The ingredients of cosmetics have become increasingly scrutinized by the public. How do we make sense of the new information we are hearing about? Perfumes and fragrances
Cosmetics
When it comes to makeup, cosmetics come in numerous colors. Different chemicals may cause different pigments in these products. Pigments are colored powders, which can be either organic or inorganic. For instance, metals like “Pigment-grade titanium dioxide [are] used in some cosmetics to aid in hiding blemishes and brightening the skin. Titanium dioxide allows for the use of thinner coatings of make-up material for the same desired effect.” Thus, one can find titanium dioxide in products like sunscreen, but they’re used in almost every cosmetic. To get bright colors, like the ones in eye shadow, chemicals like iron oxides can make yellow, red, and black shades. There are many other chemicals which produce colors for other cosmetics, like lipstick, blush, or nail polish as well.

In moisturizers, “emollients are used to make cosmetics smooth and easy to apply and make the skin feel softer and smoother.” Through filling gaps between cells, a layer forms on the outer cell and holds onto the moisture. Emollients may “...treat dry, itchy skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. [They] are found in creams, lotions, ointments, and sprays.” Some common emollients in cosmetics include mineral oil, petroleum jelly, and glycerin, which all bring in moisture to the skin. Furthermore, citric acid, an organic compound, helps brighten the skin. One typically uses it near their eyes, lips, mouth, and nose. Specifically, sodium citrate is a salt of citric acid and is found in lipstick and soap, helping preserve them and adjust their pH levels (their acidity) to kill harmful bacteria.
Cleansers Finally, cleansers are very significant in our every-day lives, whether it’s during a shower or while brushing our teeth. Surfactants are compounds used to reduce surface tension of water. Reducing the surface tension of water involves breaking its hydrogen bonds, which holds water to itself in its cohesive property. In your shaving cream, there are many surfactants, which allow razors to remove hair easily due to the foam it produces, making a barrier between the skin and the razor. Specifically, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant which traps oil and dirt in your hair in products like shampoo, making it easier for the water to wash it away. In toothpaste, this creates foam to remove the food from your teeth. Furthermore, Toluene (known as methylbenzene) and Acetone are ingredients in nail polish removers which dissolve and break down other particles.

Overall, every day, there are key elements of every cosmetic we use which serve a different purpose. These elements can differentiate cosmetics from each other as well. Its important that we know which chemicals we apply on ourselves in our everyday lives and how they are used, as some can cause issues with our bodies.