How to check the production date of cosmetics and the list of banned cosmetic ingredients

Cosmetics all have a production date and shelf life. When purchasing cosmetics, pay attention to the production date and shelf life of the cosmetics, avoid using expired or spoiled cosmetics, and use them up within the shelf life.

The shelf life of most cosmetics is three years. The batch number of cosmetics usually has only four digits. The first two digits are related to the production date. The first digit represents the year of production, and the second digit represents the month. For example, 43xx represents November 2010, and 44xx represents December 2010. The same analogy can be used for this time. The last two digits of the batch number of cosmetics are meaningless. In addition, October is represented by O, November is represented by N, and OZ represents the production line.

1. Mercury and its compounds are prohibited chemicals in cosmetic components. As impurities, the limit is less than 1 mg/kg. However, in view of the good antibacterial effect of thimerosal (sodium ethylmercury thiosalicylate), it is allowed to be used in eye cosmetics and eye makeup removers, and its maximum permitted concentration is 0.007% (in terms of mercury). Mercury sulfide is a red pigment generally added to lipstick, rouge and other cosmetics with bright and long-lasting color; mercuric chloride is used in cosmetics with the characteristics of whiteness and delicateness. Mercury ions can interfere with the process of tyrosine turning into melanin in human skin. It is generally added to whitening, whitening and spot removal cosmetics. These substances are cheap, so mercury sulfide and mercuric chloride are even used by modern cosmetic manufacturers. Mercury and its compounds can pass through the skin barrier and enter all organs and tissues of the body, mainly causing the greatest damage to the kidneys, followed by the liver and spleen, destroying the activity of the enzyme system, causing protein coagulation, tissue necrosis, and having obvious gonadal toxicity, embryotoxicity and cytogenetic effects. The main clinical manifestations of chronic poisoning by mercury and its compounds are: fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, indifference, emotional instability, headache, dizziness, tremor, accompanied by decreased hemoglobin content and red blood cell and white blood cell counts, liver damage, etc., in addition, there are also decreased peripheral sensation, centripetal narrowing of the visual field, hearing impairment and ataxia, etc.

2. Arsenic and its compounds Arsenic and its compounds are prohibited substances in cosmetic components. Arsenic and its compounds are widely present in nature. Cosmetic raw materials and cosmetic production processes are also easily contaminated by arsenic, so they exist as impurities. The limit of arsenic in cosmetics is 10 mg/kg (in terms of arsenic). Arsenic and its compounds are considered carcinogens. Long-term use of cosmetics with high arsenic content can cause skin diseases such as dermatitis and pigmentation, and eventually lead to skin cancer. The main clinical manifestations of poisoning by arsenic and its compounds are symptoms of peripheral neuritis, such as pain in the limbs, difficulty walking, muscle atrophy, brittle and easy-to-fall hair, high pigmentation of the skin, high keratinization of the skin on the palms and soles, hyperplasia of excrescences, chapped skin, and ulcers that do not heal for a long time. They can turn into skin cancer, and the patient may die from complications.

3. Lead and its compounds Lead and its compounds are prohibited substances in cosmetic components. As impurities, their content in cosmetics shall not exceed 40 mg/kg (in terms of lead). However, hair dyes containing lead acetate are excluded, and their content in hair dye products must be less than 0.6% (in terms of Pb). Lead in cosmetics can increase the whiteness of the skin, so lead is generally added to whitening and lightening cosmetics. Lead is toxic to all organisms. Lead and its compounds are absorbed through the skin and endanger human health, mainly affecting the hematopoietic system, nervous system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive function, cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems, especially the health of the fetus. The main clinical manifestations are neurasthenia syndrome caused by dysfunction of the central nervous system. Acute or subacute encephalopathy. Movement disorders. The digestive system has loss of appetite, metallic taste in the mouth, lead face, lead lines on the gums, abdominal colic, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The hematopoietic system has low hemoglobin, normal red cell anemia or microcytic anemia, and the appearance of stippled red cells and network red cells. Other diseases include toxic hepatitis, liver enlargement or jaundice, and certain damage to the kidneys, resulting in oliguria, anuria, hemoglobinuria, nephritis or renal atrophy, and may also cause myocardial damage and heart failure.

4. Cadmium and its compounds Cadmium and its compounds are prohibited substances in cosmetic components. Zinc compounds commonly used in cosmetics, whose raw material sphalerite often contains cadmium, therefore, as an impurity component, the content in cosmetics shall not exceed 40mg/kg (in terms of lead needle). The toxicity of metallic cadmium is very low, but cadmium compounds are highly toxic, especially cadmium oxides. Cadmium and its compounds mainly damage the heart, liver, kidneys, skeletal muscle and bone tissue. Inhibit enzyme activity. Cadmium can destroy calcium and phosphorus metabolism and participate in the metabolism of a series of trace elements, such as zinc, copper, iron, manganese and selenium. The main clinical manifestations are hypertension, cardiac dilatation and premature infant death, and induce lung cancer.

1. If you don’t feel sensitive, switch to a set of special skin care products for sensitive skin.

Because it is not safe, once the skin is allergic, it will become very delicate. If you change a series of cosmetics at this time, it is easy to cause damage to the skin. So don't change all at once, you can start with the last products in the skin care program, such as night cream or lotion, and gradually change them all. You can also stop using irritating products, such as those containing alcohol or fruit acid.

2. When there are many pimples on your face, it is not because your skin is not clean.

If you think that you have so many pimples because you don't wash your skin properly and you clean it more often, that can irritate your skin even more. Pimples can be a symptom of sensitive skin or adult pimples caused by stress. You should see a doctor at this time instead of just applying acne treatment products, exfoliating or deep cleansing, which can irritate your skin even more.

3. Don’t apply facial cleanser directly on your face and rub it

Facial cleansers that are not foamed will stick to the skin surface and damage the sebum membrane. The correct way is to add clean water and rub to foam, because the foamed detergent can play a cleaning effect, and the foam is milder than the unfoamed milk. When washing your face, wash the T-zone first, gently pass the cheeks and wash off with warm water.

4. Pay attention to cleaning the powder puff regularly

You should know that unclean makeup tools will make the skin very sensitive, so makeup tools must be cleaned, because the oil on the face will be absorbed by the powder puff when touching up the makeup. The powder puff full of oil is in contact with the air, which is the best breeding ground for bacteria. Using a dirty powder puff is not only unsightly, but also easy to make the skin fragile or cause acne. Clean the powder puff once a week, using a special detergent or mild soap. After washing, press it with facial tissue to absorb water, and then dry it in the shade. When choosing a makeup tool cleanser, you must pay attention to choosing a professional cleanser for processing. The makeup that is used more frequently in daily life is mainly base makeup. The foundation is thicker than other makeup, so base makeup tools are more likely to breed bacteria. Use a special cleaning solution for beauty makeup brushes, spray it on the brush head used daily, and wipe it back and forth with a soft cloth until it is clean.

5. If your skin is dry and itchy, do not use moisturizing cream

Thick and sticky skincare products are a burden to sensitive skin, so don't use them when your skin feels dry and itchy. Skincare products that are too oily or too moisturizing can easily irritate sensitive skin and are not easily absorbed. Lotions are more suitable for sensitive skin than creams and essences.

Different cosmetics have different shelf lives. For example, powdered cosmetics such as blush and eye shadow can continue to be used if there is no obvious change in texture. Cosmetics should be stored in a dry and ventilated place to avoid deterioration and expiration. For example, the shelf life of lipstick is generally 18-24 months, the shelf life of pressed powder is 12-18 months, the shelf life of mascara is 6 months, and the shelf life of eye shadow is 18-36 months. Look at the "M" mark on the product packaging. "M" indicates the shelf life of the product after opening, and the number of M indicates how many months it can be used after opening.