The results of a recent study shows women of color have more harmful toxins in their bodies from cosmetics and beauty products than white women.
A new study conducted by researchers at George Washington University and Occidental College found that beauty products marketed towards black women tend to contain more toxic chemicals than products marketed towards white women.
The beauty products include skin bleachers, makeup, hair dye and hair relaxers that contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, parabens, hormones, lead and other heavy metals that can build up in the body over time and cause longterm effects on our health.
The study says pressure to conform to European beauty standards contributes to a cycle of self-hate in black women who desire straighter hair and lighter skin.
“Racial discrimination based on European beauty norms can lead to internalized racism, body shame, and skin tone dissatisfaction, factors that can influence product use to achieve straighter hair or lighter skin,” according to the study, originally published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
“Compared with white women, women of color have higher levels of beauty product-related environmental chemicals in their bodies, independent of socioeconomic status,” the study revealed.
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