For all the eye makeup obsessed chicas out there, I have some bad news for you. Your mascara is filled with mercury and I'm NOT kidding! In fact, the United Nations recently decided to officially exempt it from a ban on mercury in cosmetics and soaps.
The decision to exclude it from the human health treaty was because they found that it contains only a "trace of contaminants" of mercury and there is "no effective safe substitute alternative" out there in the market. In other words, beauty brands haven't been able to find a way to create mascaras without using mercury so these chemically-infused products aren't leaving beauty store shelves anytime soon! How scary!
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You're probably asking yourself: Why the hell are they even putting mercury in our mascaras in the first place? Apparently it's the only chemical they have found that helps kill bacteria while also preserving the formula for years. Thinking of going organic? The formulas out there that don't include these harsh chemicals tend to have a much MUCH shorter shelf life.
They also don't give you the same luxuriously long lash effect. Say what you want, but this is still not enough to convince me to part with my mascaras. There are too many amazing beauty products out there that supposedly contain dangerous health risks and I'm not about to give them up just yet. Here are six cosmetics that can cause you more damage than good. Can't say I didn't warn you!
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Mascara
As dangerous as mercury may be, my life just wouldn't be the same without mascara.
Lead in lipstick
I've been hearing for years now that a majority of the lipstick formulas out there contain lead in them, which can be potentially harmful. If you want to stay on the safe side, try an organic one, like Jane Iredale PureMoist Lipcolour ($20).
Gel mani
I was all for gel manicures until I heard the UV lamp could cause skin cancer. According to Dr. Chris Adigun, from New York University School of Medicine, it can cause just as much damage as a tanning bed. Yikes!
Brazilian Keratin
The Brazilian Keratin Blowout is another one they're claiming causes cancer due to the high percentages of formaldehyde. This makes me mad …
Hair dye
Because I'm always hearing about something new that supposedly causes cancer, I'm still not 100 percent convinced that hair dye is one of them. My abuela has been dying her strands for over 50 years and she's still as healthy as can be!
Shampoo
While it may not give you cancer, regular shampoos are filled with sulfates and harsh detergents that can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and dull. These days I use sulfate-free products, like WEN Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner ($32) only!
