Personal care products: harm or benefit

Every girl desires to be beautiful. And that is where the personal care products play a significant role. Mascaras, lipsticks, blushes, eye shadows, creams, shampoos – they all help to “hide” flaws and to focus on the merits.

Unfortunately, not all of us are given a healthy and beautiful skin by nature. Causes of this can be both improper care of skin and internal problems of the body (for instance many diseases of the internal organs are reflected in the appearance of a person).

According to statistics an average woman in a developed country uses 12 personal care products a day, while an average man applies only 6. An average person uses 2 litres of shampoo a year plus 1 litre of conditioner for woman. A woman applies 11 mm of polish on her nails and eats 100 grams of lipstick a year while a man pours a 2 metre layer of shaving foam over his face. And this is not the end of the list.
Personal care products are believed to be beneficial and hence became utilities of an everyday life. For example, tone cream and face powder can make the skin shade even and beautiful. Mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow make eyes expressive and deep. In addition, they reflect unique style and mood. With these tools, you can create any desired impression: passion, femininity, modesty… Lipsticks, glosses, lip liners also reflect personality and mood. Fragrances, fake tans and hair products allow you to complete that image.

Despite the obvious benefit of personal hygiene products and cosmetics, there are many opponents of their use. The reason is simple – their negative influence on the skin. The most discussed problems are allergic reactions and adverse effects on the skin. Many women believe that they are allergic to personal care products where, in fact, they suffer from irritation caused by one or a whole group of substances in a certain product. Of course, cosmetics contain not only natural elements, but also many chemical compounds and ingredients that may affect the skin. Swelling, rash, redness, – these are all signs of allergic reactions. If the skin reacts quickly to the use of products that contain irritating ingredients, it is safe to say this is a sensitive skin. Often, such manifestations quickly disappear when the affected area is rinsed with water or soothing lotion is applied. Typically, the most damaging compounds for the sensitive skin are flavouring and colouring chemicals, preservatives , sunscreens and many others, both of natural and synthetic origin. If they take you there – you should stop using products causing the skin problems. But the reasons may be not only in poor quality : idiosyncrasy can play a cruel joke, and even high-quality personal care products may cause reactions and irritations. As a result, you will have to give up and look for other means suitable for your skin. The best action in this case is a visit to a doctor and conduction of tests to identify allergens. However, if the cause is not an allergic reaction but a poor-quality cosmetics, the consequences can be serious. Therefore, experts advise not to use manufacturers of cosmetics that are unknown to you, if possible of course, otherwise, do it with extreme caution.
Notoriously, poor-quality cosmetics is distinguished from the cosmetics that has expired. Many girls do not pay attention to the expiration date or believe that using outdated products will not bring about any harm. Meanwhile, such cosmetics can cause significant damage to health. For example, expired ink may result in eye diseases. Especially damaging are products from natural resources, although they are considered to be the most harmless. The shelf life of natural personal care products is very small, and women do not pay attention to it , resulting in the unsafe use of expired cosmetics. If the reason for the negative effects of personal hygiene products and cosmetics is the use of products after their use-by date, customers have no right to blame the manufacturer.

In addition to complaints about the composition and quality of products, personal care products opponents have another argument: it prematurely ages the skin. Instead of improving its condition and prolonging youth, in fact, it turns out to have an opposite effect such as a premature aging of the skin while all women expect the opposite. A woman may harm herself even more when completely eliminates washing with water, replacing it with a variety of lotions and foams. These substances accumulate on skin, resulting in clogging of pores and leads to skin aging .Doctors-dermatologists advise to use cosmetic products only when needed, to make sure to wash them off daily with water and do not apply a lot of makeup on the face. Thus, the damage from cosmetics can be reduced to a minimum.

Of course, the arguments of opponents and supporters of the use of these products have a right to exist; each of them has their own truth.

However, every year, after the application of harmful cosmetics, many people around the world confront problems such as burns, rashes, allergies, and even the loss of hair, not to mention possible carcinogenic effects, which occur with prolonged use of these chemicals.

Once choosing a cosmetic product, people must know the harmful and dangerous cosmetic ingredients. This article does not serve as a call to abandon a number of comforts of civilization. You just need to be informed and to give up the goods which include hazardous, poisonous ingredients.

Why do the manufacturers of these products include dangerous substances while there are safer counterparts?

The first reason -they use the ingredients that are cheaper. And when some of the developed and consumer-conscious countries prohibit the utilisation of cheap and dangerous constituents, there still remain many countries where this is allowed. Thus even “serious” and “respectful” producers do not hesitate to use cheap components. The second reason – often manufacturers use untested ingredients, without spending time and money on a thorough research of newly created substances. Moreover, producers do not rush to give them up even if they have side effects.

Have you ever noticed how advertising affects the price and quality of the products? When a new product appears in the market, no matter what it is – chocolate, sausage or cosmetics, it usually satisfies you in terms of price and quality. But then, when the item of interest begins to be constantly advertised on television, it either becomes expensive or starts to deteriorate in quality, and often, unfortunately, both happens. Usually, the quality of the world’s widely advertised brands is low – the bulk of the cost of production goes to advertising and expansion of the corporation.

List of hazardous substances in personal hygiene products and cosmetics (for more detailed descriptions refer to related articles) :

1. Sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) or Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) – found in shampoos and other cosmetics. Should not be contained in children’s cosmetics! Particularly dangerous for children!

2 . Phosphates – anionic surfactant, used in washing powders or other detergents. Avoid detergents containing these substances , as well as those containing chlorine.

3 . Phthalates. Abbreviations : BBP – phenyl butyl phthalate , DBP – di ( n-butyl) phthalate , DEHP – di (2 – ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEP – diethyl phthalate , DHP – di-n -hexyl phthalate. Phthalates are often a part of perfumery and hair lotions, antiperspirants . According to CDC – American Center for Disease Control and Prevention , they are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for posterity. Particularly dangerous for children, pregnant and nursing mothers.

4 . Fluoride and sodium fluoride -found in toothpastes . Should not be contained in children’s toothpaste ! Particularly dangerous for children.

5 . Propylene glycol , ethylene glycol – found in creams , lotions and other humidifiers , decorative cosmetics liquids . If it is listed as one of the first [ingredients] in a cosmetic composition, it indicates a high concentration of substance!

6 . Lanolin – ingredient of various cosmetics , usually creams ( may cause skin sensitization ) .

7. Triclosan chlorophenol – as an antibacterial substance that is a part of antibacterial soaps, toothpastes , shaving creams and other cosmetics and detergents. One of its “advantages” is destroying harmful and beneficial bacteria, however the side effects are not less dangerous.

8. Parabens the collective name for methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparabenparabeny – in cosmetic products, they are used as preservatives . In antiperspirants, they used as antimicrobials against perspiration and may cause dermatitis , allergies and other skin effects.

9 . Aluminum salts – are a part of deodorants and antiperspirants (can cause breast cancer).

10. Methyldibromglutaronitrile (MDGN) – as a preservative is a part of gels, masks, creams, tanning, shampoos (often causes allergic reactions, skin diseases).

11. Loramid D – this is a semi-synthetic chemical used for foaming and thickening of various cosmetic products. In addition, it is used in detergents for washing dishes because of its ability to remove fat (can dry the hair and the skin, causing itching, and allergic reactions) .

The debate about the dangers and benefits of cosmetics continues for years. One group of people is in favour of the use of cosmetics, the other – against. Each leads the arguments, and almost all of them are right because it can be both damaging and beneficial. The main point is: it is necessary to select cosmetics very carefully. Then your skin will say “Thank you”

Traveling and students.

In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

It is clear that traveling is the oldest means of acquiring knowledge. So what could be more useful for a school graduates than traveling abroad combined with work there?

First of all, most students, done their living certificates, have never stayed outside their parental home longer than one or two weeks. At the same time the majority of young people starting university studies leave their homes and parents for at least 3 years. Finding themselves in unfamiliar surrounding among strange people, they realise how helpless and defenseless they are. Thus, traveling may help to beat the feeling of helplessness and to gain or improve social skills. After a year’s trip overseas students become more confident and independent. They make friends faster and easily settle down in a new environment.

Upon leaving abroad young people broaden their minds and improve their knowledge about other cultures and social ways of life that also will be helpful in residing within international communities, as many of university hostels are. Such students quickly find means to resolve existing household issues and problems at work.

The next advantage is that these students working for a year after finishing school as earning money for future educational and living needs as have a spare year in order to decide what exact careers they are going to choose. Therefore some of them after working at in their desired industry may change their minds and find the more appropriate option or ensure themselves in an already made choice. However, some people do not want to travel for some reasons. For example, traveling one cannot enjoy the comfort of his home. Also, the possibilities of robberies and losing of baggage should be taken into account.

To sum up, although traveling or work is a good way to get educated, get impressions, nice memories and many friends, it needs extra precautions in order to have a safe journey.

Cooperation or competition?

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to cooperate rather than compete become more useful adults.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Parents always expect more from their children and in order to help them to be the best, parents may be inclined to promote different ways of education such as competition or cooperation. Both methods have their benefits and drawbacks.

It is undoubtedly clear that competition forces children to make more efforts in order to gain desirable things or marks, hence improves their skills and abilities. Competitive young people are very determined and strong-willed. However, the excess of competitiveness may bring harm to youth. For example, children with an excessive sense of competition aim only for a win. They cannot accept failure and that in turn may push them to lie or cheat.

However, youngsters with an inclination to cooperate very often become good team players in adulthood, who are able to solve problems and disagreements existing in a group or at a work place. They will easily lead a working team and drive it towards a stated target. There is no doubt that students who prefer cooperation usually yield to competitive ones in speed of task performance. However, the latter easily compensate for it in accuracy of performance and diversity of task answers.

To sum up, although both methods of child's development have their advantages, as I see it, the best answer lays in moderation of competitiveness and cooperation. Thus, such a child will overlap disadvantages of one method with advantages of another.