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This blog serves as my public diary. I'll post stuff here that I would want to refer back to as the years pass. ^_^

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Those damn pimples: chemicals to avoid

Cosmetic education time! (GUYS included)
Have you ever wondered if makeup, hair gels, hair sprays, or other supposedly 'beautifying' stuff you own can make you get pimples? Well, you're reading the right article! 
Here's my story: I used to think that my skin was the 'normal' skin type (i.e. not sensitive to anything) UNTIL I reached a point where my face looked like a mini pepperoni pizza (!!!) *horror movie sound FX* from trying on too many kinds of makeup!  If you noticed that you gained a few bumps on your face after going to your cousin's birthday party, it MAY be because of that blush or foundation you were using, or that hair spray you excitedly spritz all over your hair (not knowing that a lot of the chemicals went to your face).  
Have you ever wondered WHICH chemicals are causing havoc to your 'beautimous visage'? 
Well, if your skin turns out to be SENSITIVE like mine (and I learned this the HARD WAY!), try to avoid any one of these ingredients on the products you buy. These comedogenic (pimple-causing) ingredients were proven through continuous 'rabbit ear' experiments done by dermatologists.* I have typed them down in alphabetical order to make it easier for you folks when going shopping. :

  1. Acetylated lanolin
  2. Acetylated lanolin alcohol
  3. Buytl stearate
  4. Cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth 20
  5. Cocoa butter
  6. Coconut butter
  7.  D&C red #30
  8. Decyl oleate
  9. Glyceryl stearate SE
  10. Isopropyl isostearate
  11. Isopropyl myristate
  12. Isopropyl palmitate  
  13. Isostearyl isostearate
  14. Isostearyl neopentanoate  
  15. Laureth-4
  16. Laureth-23
  17. Lauric acid
  18. Mink oil
  19. Myristic acid
  20. Myristyl lactate
  21. Myristyl myristate  
  22. Oleth-3
  23. Shark liver oil
  24. Soybean oil
  25. Stearic acid: TEA
  26. Stearyl heptanoate 
  27. Wheat germ glyceride
NOTE: If these ingredients are further down the list, then it should be OK. If they are the first 5 on the list, then you have to use it at your own risk.

 Now ladies, you can still splurge on lipsticks, eyeliners and eyeshadows. You don't really get zits on those areas anyway. Gentlemen, make sure to wash off the gel from your hair once it's bedtime 'cause some of those chemicals will stick to your pillow and transfer to your face. 
In sum, things to watch out for are: primers, blushes, foundation, wrinkle creams and moisturizers. The more ingredients there are in the list, the less healthy it is for you. Trust me, I have 'battle' scars.

*For more info, go to: http://www.acne.org/comedogenic-list.html or read the Handbook of Cosmetic Science & Technology, 3rd Edition.

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