The health effects of cosmetics that contain chemicals and carcinogenics include allergies, irritation, photosensitivity and cancer. Also, many of these cases are never reported because people do not go to the doctor or hospital for treatment and may not even know that cosmetics are the culprit. The skin is very permeable and most cosmetics are left on the skin for long periods of time, which enables dangerous chemicals to be absorbed through it. In 1990, the US General Accounting Office reported that the FDA provided no resources to ensure the safety of personal care products and cosmetics and there is no requirement for manufacturers to have any warning labels on their products of the risks involved of using them.

Hair coloring products are particularly worrisome because they contain “coal tar," especially the black and brown colors, which is associated with an increase in multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. When purchasing hair coloring, look for natural hair coloring products, which are reasonably safe and effective. Cosmetic talc is another concern because it is a carcinogenic and when inhaled or used in the genital area can cause an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Silica is also used in some cosmetics and may contain small amounts of crystalline quartz, which is also linked to cancer.

When purchasing cosmetics look for products that have a short list of ingredients and always opt for safer alternative products. Also, avoid products with artificial colors such as Blue 1 and Green 3, which are also known to cause cancer. Other cosmetic colors that have been linked to cancer are D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 3 and FD&C Yellow 6.