The color cosmetic market in the U.S. has shown a surge in revenue with a 4% CAGR rate during the 2018–2022 time span. With the growth of this industry, the manufacturing, sales, and consumer usage of beauty products necessitate adherence to indispensable safety regulations due to concerns for human health and the importance of maintaining an ecological lifestyle.

Chemical and Physical Hazards in Beauty Products

All cosmetic products and beauty-enhancing processes rely on various chemicals, tools, and complex operations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard has established several safety regulations to prevent workers and consumers from hazardous chemicals. A significant number of chemical compounds found in these products, combined with long-term exposure, can lead to severe health damages.

Harmful Chemicals in Beauty Products

Beauty products contain major classes of compounds such as antioxidants, preservatives, lipids, solvents, surfactants, and colorants, all of which can be harmful to the skin depending on the type and duration of exposure. Exposure to these chemicals often occurs through intermittent contact or immersion, particularly due to manual application directly onto the skin. Exposure times can range from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the process.

For example,

• Hair Products - Cleansers or shampoo products, including alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, fatty acid alkanolamides, fatty alcohols, selenium sulfide, and sulfur, as well as conditioners containing mineral oil or vegetable/animal fats, can cause significant hand damage, including cracking, when applied manually over extended periods.

• Hair Coloring - Processes involving bleaching agents such as alkaline hydrogen peroxide, pigments (anthraquinone diazo), ammonium hydroxide, and intermediates like toluene-2,5-diamine can damage hands during prolonged manual application.

• Hair Straightening - Creams containing thioglycolic acid, sodium hydroxide, mineral oil, or other lipid-containing emulsions are often applied bare-handed, leading to hand sensitization and skin allergies.

• Nail Products - Solvents like toluene, acetone, butyl acetate, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) found in nail polishes can cause skin sensitization and cracking, while methyl methacrylate (MMA) in nail liquids can lead to skin allergies and irritation. Formaldehyde, used as a hardener, is known to cause skin damage.

• Face Products - These often contain petroleum minerals, talc, silicates, and emollient lipids, all of which can lead to skin rashes with long-term exposure.

Physical Hazards

The beauty industry also poses various physical hazards, such as:

• Cuts and Lacerations - These can occur from using sharp tools like scissors, razor blades, and cutting combs.

• Puncture Risks - Prevail when using sharp styling tools or nail cleaning instruments.

• Abrasive and Rough Skin - May result from the repetitive application of cosmetic products by hand.

• Crush and Scratch Wounds - Can happen when using trimmers and tweezers.

• Thermal Injuries - Occur due to the use of hair dryers, straightening, and curling machines.

• Laser and IR Exposure - Skin care centers frequently use laser treatments for acne removal, which can cause severe health effects.

Biological Risks

Biological risks are also present in beauty salons, such as the possibility of transmitting blood-borne pathogens like Hepatitis C or HIV through small injuries during treatments (e.g., cuts and lacerations during shaving).

Unseen Risks and Delayed Responses

• Musculoskeletal Disorders - A significant number of hairdressers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to repetitive processes and related strain, such as holding scissors or trimmers in a fixed manner during haircuts.

• Carcinogenic Risks - Formaldehyde, found in various cosmetic products like hair smoothing treatments and nail polishes, is a potent carcinogen.

• Dermatitis - Both irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis can result from the chemical compounds in cosmetic products, particularly during manual application.

Essential Properties and Features of Protective Gloves

Protective gloves play a crucial role in mitigating these risks. Important properties include:

• Grip - Essential for operations involving both chemicals and tools, such as applying oil-based creams while using hair styling equipment.

• Tactile Sensitivity - Gloves should allow for the same tactile sensitivity as bare hands, ensuring the quality of processes like makeup application, hair styling, and nail art.

• Durability - Gloves must withstand prolonged exposure to chemicals, stress, and strain, particularly in repetitive and long-duration tasks common in the beauty industry.

• Nitrile Over Natural Rubber - Nitrile butadiene rubber is a more suitable choice than natural latex gloves due to the absence of extractable proteins that can cause allergies.