Beauty that Kills , Lifestyle - Women - Kolkata Mirror,Kolkata Mirror

By Rajani Yadav

Posted On Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 01:29:07 PM

A recent survey by a deodorant firm has revealed that women use as many as 500 chemicals a day in the form of

various cosmetic products like lipsticks, lotions, foundations, mascaras etc. According to dermatologists, some of the ingredients used in manufacturing the products can lead to hormonal problems, cancer, skin diseases and allergies.

Skin pinch

Women in the glamour world are the worst hit because their profession demands the use of makeup at all times. Jessica Gomes, model and compere says, “Given the profession that I am in, one cannot do without make-up. I avoid make-up completely on days when I’m not working. But when there are stage shows, I have to wear it for more than 8 to 10 hours a day. We have to be ready five hours before the show and then there are the after parties. Once it so happened that I did not remove my make-up, I woke up to find that my eyelids had swollen.”

Actress Paoli Dam too had bad skin days to deal with. She says, “Basically I have a dry skin so it took some time for it to get accustomed to make up. During outdoor shoots, rashes appear on my skin.”

Corporate call

However, today it’s not just actors and models but also regular women in the corporate sector who are required to look presentable in office. The basic minimum makeup they need to put on is lipstick, kajal and mascara. Suruchi Khanna, who works in an MNC says, “Since I’m a fresher I have to be in perfect form 24X7 and that calls for heavy make-up to last me the day.”

Priyanka Bakshi, in her late 20s and working in an MNC has a similar story to tell, “I wear lipstick on a regular basis and avoid make-up except on occasions. There was a time when I would not step out of my house without some make-up on my face.”

Even if all the brands introduce products promise all-day care and protection of the skin, most women are left with dry skin, dark patches, and eruptions. Jessica says, “Application of elaborate make-up has led to the problem of acne. Therefore I moisturise my face and then dab it with an ice pack before applying make-up. It blocks the pores thereby protecting them from chemicals.”

“Application of make-up for 24 hours a day has led to a profusion of rashes and pimples all over my face. No amount of medication or skin-peeling has helped so far. My skin has been rendered dry beyond repair,” says Suruchi.

College pass-out Ankita Biswas gave up on eye make-up altogether after a horrible experience left her shaken. “One fine day I discovered much to my horror that my eyelashes were coming off. While washing my face some of them just came off at the slightest touch,” she says.

Wear and Care

Specialists believe that although makeup has its harsh effect, a little bit of care and forethought can keep the skin healthy.

Aroma therapist Keya Seth says, “Wearing make up for more than 12 hours a day has its disadvantages. The skin

Dos and Dont's

Dont rub cosmetics
Apply tomers
use sunscreen
Moisturise your skin
Eat fruits and vegetables
Curd is very good for skin
remove your makeup before going to sleep

becomes dull, softness is lost, wrinkles appear early, lines develop along the lips and eyes. In short, what gives the temporary radiance can leave permanent scars. Pigmentation is what many complain of.”

Talking about solutions, she says, “This is something very trivial but most women overlook it - the application of a make-up base reduces the ill effect of chemicals. Toners are a must.” She busts the myth about toners being unsuitable for dry skin, “This is not true. Apply toners keeping in mind your skin type. That will help in firming the skin.”

According to dermatologist Jayanta Kr Das, “There is no short cut to skin care. You have to know what your skin is allergic to, limit hand washing as well as washing your face. Don’t rub cosmetics too hard. Apply in smaller quantities. If you have irritation, apply emollient. Use proper brands. In India you don’t have the provision of knowing the chemicals that have gone into your beauty care products. So you’ll have to find out what suits your skin and body type through a trial and error method. Stop immediately the use of any product that causes irritation.”

Chanchal Bhar, dermatologist and cosmotologist, says, “Apply sunscreen in the evening as well because the computer screens that face you all day give out rays that may be harmful for your skin. Even fluoroscent lamps emit these rays.” He adds, “Use soap-free cleanser. Avoid junk food. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Remove your make-up before going off to sleep. Your skin should we well moisturised all the time. A protein-rich diet is also good for the skin.”

Follow the above mantras to look beautiful with as well as without makeup!

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