Cosmetics full of chemicals

Women who wear mainstream cosmetics products may be unknowingly applying as many as 175 different chemicals to their bodies every day, according to ChemicalSafeSkincare.co.uk.

The campaign group says three cosmetics ingredients in particular can cause severe health problems. Parabens -- preserving agents used in many moisturizers and body creams -- have been linked to cancer and skin irritation. Sodium laureth and sulfate -- foaming agents used in shampoos -- can irritate the skin, and formaldehyde -- used in hand soap and shampoo -- can also act as a skin irritant.