Hello Green Beauty

Can You Get Cancer from Cosmetic Talc Powder?

Talc powder (also known as talcum powder) has gained a bad reputation in the cosmetic industry for the past few years alongside paraben and sulphate (e.g. SLS/SLES). The controversy started when Johnson & Johnson, a major manufacturer of baby powder using talc, was involved in several lawsuits by women who claimed that their ovarian cancer was caused by daily dusting of Johnson’s baby powder on their genital area. Aside from ovarian cancer, there are also articles floating around the internet claiming that talc can also cause lung cancer. Before we dig into those issues, let me first give you more info about talc.

Talc is a natural mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. It has the ability to absorb moisture (e.g. sweat) and reduces friction which makes it an ideal ingredient for baby powders. Talc is also a popular filler used in powder makeup due to its soft and silky texture.

In its natural form, talc may or may not contain asbestos – a mineral known to cause lung cancer. This is due to the fact that talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals that may be found in close proximity in the earth, which explains the potential for contamination during its mining. This means that talc itself is not carcinogenic, rather it’s the talc that is contaminated with asbestos.

The good news is that cosmetic-grade talc does not contain asbestos. Cosmetic regulating bodies have imposed stricter standards stating that talc used in cosmetic products must be free from asbestos. Bigger cosmetic brands that use talc in their products have already taken the initiative to only use asbestos-free talc. For example, Unilever assures their consumers that they only use cosmetic-grade (asbestos-free) talc in all of their personal care products. However, for small scale cosmetic manufacturers, we can’t be assured that they will always comply with regards to the use of cosmetic-grade talc in their products.

Now let’s go back to our two main issues.

Does talc powder cause lung cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, “no increased risk of lung cancer has been reported with the use of cosmetic talcum powder”. Again, I would like to emphasize that they’re referring to cosmetic-grade talc.

You will only be susceptible to lung cancer if you are a miner working at a talc-mining site where you can be exposed to extremely large amount of talc contaminated with asbestos over a long period of time. For us consumers, this won’t be a problem since talc must be purified from any impurities (e.g. asbestos) before making its way to our cosmetics. Not to mention that when we use talc in baby powder or makeup, we don’t really inhale it in very large amount for extended period of time unlike the talc miners.

Does talc powder cause ovarian cancer?

The public concern over perineal (genital area) talc powder dusting and its relation to ovarian cancer has been a topic of debate for many years. In fact, for the past 20 years, several studies have been conducted with regards to this issue but evidences are still considered inconclusive (unproven). Some experts say that finding talc particles in ovarian cancer tissues do not necessarily mean that talc is the cause of cancer. There are many other risk factors that can cause ovarian cancer such as genetics (e.g. family history), diet and lifestyle choices. Those said factors are not even mentioned on previously conducted studies and instead just focuses on asking women participants if they use talc powder on their genital area or not. Due to limited evidences from human studies, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies the genital use of talc powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. “Possibly” which means that it may or may not cause or increase the risk of having ovarian cancer. In other words, it is not yet certain whether talc powder can cause ovarian cancer.

There are still ongoing researches being conducted to find stronger evidences linking ovarian cancer to talc powder. Until a final conclusion is presented, it is a matter of personal choice whether you want to avoid applying talc powder on genital area. However, if you have an increased risk of getting ovarian cancer due to a family history of the disease, then I highly advise that you avoid using talc powder on your genital area, just to be on the safe side.

Take note that the existing research studies only mention about genital application of talc powder, which means that using talc-based powder on other parts of the body or face will not cause any harm.

Any alternatives to cosmetic talc?

If you are a cosmetic formulator and you want to make a talc-free baby powder or powder makeup formulation, then you need to use an alternative raw material that has similar properties with talc. We’re looking for powders with silky texture, very fine particle size and has oil/moisture absorption capabilities. Example of these materials are boron nitride, sericite mica, silk powder and kaolin clay.

You can also use plant-based starches like cornstarch, arrowroot powder and rice powder as alternatives to talc. However, since they are food-grade powders, they have shorter shelf life and more prone to microbial contamination. They also have larger particle size than talc so they need to be grinded prior to use in cosmetics so that they would have finer and smoother texture when applied on skin.

References:

Is talc bad for you? Retrieved from https://thebeautybrains.com/2006/09/is-talc-bad-for-you/

Perineal Talc Use and Ovarian Cancer: A Critical Review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621109/

Talc. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/talc

Talcum Powder and Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html

P.S. To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.

0Comments

, by Hello Green Beauty

In Beauty, Cosmetic Chemistry

Makeup DIY: Matte Translucent Finishing Loose Powder (for Oily Skin)

Recently, I’ve been reading a lot of good reviews about Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder which is considered as a Holy Grail (must-have) product for oily skin people like me. I almost bought it but decided not to because I find it expensive - almost Php 400 for a 5g of product. In the end, I realize I can try to make my own oil-control powder since I have most of the raw materials on hand. Let me tell you, you can buy the raw materials in bulk which is enough to make 1-2 years supply of face powder for you and your friends and save money in the long run J

Basically, I have the following requirements when formulating this finishing powder (also known as mineral veil or setting powder):

The final product should be matte since the ultimate goal is to control the shine on my super oily face, not to add more shine.
The final product should be translucent (non-tinted, non-whitening) so that it won’t affect the color of your foundation (if using one).
The final product should be talc-free, oil-free and fragrance-free.
The final product should be in loose powder form.

The formulation is very simple as I only use 3 main ingredients: Mica, Magnesium Stearate and Kaolin Clay. Let’s get into the details of each of these cosmetic ingredients.

Mica (also known as Sericite Mica) is the primary ingredient in making mineral makeup. It is often used as base ingredient in talc-free makeup formulation since it has similar properties to talc like translucency and good slip (enable makeup to spread easily on skin). This off-white powder also has water and oil resistant properties. Moreover, sericite mica has the ability to reflect light which explains the reason why it has a “slight” shimmer effect (not the glittery kind of shimmer) that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores. Take note that it is also possible to buy low-luster (matte) mica which is what I used in this DIY. The shimmer of the mica is measured by microns and the rule of thumb is “the lower the microns, the less shimmer”. A matte mica typically has about 12 -15 microns. Since mica is a translucent powder, it has sheer coverage which means that it won’t cover any skin discolorations or blemishes.

Magnesium Stearate is another essential ingredient to include in mineral makeup. It has excellent adhesion and oil absorption properties so it helps makeup to stay longer on your skin. It’s also translucent so it won’t change the color of your foundation. When you used magnesium stearate in makeup formulation, make sure that you don’t add more than 10%. Too much magnesium stearate can reduce the slip (spreadability) of the makeup. In my formula, I only used 5% magnesium stearate.

Kaolin Clay (also known as White Clay) is known as the mildest clay type. It can absorb excess oil and other pore-clogging substances from your skin. Compared to other types of clay, its oil absorption properties are on the milder side so kaolin clay can also be used for people with dry, sensitive and/or mature (aging) skin.

Ingredients

(Makes 3 grams which can fit inside a 10g sifter jar)

2.8 g Matte White Mica (low luster)

0.2 g Magnesium Stearate

0.1 g Kaolin Clay

Equipment

Pocket-size digital weighing scale

Herb grinder (for small batch) or Coffee grinder (for large batch)

Instructions

Start by putting on a face mask in order not to inhale the powder dust during the process.
Add all the ingredients in an herb or coffee grinder. Grind for a minute.
Transfer the mixture into a loose powder sifter jar.

Notes

It is essential to use either an herb grinder or a coffee grinder for this DIY in order to uniformly mix all the powder ingredients, which is kind of hard to achieve with manual hand mixing.

Since the formulation doesn’t contain any water, I didn’t add any preservative. However, make sure that you don’t introduce any moisture into the mineral makeup in order not to contaminate it.

How to Use

Tap a small amount of powder into the lid of the sifter jar and swirl your foundation (kabuki) brush around the mineral powder. Tap off the excess powder. Using a circular motion, apply the loose powder on your face.

Where to buy the materials

Matte white mica can be bought from Eunice Inc.
Kaolin clay and magnesium stearate are both available at Craftology Philippines.
Loose powder sifter jar can be bought from CLO Cosmetic Packaging.

References:

Mineral make-up ingredients: Magnesium stearate. Retrieved from https://swiftcraftymonkey.blog/mineral-make-up-ingredients-magnesium-stearate/

Which Clay is Right for Your Skin? Retrieved from https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/which-clay-is-right-for-your-skin/

P.S. To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.

0Comments

, by Hello Green Beauty

In Green Living,

Piñatex: Vegan and Sustainable Alternative to Animal Leather

Image Credit: Piñatex [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that the leather industry is one of the primary contributors to our ever growing pollution problem? Leather tanning – which is the process of converting animal skin into leather – involves the use of harmful chemical agents. The most commonly used leather tanning agent is chromium which can be toxic to human at high exposure over a long period of time. Environmental issues also arise as chromium waste (which comes from leather tanning facilities) contaminates our water, thus endangering marine lives. Another cruel side of the leather industry lies in the unethical killing of animals (e.g. crocodiles, ostriches, cows, etc.) for their skin in order to meet the growing demand for leather products. This situation led to the creation of synthetic leather that is normally made from PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – a type of plastic that does not decompose so it just ends up in the landfill.

Dr. Carmen Hijosa saw the need to create a more sustainable alternative to leather that has less impact to the environment and is cruelty-free (both to animals and workers). She had a light-bulb moment while working as a consultant in the Philippines and saw how locals use piña (pineapple leaf fibers) to create Barong Tagalog – the national dress of the Philippines. After seven years of research and development through a PhD at the Royal College of Art in London, Piñatex was born under Dr. Hijosa’s company Ananas Anam.

Piñatex is a non-woven plant-based textile that is derived from pineapple leaf fibers (sourced from the Philippines) which can be used as an alternative to leather that is made from animal skin. The raw material itself is sustainably sourced from discarded pineapple leaves which farmers normally just throw away. The fibers extracted from the pineapple leaves undergo a certain process until they become a non-woven textile with a unique leather-like appearance. The resulting textile is lightweight, breathable, flexible yet very durable, which makes it an ideal material for making shoes, bags, wallets, clothes and upholstery (e.g. sofa, car seat). Piñatex also comes in variety of colors and finishes (e.g. gold and silver metallic finishes) which give fashion designers more options when it comes to their product designs.

Piñatex is 100% vegan. In fact, Piñatex is the first fabric to become PETA-approved for being vegan and cruelty-free. In recent years, more and more fashion brands are using Piñatex to create eco-friendly and animal-friendly clothing and accessories.

Here are some of the products that are made with Piñatex.

Bourgeois Boheme: London-based vegan footwear brand using Piñatex

Maniwala: Plant-based, cruelty-free bags made from Piñatex

Altiir: Metallic biker jackets using Piñatex

At the moment, Piñatex is not yet 100% biodegradable since it’s still using petroleum-based resin for coating the textile. Don’t worry though as the company is working hard to eventually find a way to replace petroleum-based resin from Piñatex. Instead of using PVC (a petroleum-based plastic often used in synthetic leather), Piñatex uses PLA (Polylactic acid) which is a bioplastic that is derived from renewable sources (e.g. cassava). Now, you might ask, is PLA biodegradable? The answer is “it depends on the temperature of the area where it is being decomposed”. PLA degrades better at 58 degrees Celsius which means that it is more suitable to be decomposed in an industrial composting (where temperature can be controlled) than in a landfill where the ambient temperature is only around 25 Celsius.

Even though Piñatex is not completely biodegradable, I believe that the company’s goal to not use any by-product of animals is already a big step against animal-cruelty in traditional leather making. I’m looking forward that more textile manufacturers will follow the footsteps of Piñatex towards the creation of leather alternatives that are kind to our environment, to the animals and to the people who are making them J

P.S. To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.

0Comments

, by Hello Green Beauty

In Green Living, Health

Product Highlight: CocoWonder

Image Credit: CocoWonder

Coconut is often called as the “tree of life” because every single part of it can be used to make several products. Andy Albao saw this opportunity and decided to establish CocoWonder – a Filipino brand that focuses on creating high quality healthy products from coconut. The company takes pride in the fact that they produce the raw materials directly from their farm and are processed immediately in their facilities to maintain the product’s freshness. All products offered by CocoWonder are 100% US and EU certified organic and they have certifications to prove their claims.

Without further ado, here are some of the bestselling CocoWonder products.

1. Coconut Aminos Liquid Sauce

Image Credit: CocoWonder

Soy sauce is a very popular seasoning that is often used in cooking Asian dishes. However, if you have a soy allergy or you need to reduce sodium in your diet, then coconut aminos is a good alternative to soy sauce. Coconut aminos is made from fermented coconut sap and sea salt. It contains less sodium than soy sauce. In fact, coconut aminos has 90mg of sodium per teaspoon while soy sauce has 291mg of sodium per teaspoon.

CocoWonder Coconut Aminos is vegan, soy-free, gluten-free and non-GMO. This savory seasoning with sweet-salty taste can be used exactly as soy sauce in cooking, marinade and dipping sauce. Take note though that unlike soy sauce which can be stored in the kitchen pantry upon opening, coconut aminos must be refrigerated after opening and will last for about 3 months.

2. Coconut Sugar

Image Credit: CocoWonder

Coconut sugar is one of the most common healthier alternatives to white sugar. CocoWonder Coconut Sugar comes from the liquid sap that is collected from the flower buds of the coconut palm trees. Since it is less processed than regular white sugar, it retains most of its nutrients like iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It also has a low glycemic index (GI) so it will not elevate the blood sugar level as much as white sugar. This makes coconut sugar ideal for people with diabetes.

3. Coconut Flour

Image Credit: CocoWonder

CocoWonder Coconut Flour is made from ground and dried coconut meat. It is not only gluten-free, it’s also grain-free and nut-free. It is also rich in fiber and protein which help balance the blood sugar level in the body. Coconut flour has a mild, sweet taste and a faint coconut smell. Since it’s not a neutral-tasting flour, it will impart a subtle coconut flavor to your cooking and baking.

Take note that coconut flour may be a little bit tricky to use as compared to wheat (white) flour. You only need to substitute ¼ cup of coconut flour for every 1 cup of all purpose flour. Since coconut flour is gluten free, you will need to use more eggs with it in order to bind the ingredients together. Moreover, coconut flour absorbs more liquid, so you might need to increase the amount of liquid whenever you use coconut flour in baked products.

4. Coconut Butter

Image Credit: CocoWonder

If you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative to butter, then CocoWonder Coconut Butter is what I can recommend. I have personally tried this product and instantly fell in love with it because it reminds me so much of the taste of latik (coconut curds used as toppings in Filipino rice cakes).

Coconut butter is actually a pureed coconut meat. It can be spread on toast and used as a non-dairy coffee creamer. Even better, you can eat it directly from the jar, just like what I normally do J

Make sure to refrigerate the coconut butter as soon as you opened its container. Since coconut butter can become rock-hard in the fridge, you need to thaw it prior to consumption by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water for 5 – 10 minutes or until it is soft enough to be scooped out of container.

If you want to know other uses for coconut butter, then you can read this article.

5. Coconut Cider Vinegar

Image Credit: CocoWonder

If you’re a fan of apple cider vinegar, you will definitely love CocoWonder Coconut Cider Vinegar. Coconut cider vinegar (also known as sukang tuba in Filipino) is made from fermented coconut sap. Since it’s a fermented product, it is naturally rich in probiotics – a good bacteria that is beneficial for keeping our gut healthy. It also has a milder taste than apple cider vinegar and has a little hint of sweetness. Coconut cider vinegar is also a good source of potassium – an important mineral that can lower blood pressure, therefore keeping your heart healthy.

6. Coconut Oil

Image Credit: CocoWonder

CocoWonder offers several types of coconut oil: extra virgin, culinary virgin and MCT.

Extra virgin is an unrefined, unbleached and non-deodorized coconut oil. Since it’s unrefined, it has a strong coconut taste and smell. It also retains most of the nutrients of the raw coconut fruit.

Culinary virgin, on the other hand, has reduced coconut taste and is odorless, making it ideal for cooking since it won’t affect the flavor of your food.

MCT, which stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides, is a variant of coconut oil that is gaining popularity in recent years. 100% MCT oil is made by extracting medium chain triglycerides from coconut oil (which typically contains about 50% MCT). You may ask, what makes MCT so special than a regular coconut oil? Compared to its long chain triglycerides counterpart, MCT oil is easier to digest which is the reason why it can be used as an instant source of body energy. Proponents of MCT oil claim that it can also be taken as dietary supplement to support weight loss (but should still be taken in moderation since MCT oil is still a fat).

Aside from food products, CocoWonder also sells personal care products that are made from coconut (e.g. lotion, soap, etc.).

For complete product listing or if you want to order CocoWonder products, then you may visit the following channels:

Official Website: http://www.cocowonder.com.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CocoWonderPH

Shopee: https://shopee.ph/andyalbaocorp

What are your favorite CocoWonder products? Share them on the comment section below J

P.S. To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.

0Comments

, by Hello Green Beauty

Pages

Can You Get Cancer from Cosmetic Talc Powder?

Makeup DIY: Matte Translucent Finishing Loose Powder (for Oily Skin)

Piñatex: Vegan and Sustainable Alternative to Animal Leather

Product Highlight: CocoWonder

About me

Follow Us

Add Me ON

Pinterest

Labels

recent posts

Blog Archive

Blog Listings

Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

Pages

Can You Get Cancer from Cosmetic Talc Powder?

Makeup DIY: Matte Translucent Finishing Loose Powder (for Oily Skin)

Piñatex: Vegan and Sustainable Alternative to Animal Leather

Product Highlight: CocoWonder

About me

Follow Us

Add Me ON

Pinterest

Labels

recent posts

Blog Archive

Blog Listings

Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

Subscribe