An ominous twist on the classic ‘Cinderella’ story, the Norwegian movie ‘Ugly Stepsister’ is a body horror like no other. The subject is a cautionary tale of the depraved lengths women will go through to be the object of beauty and adoration.
Digital Spy describes the work as a “timely examination of body image and beauty standards.” Yet, there are scenes so disturbing that you have to remind yourself it’s not real.
The main character, Elvira, is forced into a physical transformation involving primitive cosmetic surgery and tapeworms (don’t ask). The movie explores the negative effects of the beauty industry on impressionable young women.
Despite being fictional, there’s no denying that archaic beauty remedies dating back to the dawn of civilization left an indelible mark.
Shockingly, many products deemed toxic remain on shop shelves. It gives us enough reason to peel back the shiny packaging and talk about the not-so-pretty side of beauty innovation.
A Little History of Dangerous Glamour
Beauty trends have always mirrored culture, science, and risk.
In the early 1900s, women wore face creams containing mercury to whiten their skin. Lipsticks had lead. Hair products were sometimes packed with radioactive elements.
A roundup from Business Insider highlighted how “dangerous beauty products were often sold as miraculous cures” before health regulations caught up.
Makeup laced with lead caused the death of the Countess of Coventry in 1760. Small amounts of arsenic in edible wafers were used to achieve a sought-after pale complexion during the Victorian era. The terrifying list goes on and on.
Modern Makeup, Ancient Worries
Thankfully, most beauty products today are safer than those sold in the days of corsets and arsenic-based tonics. The bad news? There’s a long way to go.
Healthline reports that many popular skincare items contain ingredients linked to hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and cancer.
Here are a few red-flag ingredients to keep an eye out for:
- Parabens: Used as preservatives, parabens can mimic estrogen in the body and have been found in breast cancer tissues.
- Phthalates: Found in fragrances and nail polishes, phthalates are linked to reproductive issues.
- Formaldehyde: Yes, the same stuff used in embalming. It lurks in some hair treatments and nail products.
From Sterile to Scary
You may have never seen ethylene oxide on a label. The gas is used to sterilize a wide range of products, from medical equipment to certain personal care items and food packaging.
The problem? Ethylene oxide (ETO) is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), presenting an itinerary of significant health risks.
In recent years, the ethylene oxide lawsuit spotlighted communities near industrial sterilization plants that reported higher rates of cancer.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that ETO exposure has been linked to cancers like lymphoma, breast cancer, and leukemia.
TorHoerman Law adds that many cases revolve around long-term environmental exposure to ETO emissions. The bigger takeaway for consumers is that if a product was sterilized using this method, residue could still be present.
Another sobering reminder that products designed to keep us healthy and clean can have unintended consequences.
Transparency is Trending
Change is happening. More brands embrace clean beauty, offering products free from known toxins and prioritizing sustainability and transparency.
Labels like “fragrance-free,” “paraben-free,” and “cruelty-free” aren’t buzzwords anymore; they’re becoming baseline expectations.
Documentaries like ‘Toxic Beauty’ have sparked public awareness and consumer advocacy. Companies are being pressured to rethink their formulations and hold themselves accountable.
However, the term “clean beauty” isn’t regulated, which means it’s up to us as consumers to stay informed.
Smart Steps for Safer Skincare
You don’t have to throw out your entire bathroom cabinet. Follow a few low-stress steps to start detoxing your routine:
Audit one product at a time. Swap out your most-used items first for cleaner alternatives.
Avoid vague labels like “fragrance.” This catch-all term can hide dozens of unlisted chemicals. Look for products that explicitly list all ingredients.
Support transparent brands. Companies that publish full ingredient lists and explain their sourcing and testing practices are usually more trustworthy.
Stay curious. Beauty should be about empowerment. Learning more about what’s in your products helps you make choices that feel good on the outside and the inside.
Beauty That Doesn’t Bite Back
Innovation is amazing and has given us products that hydrate, illuminate, protect, and reverse signs of aging.
But when innovation outruns safety, we must pause, ask questions, and demand better.
Educate yourself. Reading ingredient lists can feel like deciphering a foreign language. Nonetheless, it’s worth getting curious.
Apps like Think Dirty or the EWG’s Skin Deep database make it easier to scan for potential troublemakers because the real glow-up starts with awareness.
