Vic’s Talking About Toxins:
There appear to be alot of inactive and a fair amount of even potentially hazardous or toxic chemicals in makeup. Now a days people want their makeup to be more biochemical active. From Germany comes a line of cosmetics called Dr Bauman whose claim to fame is no toxins. The claim appears true. What do you think about this line of products?
The Left Brain Blows Away Dr. Bauman:
I wonder, how did you get the impression that there are a lot of inactive and toxic chemicals in make-up? The truth is, there aren’t. Putting extra ingredients in make-up is a waste of money so cosmetic manufacturers will not do that. Quite the contrary, they try to minimize the amount of chemicals in the formulas.
And toxic chemicals? I don’t think so. Every ingredient used in cosmetics (unless you buy from a non-reputable place) has been thoroughly animal tested to ensure that they are not toxic or hazardous. Anyone telling you otherwise is just trying to fool you into thinking you should buy from them. See this recent post we did on how and why companies lie to you. And here’s an older one.
So, I looked at their website and would you believe it, the products contain the same old ingredients as anyone else. Look at this one, it contains Propylene Glycol! Now, I know there is nothing wrong with propylene glycol but there is also nothing wrong with the mineral oil and fragrances and preservatives that Dr. Baumann says are so bad. It’s like people saying that medical petroleum jelly is bad for you. It’s just not true!
And then there is this product that contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate! It is a perfectly fine ingredient but it’s the same thing everyone else uses.
I can’t find any pricing for the formulas but I’m guessing they are not as cheap as the Neutragena stuff or Maybeline that you could buy at your local store.
Well, The Beauty Brains say save your money. Buy products from companies that can spend money on research and development. Dr. Baumann isn’t one of those companies.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post, Brains.
You are right in the fact that you should not believe everything that you read, however every product company make claims that are hard to justify. I have researched Dr. Baumann products and use some of them myself. The products contain multi layer liposomes. I found the products great and at the end of the day I think that is what is important, products that work. I don’t know if the multi layer liposomes is just marketing hype or actual fact. The mineral oil thing is just one aspect to consider though. I personally would not like to cover my skin with mineral oil whether it caused pimples or not. I also like the fact that there are no parabens in the products where other much more expensive products still do contain parabens, a friend of mine uses Dermalogica which she likes but still has parabens. Does anybody have an opinion on multi layer liposomes?
Jean, you are absolutely correct. At the end of the day what’s important is what works (and how much you’re willing to spend). But multi-layer liposomes haven’t even been shown to necessarily hold their liposome structure when put in with other surfactants.
As far as parabens go, if they are not using these they are using something equally as troubling like a formaldehyde donor or a synthetic preservative. I don’t personally have a problem with any preservatives (including parabens). The alternative of no preservatives would be much worse.
Finally, the voice of reason! I work behind a cosmetic counter and I have to say my favorite question is “Is there lead in your lipstick?” It makes me crazy, I want to say “Oh yes tons of it, we want you to get sick and die.” But they read it in an email so of course it must be true. But I suppose I am little bit fresh, because I usually reply that if it were true I would have been dead long ago because I have worn tons of it for over a decade now. I had another woman tell me that she did not want lanolin because it came from sheep and she thought it was unsanitary and disgusting. As if they place the bottle under the sheep and wring the wool out directly into the tube! And you cannot reason with this type because they just won’t hear it. I am quite pleased that I found this site. Unfortuneatly I have worked for several cosmetic companies and the education they provide does not include very much on ingredients and their functions. So I take it upon myself to educate myself in this area. As a result anytime there is an ingredient inquiry I am always the one called upon. Most of these companies are under the impression that their customers are not interested in ingredients and what they do, but as someone who interacts directly with the client, I strongly disagree. Customers are much more saavy now, there is so much information available to them now that simply telling them that this product is what you need because I am an expert is just not enough. I am someone who takes pride in what I do and I feel that if you sell it , you should believe in it, and in order to believe in it you should know everything about it. I love this site and have already learned alot here. Keep up the great work!
Melissa,
Thanks for the kind words.
Most cosmetic companies don’t want consumers to know about the ingredients that actually make the products work. They’d rather bash other people’s ingredients or tell you about some fabulous extract that doesn’t actually do anything in the formula.
Hi, it is interesting that you say if the products contain no parabens; then what is preserving the products? I have researched the INCI but can’t find a preservative, I thought it was law that the manufacturers have to list all of the ingredients. What is the preservative here?
This is the Dr. Baumann SkinIdent Ceramide Cream (around £130 so not cheap)
Water, Glycerol, Caprylic/Capric Stearic Triglyerides, Cetearyl Octanoate, Squalane, Ethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Urea, Cholesterol, Lecithin, Ceramide lll, L-Proline, Stearic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, D-mixed-Tocopherols, Citric Acid. I don’t see what the preservative is?
The Liposome Multi Active Vitamin E&C – Water, Lecithin(and)Water(and)Alcohol, Oleum Simmondsiae californicae, Oleum Oenotherae biennis, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Urea, D-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Oleum Sesami indicae, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethyleneaiamine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Hyalruronic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phospate
Can anyone spot the preservatives? any comments on the ingredients welcomed.
In the ceramide cream the Ethanol could be acting as the preservative. Same for the Liposome product.
An additional source of unlisted preservative could be coming from one of the other ingredients. For example the raw material supplier of Caprylic/Capric triglycerides probably includes a preservative in the raw material. But the finished goods maker doesn’t necessarily have to list the preservative part as being in the formula.
It’s a little tricky and bigger companies don’t do it much anymore but smaller companies do.
Please, Beautybrains, don´t keep telling people that toxic ingredients are good for you, when it has been more than proved that they are harmful for your skin, and that many cosmetic companies use them only because they are extremely cheap.
I work in a cosmetic shop, mainly with natural products and some not so natural.
I keep seeing people who buy the products I know have these toxic ingredients like propylene glycol, parabens and sulfates, who keep coming back saying their skin has not improved, but got worse, some with rashes and spots, some with even dryer skin than they started with.
With all my experience with real cases, I found that definetely, the happiest people, with healthier skin, were the ones that buy our purest creams, who offer all natural-no sulfates, no parabens, no petrolatum, etc, products.
I see it everyday. So don´t tell me that it´s all lies, cause the lie is telling people those chemicals are ok to use.
The lists of toxic products are given by consumers organisations and the likes, who have absolutely no commercial purposes, but just want to keep people well informed.
It´s like saying when you have a health problem, you have to stuff yourself with drugs that hide symptoms rather than face the root of the problem with the proper nutrition.
I advise everyone to test for themselves the two options, chemistry or natural, see what their skin says.
In this day and age, when we know for sure that our bodies are much better off with natural ingredients, please, don´t insist that chemicals are ok for us, because they´re not.
Of course many fake natural companies claim things that are not quite true, that´s why you have to check for yourself, inform yourself, and don´t let anyone convince you of something just like that.
In my case, I´ve informed myself for years, talked with experts, doctors and holistic nutritionists, and experience hundreds of cases at work. I´ve absolutely no doubt about what´s good for the skin now.
I don´t doubt your good intentions, Beautybrains, but in this case I can´t agree with your report.
Sorry for the length of the message, I hope you publish it.
Cristina Sebastian
Cristina, thanks for your thoughtful comments. Just a few points of clarification.
1. We do not recommend that people use toxic ingredients.
2. Cosmetic companies do not create products that are toxic. What is your proof for saying they do?
3. Propylene glycol, parabens and sulfates do not make your cosmetics toxic. What proof do you have that they do?
4. What proof do you have that it is the products that are making your return customer’s skin worse? There are innumerable reasons why their skin could get worse least of which is the natural aging process.
5. Anecdotal evidence is interesting but doesn’t prove anything. Humans have a natural tendency to remember things that support their view and forget those that don’t.
6. While some consumer organizations are concerned only with informing people, others like the EWG are more concerned with scaring people using shoddy science. Through fear they are able to raise more money and maintain their power.
7. What proof do you have that “natural” is better than “chemistry”? As suggested before natural things like radiation, snake venom and arsenic are certainly not good for you.
8. Being fully informed is different than filtering data with only things that support your view. Could you ever be convinced that synthetics are better for you than naturals? If not, no amount of research will remove your bias.
Hi, I also was of your oppinion until recently. Ofcourse Im not stating it is wrong, but I do now believe it is somewhat more complicated than ‘but they all use it so its safe’. From what Ive been learning there has not been any studies to any long term effects for many ingrediences used in cosmetic and personal care products. Anything as a ‘once off’ or limited use probably carries minimal risks to majority of users, but for personal care/cosmetics/cleaners/most household items! we are using constantly and absorming through our skin, breathing in the dusts,fumes,whatever..I do not believe any such study has been published to the effects of NORMAL day-to-day and accumilative chemicals (yes, from shampoos/comd,moisturisers,makeup,deoderant,sprays,parfumes…and thats just what we all use before we even leave the door!)Not to say that the so called ‘natural’ products on the market are any safer, some have a scary list of ingrediences too!
Im definatly not any radical tree hugger or could even live without my anti-persperant BUT I also now feel we should take more care, be informed about what we are spraying around our homes and applying to our bodies.
As for the animal testing, this is all but irraticated for the cosmetic industry I would hope. If the big cosmetics companies mask their testing behind some charitable ‘medical research’who knows? I for one would rather read Ingrediences, make an informed decision and stop using a product if any reaction accurs than subject animals the the deliberate cruelty all in the name of ‘beauty’. But that topic opens a whole new can of worms ^.^.
This is a subject close to my heart and I do not aim to be arguementative but hopefully give food for thought that there is more oppinions on this topic. Thanks for your time, and for a lovely site
Thanks for your comments Claire.
You are correct that things are more complicated than “they all use it so it’s safe”. The truth is there is no way to prove that ANYTHING is safe to use. You just can’t prove things like that. The best you can do is to collect evidence to the safety of ingredients and then make a judgment based on that evidence.
But consider the following facts. The use of cosmetics has increased in the last 20 years. The incidence of cancer has decreased in the last 20 years (as indicated by the American Cancer Society). What is the proof that cosmetics/chemicals are causing problems?
And as for animal testing, you’re right that it has mostly been stopped. However, all of the ingredients that are used in your personal care products have been tested on animals. Some “natural” companies want to say they don’t use animal tested ingredients but they are trying to pull a fast one on you. The ingredients were tested on animals (many years ago before most of the companies were even in existence) but the testing was done.
Christina and Claire – at last some sense!!
The rest of you – look up Propylene glycol and you will see that it is not a very pleasant chemical. Its used in antifreeze and also to kill beetles!!Parabens which are commonly used as preservatives have been linked with breast cancer! All these beauty products contain the same rubbish but its all clever marketing spin to make you think they’re full of plant extracts that are going to help your skin. Rubbish, even Dermalogica uses parabens! I’ll be sticking to good old water and E45 cream which i have used for years.
Don’t support animal testing! Just buy products that use ingredients that you know are safe. It’s pretty simple, right? If you’re not sure about something, just check a toxicology report. For example, Ingredients like camphor are commonly used in hand soap and that is a known carcinogen. I’ve seen it with my own eyes! So… just do a little research and don’t trust companies to have your best interest at heart. If you haven’t learned this yet, you soon will. Stop the NWO!
I find it funny that “Urea” is in the skin cream ingredients. In case nobody here knows, that means animal piss.
Actually Marek, urea does not come from pee. Read this post: http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/11/12/should-you-worry-about-pee-in-your-make-up/
I submitted a comment a few minutes ago but don’t see it here, so I’ll paraphrase.
I find it deplorable that, without any basis of fact or supporting evidence or literature, you would actually sit here and say that these corporations, who are run by greedy dollar-worshipping people who don’t really care who they hurt, are NOT putting toxic chemicals in their products. That is akin to saying that eating a meal at McDonald’s is as good and safe as eating a meal of organic, whole-wheat bread with organic free-range chicken and organic green beans.
There is a reason natural and organic items cost so much, and that is because it is cheap (but terribly harmful) to use all these chemicals in everything from food and beauty products to clothing, but doing something the old-fashioned and healthy way takes time and energy. Time and hard work costs money, so of course most businesses won’t do it.
If you had done any research at all, you would have come across this website:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1
They have scientific, published facts of chemicals and their side effects. You can’t seriously believe that using formaldehyde and parabens all kinds of synthetic (and some natural) preservatives and junk will not affect you in any way.
It seems that your site is seen as a bit of an authority. Please do your research before misleading the public.
Oh my.
@Joanna
First, our commenting system only allows for 1 link to be included in your comments. This helps prevent SPAM. That may be why your original comments didn’t show up.
Second, the EWG (the people responsible for the database you linked to) is a group of lawyers. They do not let science get in the way of their opinions. Their data is a mix of solid research and unfounded heresay. They are not unbiased.
Third, your assertions that every company is greedy and money hungry is without merit. Good, hardworking people work at these companies. They do not want to create products that harm people. For you to say otherwise is insulting to all the people that work at these companies.
Fourth, we don’t say that “formaldehyde and parabens all kinds of synthetic (and some natural) preservatives and junk will not affect you in any way.” We say these things can be used safely at reasonable levels.
If you are really interested in opening your mind ask yourself this one question, what would it take to prove that synthetic chemicals are not harmful? If there is no answer, then it’s not worth having a conversation with you.