The Harmful Effects and Fruitless Results - Essay Example

? Cosmetic Composition As the indicates, this paper gives a brief introduction of how cosmetics are composed, their use, benefits, effects and limitations will also be discussed. Cosmetic Composition of Masks and Serums and their Effects on Skin Cells and Body A single cosmetic product is composed of various chemicals and nutrients. Cosmetics are therefore designed in large numbers to suit every skin type be it normal, oily or combination skin. However it sometimes happens that skin can be damaged or adversely affected if cosmetics with right chemicals are not used, therefore before purchasing any cosmetic product, its chemical composition must be taken into consideration. A brief introduction of some of the frequently used chemicals is given below and their effects on the skin are also discussed. Tretinoin also commonly known as Retin-A is a chemical derived form vitamins and is usually used for the treatment of acne. Later it was discovered that it can also be used for the elimination of small wrinkles. After this discovery, cosmetic companies ritually started including vitamin A in their cosmetics claiming it to be highly beneficial, others disagreed and stated that Retin A actually irritates and puffs up the skin which gives it a smooth wrinkle free look. Secondly fruit acids generally popular as Alpha Hyroxy Acids (AHA) claimed to gently remove the dead skin cells revealing softer and smoother inner layer. Later on studies revealed that AHA’s should not be used very frequently since they can serve to be drugs rather than cosmetic and it was also prohibited since it is very frequently used by non trained beauticians which can bring about very serious damages to the skin. The very popularly used exfoliants can also be very damaging and hazardous to the skin since they serve to remove the dead and mature skin cells revealing and exposing the premature skin cells to dust and ultraviolet rays. In the absence of the adult skin cells, the premature ones have a tendency to age and dry out rapidly. (Leslie, 100) Use of Masks and Serums and its Impact on the Beauty Industry The basic concerns of individuals, as far as skin is concerned is aging spots and areas affected by the ultraviolet rays. Skin specialists have been focusing their concentration on these problems so that they can be easily tackled and taken care of. The extract of Magnolia Sieboldii is used to address the problem of photoaging and also for the prevention of wrinkles. Its extract has the ability to protect the skin cells from the sun rays and ensures minimum skin damage by suppressing the damage of the skin cells and DNA. It also contains within itself the property of reducing the wrinkles that appear on the skin with time, it does so by providing growth to the synthesis of collagen simultaneously retarding the growth of collagenases. Hence it is widely used in sunblocks, and also in anti ageing masks and serums. Other natural active ingredients used in cosmetics are alcohol, aloe vera, amino acids, avocado oil, beeswax, cucumber extract etc. Their useful affects on skin cells and body are as discussed. Alcohol is used in a lot of cosmetics for the purpose of skin firming and disinfecting it. Aloe vera is considered to be very effective in treating damaged and dry skin, providing it moisture and a soothing effect. It regenerates the dead and mature skin cells. Beeswax is simply the wax produced by the bees and is known to be effective for the protection and moisture locking in the cells. Avocado is a multipurpose fruit which is used for eating as well as in the cosmetic industry. Its extracts are immediately absorbed by the skin making it supple without a fatty appearance to it. It maintains and revitalizes the working of the lipid barrier making lamellar coverings which give the skin a unitone complexion along with flexibility. (Valerie, 219) Benefits of Cosmetic Composition Cosmetics may have hazardous effects on the skin but if used wisely and in the right proportion can make the skin flourish and glow. The cleansing creams and lotions have been designed for daily use to cleanse and remove the dead pores enabling the skin to breathe and simultaneously prevent it from acne and other infections. They are effective in removing the microorganisms that are continuously attacking the skin. Moisturizers are also one of the basic things that should be included in ones daily use so that the skin’s moisture is retained and it stays smooth. It is usually recommended for dry skin however oil-free moisturizers are also available for oily skin. Special sunblocks (including creams and lotions) should also be among the top priorities firstly to protect the skin from tanning and secondly to minimize the occurence of cancer which can result due to frequent sun exposure. Many cosmetics comprise of vitamins such as A, D, K and E and are beneficial for application on both skin and hair. It is very important for the cosmetic industries to include such ingredients and chemicals in their products which have a long lasting effect on the skin rather than providing temporary benefits. As discussed earlier, majority of the cosmetics contain anti ageing components along with proteins and vitamins which protect the skin from the UV rays. Along with this, beauticians are also paying attention to adding antibacterial in their products so that they do not only make the user look beautiful but also protects them from the bacteria present in the environment. These are mostly used in hand washes, toothpastes and body sprays and are readily absorbed by the skin. Butyl acetate which is most commonly used in nail colors strengthens the nails leaving them less prone to breaking and chipping off. Bisabolol is known to have an antiflammatory and anti irritating effect. (Zoe, 320) Effects of Cosmetics Along with the benefits, cosmetics are also known to pose harmful effects on the skin. This can be due to a number of reasons; some of them are listed below: The ingredients used in the product and their popularity The effect of individual ingredients used in the product The site of application The skin type exposed to the cosmetic under consideration The duration of the product used The number of times a particular product comes in contact with the skin A number of components are taken into consideration while designing a product which might lead to hazardous impact. To name a few, fragrance, preservatives, penetration enhancing substances, coloring agents etc. As far as the issue of fragrance is concerned, many people ask why it is used when it already has a probability of posing threat to the skin. Three reasons are presented by the cosmetologists in this regard; to provide an alternative to the basic smell of chemicals, to support the claims of the product and to make the product more appealing to the customers. It should be noted that cosmetics that contain high quality ingredients do not need much fragrance however the products which are manufactured using low quality products will require more fragrance to mask the unpleasant odor of the chemicals used and this makes them more harmful for use. Oils and emollients are generally used in this course and can be very harmful if worn in the sun. The use of preservatives in cosmetics is very essential to prevent them from microorganisms however they can be harmful if not used in the right quantity. Parabens are most commonly used as preservatives and can be harmful if applied to dry, cracked or sensitive skin type. (Anton, 94) Limitations of Cosmetic Use Europeans are renowned world leaders when it comes to the popularity and manufacture of cosmetics. To ensure the product quality and to prevent any mishaps, cosmetics are usually tried and tested on animals before their introduction in the market. This is a common trend but recently organizations safeguarding animal rights have posed opposition to it which hinders and puts limitations to the progress. On one hand, the organizations signify the benefits that are attained through animal testing. Their claims are: To ensure human health and safety To maintain a healthy competition with other companies To safeguard and protect the environment On the other hand, the points that pose limitations are: The animals used for testing become allergic and lose their health The testing can result in ulcer, swelling of the eyelids and bleeding in animals The animals are said to have a different system of blood vessels than humans and testing the cosmetics on them does not produce any fruitful results Animal testing can prove to be very costly at times It is said to be unreliable ad produces fruitless results Keeping in view the harmful effects and fruitless results, a few alternatives have been offered to avoid animal testing. They are cell and tissue cultures, computer devices and corneas that can be purchased to carry out eye irritancy tests. The HET-CAM tests can be carried out to test eye irritancy. This is an already practiced trend in Germany and Belgium. Computer models can also be put to use and it can serve to be a very effective alternative. Cosmetic Composition and Affects of Serums and Masks and its Impact on the Beauty Industry Masks and serums are known to provide the user’s skin with the accurate ingredients in the appropriate amount, they serve to soften the skin along with removing the dead cells and scales that form a layer on the skin. Masks are generally manufactured keeping in mind that it should serve as a cleaning agent which would wipe off the dirt and other microorganisms and then removed after drying off. After the application of masks and packs, the treatment generally progresses with the application of a serum appropriate for the kin type. Generally the serum that is used before or after the mask should be composed of such ingredients that complement the components of the mask. This combination of serums and masks has brought about a revolution in the beauty industry as far as the application of these products is concerned. To cater to this need, companies have started focusing on designing special kits which comprise of a collection of cleansing cream, mask, serum and toner. This is done so as to provide convenience as well as complete skin care in one pack. Works Cited Baumann, Leslie. Cosmetic Dermatology. Mc Graw Hill Professional. 2009. Diana, Zoe. Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures. John Wiley and Sons. 2010. Groot, Anton. Unwanted Effects of Cosmetics and Drugs. Elsevier. 2000. Steele, Valerie. The Berg Companion to Fashion. Berg Publishers. 2010. Read More