Crash Course on Parabens!

You may have seen the name while reading the back of your shampoo bottle in the shower, or your toothpaste tube while brushing your teeth, and this is not surprising, considering the fact that parabens are in a majority of common household items.
Parabens are used to prevent the growth of microbes in cosmetic products, and can be absorbed through the skin, blood, and digestive system. Parabens actually are several distinct chemicals with a similar molecular structure. The general chemical structure of a paraben, or a para-hydroxybenzoate, is:

 where the R is an alkyl group.

The most common forms are ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. where the R group is an ethyl, butyl, methyl, and propyl respecitvely.

These compounds are found in well over 10,000 of the 25,000 products in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database. Clearly, we have a lot of exposure to them in our day-to-day activities.
However, a 2004 UK study detected traces of parabens in the breast cancer tumors of 19 out of 20 women studied. This small study does not prove an actual relationship between parabens and cancer, but it did detect the presence of intact parabens that were unaffected by the body's metabolism. This is especially important because it shows that these compounds have the ability to penetrate the skin and remain within the body.
But once the parabens enter into the body, what makes them so dangerous?
Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt normal estrogen function, which can lead to breast cancer. They mimic estrogen and bind to the estrogen receptors on cells. They also increase the expression of genes usually regulated by estrogen, and these genes are what cause human breast tumor cells to grown and multiply in cellular studies.

Clearly, parabens are potentially dangerous compounds that are in a myriad of common cosmetic products. While there are concentration limits recommended for parabens in commercial products, these recommendations do not account for the use of multiple parabens in a single product or for exposure to parabens from several products by a single individual. Cosmetic manufacturers are seeking alternative methods to prevent microbial growth in their products, but for now, the cheapest and most effective method is parabens.What we can only do is make sure we are aware of the potentially harmful compounds in our products, and their effects. 
           A variety of cosmetics without parabens



jennymu

Lead in Lipstick?!

NBC Nightly News report on the results of an FDA survey of lipsticks! From February 12, 2012.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Check out this table to see the results of the FDA study in greater detail! Blog post to follow about heavy metals that might be in your cosmetics!

katierigdon

Nanocosmetics 101

Many young women will sympathize with the adage "Beauty is pain," but new studies show that perhaps it should be modified to "Beauty is risk." The applications of nanoscience in gold creams have previously been discussed, and it is time for a crash course for all prospective cosmetics buyers in Nanocosmetics 101.

Nanotechnology has edged its way into the cosmetics scene quickly and expansively. Currently, there are two ways with which nanotechnology is being utilized in the sphere of cosmetics: as UV filters and for delivery purposes.

Zinc oxide and titanium oxide have been used as UV filters in sunscreens. This is not news; the white stuff you see on lifeguards' noses at the beach is just zinc oxide in the form as we've known it: with a white, chalky appearance. Nanotechnology has created microscopic particles of these oxides that retain their UV-blocking characteristic with added benefits. Sunscreen is now transparent, less smelly and greasy, and more easily absorbed by the skin. The Body Shop, Nivea, and L'Oreal have all hopped onto the bandwagon and have released sunscreens and moisturizers using these nanoparticles.

In the past, liposomes and niosomes have been used as delivery vehicles in cosmetics. Nanotechnology, of course, has changed that. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are nanometer-sized particles in a solid lipid matrix. They protect the encapsulated ingredients from degradation Their occlusive properties also make them ideal for day creams. Liquid nanoparticles have also been developed, which have proven even more useful in some cases. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have a higher loading capacity and long-term stability compraed to SLNs as well as boasting better accommodation for active ingredients. For the aesthete's purpose, however, NLCs have been known to give a more whitish appearance as opposed to yellow. For both nanoparticles, increased skin penetration is a benefit that isn't easily overlooked.

As this blog seems to be concerned with adages, let it be said that "Every rose has its thorn." Certain health risks have been speculated with the use of nanoparticles. Fullerenes, which are nanoparticles used in anti-aging products, may be potentially toxic if able to penetrate the skin. Nanoparticles in sunscreens, too, may be able to breach sunburned skin. When shrunk down to a nanometer-scale, certain materials have been known to display new and unusual properties. For this reason, nanotechnolgy in cosmetics has been brought to the attention of health organizations everywhere and are being studied for possible adverse effects. A new law passed by the EU will make it mandatory for products to be labelled as 'nano' if they contain nanomaterials. This should be an indication as to how far-reaching nanotechnology has become in the world of cosmetics.

Of course, these risks are still in the process of being corroborated by researchers and the benefits seem to stack up quite high against the potential dangers. The consumer should always be conscious of the products he or she is buying and when shopping for products labelled 'nano,' must take everything into consideration. Nanotechnology has a bright future in the world of cosmetics and can have far-reaching applications in all fields.













References: "Nanotechnology in Cosmetics". Observatory Nano, Apr. 2009. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.observatorynano.eu/project/filesystem/files/Cosmetics%20report-April%2009.pdf




andrewkang

Gold Face Creams?

Recently, there has been a lot of hype over the new fad of having gold particles encapsulated in various skincare products. But does this actually have any effect? or is it just a costly stunt introduced by cosmetic companies looking to charge a few extra bucks by labeling a product with gold.



Well the Chantecaille Nano Gold Energizing Creme, priced at a hefty $420.00, touts its "nanoparticles of 24-karat gold [which] are bound to silk microfiber, a natural protein that is moisturizing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Through nanotechnology, these elements reach the cellular level where they act as the ultimate healing and preserving force."

While this description may sound promising, the science behind it is a little shady.

There are a few truths behind the advertising. The nano-sized particles do have the ability to penetrate the epidermis of the skin much more effectively than say, simply gold flecks, but once the gold gets under the skin, does it really have an effect?

While there is no concrete evidence of the benefits touted by the cosmetic companies, there maybe evidence of some potential dangers associated with nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles have been shown to be toxic to certain cells in the laboratory setting. While some cosmetic companies claim the amount of gold nanoparticles within these cosmetics is too small to really make that much of a difference.

At the same time, the small amount of gold nanoparticles in the cream is too small to be of any benefit as well, should there even be benefits in the first place, which still remains disputable.


jennymu