8 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About 'Scary' Chemicals
3. If It’s Not Safe To Eat, It’s Not Safe To Use!
This seems to be a common argument when it comes to cosmetics – don’t use those brands full of all sorts of chemicals, use ours, made out of coconut oil and pink salt and fresh fairy tears – it’s good enough to eat!
There are all sorts of substances which are very harmful if you’re exposed to them one way, pretty safe if you’re exposed to them another way. Most animal venoms, for example, are unpleasant if injected into you via teeth or stingers, but they’re usually harmless if swallowed (I’m not suggesting you experiment, mind you). This, incidentally, is the difference between venemous and poisonous.
Anyone who’s ever made an incautious bathroom trip after chopping up chillies will tell you that, while they might be nice to eat, even just a trace of the juice can be really quite painful if it comes into contact with the more, ahem, delicate areas of the body.
Being edible doesn’t necessarily make something safe for all other purposes. Don’t try and eat your shampoo. Not even this delicious-looking gluten-free, cucumber shampoo.