Study: Makeup Chemical Phthalates Hastens Onset of Menopause

A new study from the Washington University School of Medicine says that certain chemicals found in makeup called phthalates can speed up the onset of menopause by an average of 2.3 years, reducing the average menopausal age from 51 to 49. 

At a conference where the research was presented, Dr. Natalia Grindler, who co-authored the study, said that researchers have seen women as young as their 30s hitting menopause, which may or may not be because of makeup use but is still shocking.

While phthalates can also be found in plastics, cleaning products and packaged foods, we generally don’t think the products that claim to make our complexions smooth and creamy or brighten up the face will hasten menopause and all the fun that comes with it: hot flashes, decreased sex drive, and, in some cases, bone loss, heart disease and stroke. If you stop worrying about those pores and put Mother Nature’s work on display for the world to see, the rest of your body will thank you.

And for those of you who are just so sick and tired of dealing with your period or the stress of an unplanned pregnancy, start globbing the makeup on.