Beauty Products For Black Women May Be More Dangerous Than Those Targeting Other Groups
A new report from a non profit research group showed that certain types of beauty products contain higher amounts of potentially harmful chemicals than others, specifically those aimed toward black consumers. Although the chemicals were highest in hair relaxers, even cosmetics such as lipsticks aimed towards black women appear to be more hazardous.
Of the 1,177 beauty and personal care products aimed towards black women analyzed by the Environmental Working Group, only 25 percent fell into the “low hazard” category in regards to the amount of potentially harmful chemicals they contained, Time reported. This is compared to 40 percent of products that were marketed to a wider consumer group.
"If a black woman is choosing products marketed to their demographic, they have fewer healthier options," Nneka Leiba, deputy director of research at the Environmental Working Group, told CNN.
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According to the report, the most dangerous products by far were hair relaxers and bleaching products. Many of these products contained chemicals which have been linked to various health conditions such as hair loss, chemical burns, hormone disruption, allergies, and even cancer. In addition, even lipsticks and concealers marketed to black women had high amounts of potentially dangerous chemicals.
The danger ratings of these products have now been added to the group's Skin Deep database, a public source that informs consumers on potential product dangers.
"What you choose to bring into your home is a very personal choice, added Leiba. "We don't want people to assume that because they are choosing a natural product that they are not choosing harmful products.”
Source: BIG MARKET FOR BLACK COSMETICS, BUT LESS-HAZARDOUS CHOICES LIMITED. Environmental Working Group. 2016
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