skin rashes, which result from the body's natural process of expelling toxins. This is why beauty-loving women need to pay closer attention when choosing which cosmetics to buy—paying attention to the various ingredients, since some substances are a cause of cancer, while others can lower women's hormone levels and cause early menopause. Before buying any cosmetics, be aware of the following top 3 chemicals that are harmful to the body:

1. Petroleum Derivative is a chemical obtained from refining petroleum oil and is used as an ingredient in many types of cosmetics, such as foundation, facial cleansing foam, and moisturizing creams, where it functions to lock in skin moisture by coating the skin. However, because its molecules are large and it undergoes chemical processing, it may cause skin irritation, clogged pores, and acne. If it accumulates in significant enough amounts, it may also risk deteriorating the skin, weakening hormonal balance and immunity in women.

2. Lead may contaminate cosmetics through the extraction of raw ingredients during manufacturing. It is a prohibited substance, because if absorbed into the body it can cause severe, unexplained abdominal cramping, along with constipation or bloody stools. It may also cause paleness and weakness, since red blood cells are destroyed more quickly while the rate of red blood cell production decreases, along with abnormalities throughout the nervous system. By law, lead may be present at a ratio of no more than 20 parts per million by weight. Any product found to contain lead beyond this level is classified as an unsafe cosmetic.

3. Mercury is a substance that can cause severe allergic reactions or irritation, and is dangerous to the urinary system, causing inflammation of the urinary tract and kidneys. It is often found in substandard cosmetics marketed to lighten skin tone or reduce acne, melasma, freckles, and dark spots. Mercury can enter the body through multiple routes, such as inhalation into the lungs, or absorption through the small intestine if swallowed. Even when applied to the skin, mercury is absorbed and accumulates in the body.

Each time you apply makeup, the skin can absorb up to 60% of the chemicals from the cosmetics into the body, which is an underlying cause of dull skin and wrinkles, since the skin receives less oxygen, causing cells to deteriorate and skin to look prematurely aged—even with thorough cleansing before bed. So the heavier the makeup a woman wears, the greater the risk of looking prematurely old and having dull skin. Therefore, you shouldn't use too many types of cosmetics; use them in moderation and wash them off promptly at the end of the day. If left on, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to clogged pores, allergic rashes, and acne,” said Dr. Voraphol Sukeewattana, also known as Dr. Tony, a skin specialist .