What ingredients are used in cosmetics?
While the main field of interest for LipoAdvisor.com is Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery we felt its about time to find out which ingredients are used in a wide scale in such surgeries. Here we won’t refer to active drugs that are used in cosmetic procedures. This list is rather interesting, though many of our visitors won’t be familiar with many of the ingredients that are used here. But if someone is highly interested in a cosmetic procedure, it would make sense to have a look at this in order to be more conscious of what exactly one’s is opting for. Further research would also be useful so as that one avoids possible health side effects of such ingredients. So let’s have a look at this interesting list found on Medicinenet.com. Hopefully it helps:
Moisturizers function as a moisture barrier or to attract moisture from the environment:
- cetyl alcohol (fatty alcohol) – keeps oil and water from separating; also a foam booster
- dimethicone silicone – skin condition and anti-foam ingredient
- isopropyl lanolate, myristate, and palmitate
- lanolin and lanolin alcohols and oil – used in skin and hair conditioners
- octyl dodecanol – skin conditioner
- oleic acid (olive oil)
- panthenol (vitamin B-complex derivative) – hair conditioner
- stearic acid and stearyl alcohol
Preservatives and antioxidants (including vitamins) prevent product deterioration:
- trisodium and tetrasodium edetate (EDTA)
- tocopherol (vitamin E)
Antimicrobials fight bacteria:
- butyl, propyl, ethyl, and methyl parabens
- DMDM hydantoin
- methylisothiazolinone
- phenoxyethanol (also rose ether fragrance component)
- quaternium-15
Thickeners and waxes used in stick products such as lipsticks and blushers:
- candelilla, carnauba, and microcrystalline waxes
- carbomer and polyethylene thickeners
Solvents used to dilute:
- butylene glycol and propylene glycol
- cyclomethicone (volatile silicone)
- ethanol (alcohol)
- glycerin
Emulsifiers break up and refine:
- glyceryl monostearate (also pearlescent agent)
- lauramide DEA (also foam booster)
- polysorbates
Color additives:
- Synthetic Organic colors derived from coal and petroleum sources (not permitted for use around the eye):
- D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (lakes are dyes that do not dissolve in water)
- Inorganic pigments – approved for general use in cosmetics, including for the area of the eye:
- iron oxides
- mica (iridescent)
Hair Dyes – phenol derivatives used in combination with other chemicals in permanent (two-step) hair dyes:
- aminophenols
pH adjusters stabilize or adjust acids and bases:
- ammonium hydroxide in skin peels and hair waving and straightening
- citric acid – adjusts pH triethanolamine pH adjuster used mostly in transparent soap
Others:
- magnesium aluminum silicate absorbent – anti-caking agent
- silica (silicon dioxide) – absorbent, anti-caking, abrasive
- sodium lauryl sulfate – detergent
- stearic acid – cleansing, emulsifier
- talc (powdered magnesium silicate) – absorbent anti-caking
- zinc stearate – used in powder to improve texture, lubricates
Now probably we have a better idea of what Cosmetic Surgery involves which could even raise a few questions regarding the ecological effect of such procedures. Hopefully new technologies like bio-based plasticizer which make it possible to produce polysorb and other plastics naturally which seems to be a great advantage for our environment.
Cosmetic surgery is a complicated issue and one should be fully aware of one’s choices
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