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7. Increasing Knowledge of Ingredients is Making Consumers Selective in Choice of Beauty Products

We’re all getting beauty savvy. But where we’re consciously picking out beauty products with only the best ingredients, is this same knowledge making our shelf of choice narrower? There are a lot of beauty products in the market whose main purpose is to enhance the physical beauty of a person. The most common beauty products are skin care products, hair care products, and cosmetics such as eye shadow and lipstick. Generally, women are the biggest consumers of beauty products compared to men. Chief among the factors taken into consideration by consumers before deciding on which beauty product to use is the nature of ingredients that make up the beauty care product.   Ingredients used in the manufacture of beauty products are either artificial or naturally occurring.  The impact it has on a person’s health is determined by the chemical compounds that are in them. In most countries, government agencies play a huge role in regulating ingredients used to manufacture ingredients. It is also a requirement for manufacturers to disclose these ingredients to the consumers during labeling.   Main contents in beauty products include water, thickeners, fragrances, coloring agents, emollient, aluminum, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Evidence is there to back up the inclusion of lead in lipstick as an ingredient. Lead is known to be a very dangerous chemical to human health as it affects the brain and nervous system. Parabens, which are used in the preservation of cosmetics, have been found to mimic estrogen, which enhances the growth of tumors, thus posing potential health problems. Aluminum, which is used in deodorants and antiperspirants, have also raised cancer concerns.    The increasing demand for beauty products made from natural ingredients, especially from young consumers, could perhaps be occasioned by consumers increased knowledge on the artificial perceived harmful ingredients contained in beauty products.   Ultimately, it is important to remember that even though the names of cosmetic ingredients could be complex, it is wise taking time to understand each ingredient and their supposed effects before purchasing a product. This will help consumers make informed decisions about the product to use and achieve the desired result.