Top 10 Strangest Ingredients in Beauty Products

In our research, not only did we find toxic chemicals in cosmetic products, but we also found ingredients that will gross you out. We’re not saying they’re all dangerous, but they will make you raise an eyebrow.

Here are the 10 strangest ingredients we found in beauty products.

1. PLACENTA - The lining of the uterus that provides nourishment of a fetus and the elimination of its waste products, is surprisingly also used in some beauty products. It’s found in face moisturizers and hair conditioning treatments; it is claimed to reduce wrinkles and stimulate hair and tissue growth. However, none of those claims have been proven true.

2. BULL SEMEN - No definition needed for this one. Apparently, European hair salons are keen on the idea that the protein will give hair a shiny boost.

3. WHALE VOMIT - Often found washed up on beaches in South America or Australia; it is labeled “Ambergris” on beauty products. It has a sweet, earthy odor and is used in perfumes.

4. ANIMAL PARTS - Collagen and Elastin are fibrous proteins derived from animal tissue and ligaments. Aside from being injected into the body, they are also a popular ingredient in face creams and moisturizers. Also, chicken bone marrow is used in products as an anti-inflammatory. Even better, tallow and stearic acid are rendered animal fat often used in soaps, lipsticks, deodorants, shaving creams and other various cosmetics.

5. COW DUNG - Japanese scientists claim to be able to extract a vanilla fragrance, known as vanillin, from cow dung by heating it under high pressure. Vanillin is often used as a fragrance in perfumes, hair and skin care products.

6. BIRD POOP - Nightingale bird poop is one of the main ingredients in a “geisha facial.” A Japanese story says that geisha used nightingale droppings to keep their faces clear and pale. Apparently, the uric acid found in it is also good for your skin.

7. SNAKE VENOM - Known to paralyze muscles, it has been used in face creams to smooth out wrinkles and, indeed, paralyze the facial muscles.

8. PEPPER SPRAY - Oleoresin Capsicum, the primary ingredient in pepper spray, is found in products that cause a warming sensation when applied topically, as well as in many over-the-counter pain and itch creams.

9. DYNAMITE COMPONENT - Diatomaceous Earth, otherwise known as diatomite, is one of the two components found in dynamite. It is a silica-based powder made from fossilized remains of hard-shelled algae. The particles are hollow and porous, and found in natural toothpastes, deodorant, powders, cuticle creams and mild-exfoliation products. It’s also found in cat litter and water filtration processes.

10. HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL - Often used as an ingredient in most restaurant foods, scientists say it will help regenerate damaged skin. It is a skin-softener, emollient, and barrier ingredient found in heavy body and foot creams, lip balms, and in some suntan products.

 PDF version of this top 10 list

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