A Christmas Carol and Some Dirty Little Secrets

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR SKIN?

Let me take you on a little trip, you can consider it something similar to what Ebenezer Scrooge went through in that famous Christmas Carol that we all love. Except this trip isn’t scary at all and you can stay in your warm comfy room having a cuppa and nibbling on some chocolate chip cookies if you like. But wait, I’m getting carried away now. To sum it up, let me introduce you to your own skin-loving monsters from the past, present, and future!

monster from the past

Skin care and cosmetics have been around for a long time, with the earliest archaeological evidence dating back to 6,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. From decorating skin to warding off evil spirits or enemies of a more physical kind, to flaunting status and attracting the hottest bachelors in town, there seems to be no limit to what we’re willing to go through in the name of beauty.

It didn’t get off to such a bad start with the ancient Egyptians who used semi-precious stones and crushed henna leaves mixed with water or oil to decorate the skin. Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, is still widely known for her rejuvenating milk and honey baths. However, taking a look at history, she will find a series of measures and beauty treatments that are highly questionable. All right, hold on tight because it’s a little scary now.

• Ancient Greeks used to bathe in crocodile droppings to keep themselves beautiful.
• Wealthy citizens of the Roman Empire imported Portuguese urine to help whiten their teeth.
• Queen Elizabeth’s subjects used a mixture of quicklime, lead, sulfur, and water to imitate their flaming red-haired queens.
• In the Middle Ages, women flaunted their status by covering their faces with lead, which, unsurprisingly, often led to death from lead poisoning.
• And let’s go back to Cleopatra’s Egypt where women used a mixture of iron oxide (rust), red clay, ionide, algae, henna and bromine mannitol to dye their lips red. Most of these ingredients are pretty good (red clay, seaweed, henna). Bromine’s hand, on the other hand, is extremely poisonous and could kill both the user and whoever she chooses to kiss.

monster of the present

Did you think it was scary and completely crazy? Then take a look at some of the most common beauty secrets of this day!

risky plastic surgery in the quest to live up to the image of skinny photo-edited models. Note that some of these gorgeous models are barely recognizable after all post editing has been done.

Implants and injections. In 2011, the most famous victim was former Miss Argentina Solange Magnano, 38 years old. The mother of 2 children has died after a legal operation believed to have involved buttock implants and injections.

fake tan (The application of chemicals to the skin to produce an effect similar in appearance to a tan.

skin whitening (the practice of using chemicals in an attempt to lighten skin tone)

starvation dietsagain trying to look like a Photoshopped poster.

Fluoride in toothpaste and tap water – It is used to improve our dental health, but it is actually poisonous and can cause fluorosis (stains and discoloration of tooth enamel) in babies. Fluoride is more poisonous than lead and slightly less poisonous than arsenic. Fluorides occasionally cause skin rashes such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, or hives.

Get smoother, younger-looking skin with the following chemicals – Methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl parabens (It is found in almost EVERY skin and hair product made today. Highly toxic and causes allergic/skin reactions.); Propylene glycol (A petroleum derivative and synthetic ingredient used as a humectant. Also used as INDUSTRIAL ANTIFREEZE for aircraft de-icing. Known to cause many allergic reactions); DMDM hydrant (a petrochemical used as ANTIFREEZE in automobiles); sodium laurel sulfate (a highly toxic synthetic substance with foaming capabilities that can cause urinary tract, bladder and kidney infections, genital disorders, eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, dandruff-like scalp dandruff and allergic reactions)… to mention just a few.

future monster

Luckily no one can force anyone to use any of these measures or ingredients. While the monsters of the past and presence are here to teach us a little lesson, the monster of the future has a big kind heart that wants to lead us to be happy and have a healthy and beautiful perspective of ourselves without crazy and implausible ideals to live by. until. The monster from the future is really more of an angel. So love yourself, love your skin and cut the crap.