Do cosmetic raw materials contain harmful substances?
There are indeed harmful substances in cosmetic raw materials, mainly from the raw materials themselves or added during the production process. The following are common types of harmful substances and their hazards:
Common types of harmful substances
Industrial chemicals: Some cosmetics use industrial by-products or unpurified raw materials, resulting in excessive levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, as well as harmful substances such as formaldehyde and methanol. Long term use may cause chronic poisoning or skin damage.
Carcinogens: Contains substances such as dioxane (cleaning products), trichlorfon (antibacterial products), asbestos (talcum powder cosmetics), artificial musk, mercury (whitening products), citric acid (spot removing products), etc., which may enter the human body through skin contact or breathing, causing damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
Hormonal substances: Illegal addition of glucocorticoids (such as dexamethasone) or retinoids may lead to hormone dependent dermatitis, skin atrophy, and other problems.
Microbial contamination: Poor production environment may lead to contamination by pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, causing inflammation or infection.
Safety supervision and risk control
The Chinese "Technical Specification for Safety of Cosmetics" requires six basic tests (skin irritation/corrosiveness, eye irritation, etc.), but it is difficult to completely avoid harmful substances due to residual raw materials. Markets such as the European Union and the United States require stricter toxicology testing data for exported products, such as reproductive toxicity and ecological toxicity.
Consumers can reduce risks by checking product labeling, avoiding mixed use, and testing for allergic reactions. It is recommended to prioritize choosing legitimate brands and pay attention to potential risk substances in the ingredient list (such as phthalates, citric acid, etc.).
