SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) · 8. You already know that living a healthy lifestyle involves more than eating healthy and exercising regularly. I firmly believe that you shouldn't have to play guessing the ingredients every time you go shopping for new skin care products. Here are the top 20 ingredients to avoid in skincare products, plus my favorite stores for clean products.
Research has shown that the average adult uses 9 products like these every day, usually totaling up to 126 unique chemical ingredients. And (perhaps more alarmingly) that every day one in 13 women is exposed to ingredients that have also been identified as known or probable human carcinogens through those same skin care products sitting on their bathroom shelf. This term covers each and every flavoring agent designed. These bad boys can contain any combination of more than 3,000 common chemical ingredients (including known allergens and identified hormone disruptors).
Phthalates such as DBP, DEHP and DEP are a class of plasticizing chemicals. They make the fragrances in your skin care products adhere to your skin or make the product more supple. There is a lot of research that indicates that this family of ingredients disrupts the endocrine system and is toxic to our organs (both reproductive and non-reproductive). They can also cause birth defects.
The European Union has already continued to ban the use of this family of ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products, while the FDA continues to monitor their use. And while the FDA requires manufacturers to publish this ingredient, there is a significant gap in the publication requirements. Why? This family of ingredients is used in fragrances, and fragrance ingredients are classified as trade secrets, so you can also have products that contain one or more undisclosed types of phthalates. Parabens (including methylparabens, isobutylparabens, propylparabens, and others) are a family of preservatives that manufacturers use in skin care products to help prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
The danger with this ingredient is that, depending on manufacturing processes, it could be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, both of which have a robust data set indicating that they are carcinogens. Retinol is a synthetic form of vitamin A. You'll find it in a variety of anti-aging skin care products, but data from an FDA study indicates that retinoid ingredients can accelerate the development of tumors and skin lesions in sun-exposed skin (EWG). At a minimum, retinol is known to cause skin irritation, photosensitivity, and is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
It is also a notable impurity in ingredients such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol), as well as several other preservatives that could be among the ingredients listed in your personal products. SLES is used in a similar way to SLS, but is also often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. This is worrying because the main use of 1,4-dioxane is to make other chemicals less aggressive. And, as mentioned above, 1,4-dioxane is a known carcinogen.
Look for products that don't contain synthetic fragrances; choose unscented or scented with natural essential oils. Shopping from online stores that focus on clean products such as Beautycounter and The Detox Market will help you find clean exchanges for your favorite beauty products. This is a good list, except for Retinol. I was surprised to see you tell people to avoid retinol.
There is a LOT of scientific research that proves that retinol is one of the best ingredients for anti-aging and wrinkle prevention. She said to avoid it because retinol is known to cause skin irritation, photosensitivity, and is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It causes photosensitivity, but it's because retinol works by accelerating the formation of new skin cells to replace old, damaged skin. This new skin may be more sensitive and is more prone to sunburn, so it's extremely important to add facial sunscreen to your morning routine when using retinol.
Supply your space sustainably with these 27 eco-friendly furniture brands Building a better supply chain with Sally Lim from 2° EAST Ingredients such as parabens, formaldehyde and carbon black, which are unfortunately found in many of our cosmetic products today, have been linked to some problems of quite serious health problems such as cancer, hormonal imbalances (endocrine disruptors) and respiratory problems, to name just a few. On average, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that women use 12 personal care products a day, exposing themselves to 168 chemical ingredients. Obviously, most busy women don't have time to research which ingredients are safe and which aren't. So, to make things a little easier for you, I've compiled a list of 10 ingredients you want to avoid at all costs and why.
Parabens are one of the most common ingredients found in cosmetic products today. What is it? Parabens are most widely used as a preservative in cosmetic products. Carbon Black Added to FDA's List of Banned Toxic Ingredients, But Still Found in Cosmetic Products. What is it? Carbon Black (uncertified) D% 26C Black No.
It is a black pigmented powder most commonly found in eyeliner, mascara, eyelash glue, etc. It's what gives your mascara that dark and elegant look. Petrolatum is often found in lotions and skin care products and is used as a moisturizing agent. What are PAH? According to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, PAHs “are a group of more than 100 chemical compounds that are prevalent in the environment and food.
They are formed from the combustion of organic materials. Fragrance is found in most conventional products on the market today, from shampoo to laundry detergent. What is it? Fragrance, according to Made Safe, is “a general term for up to 100 different chemical ingredients that make up that scent. Oxybenzone is most commonly found in sunscreens.
What is it? Oxybenzone, shares the National Science Library, “absorbs UVB and UVA II rays, resulting in photochemical excitation and energy absorption. Returning to the ground state, the absorbed energy results in the emission of longer wavelength radiation and lower penetration of radiation into the skin, reducing the risk of DNA damage. Which means it helps protect the skin against UV rays, such as UVB rays and UVA rays. Phthalates are found in cosmetic products, from scented lotions to nail polishes.
Formaldehyde-releasing substances have been found in shampoos, soaps, lotions, etc. According to data provided by the FDA, nearly 1 in 5 cosmetic products contain a substance that generates formaldehyde. According to the FDA, DEA and DEA-related ingredients function as emulsifiers or foaming agents in cosmetics, or to adjust the pH (acidity) of a product, while TEA is used as a fragrance, pH adjuster, and emulsifying agent. What is it? The compound 1,4-dioxane is a trace contaminant found in some cosmetic products.
Rather, it is a by-product that forms when other common ingredients are mixed during the manufacturing process. These ingredients, FDA reports, include certain detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers and solvents identifiable by the prefix, word or syllables “PEG”, “Polyethylene”, “Polyethylene glycol”, “Polyoxyethylene”, “-eth- or “-oxynol-. EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as “susceptible to being carcinogenic to humans”. EWG rates this ingredient an 8 and rates it as a known respiratory toxic that is harmful to our health, even in small doses.
Of the thousands of chemicals that are allowed in our skin care, usually depending on where you live, only about 20 to 25% of those chemicals have been tested for safety in the human body and the environment. In addition, of all those that have been tested, only 11 have been banned. Even in the organic space, there is a lot of what they call “greenwashing”. This means that a product claims to be all-natural, organic, etc.
But if you look at the ingredients, maybe only 10% of the product is organic. Well, at least in Australia there isn't. Parabens are a common ingredient in many daily skin and hair care products. You'll see them listed as methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl, butyl, isobutyl, or something similar.
Parabens can cause redness and allergic reactions, especially because they can enter the bloodstream. They can mimic estrogen, so be aware of this endocrine disrupting chemical. Phthalates often infiltrate the formulas of many skin care products, especially perfumed skin care products and deodorants. Like parabens, phthalates can also mimic estrogen.
A synthetic form of estrogen that can cause problems even for babies who have not yet been born. If you had to remove anything from this post, it would be this. Remove products that contain the word fragrance, perfume or perfume. This is what's called a “cluster ingredient,” and it can contain up to 4,000 different chemicals.
They never have to be disclosed due to property or intellectual property interests. Who knows what fragrance concoction it contains and these added fragrance formulas are broadly related to allergic reactions and can cause aggravated skin conditions, such as dermatitis and respiratory conditions. Triclosan and triclocarban are antimicrobial chemicals that are added to provide antibacterial properties to skin care and cleansing products, as well as soaps and deodorants. Unfortunately, most of the time, it adds little antimicrobial effect and instead only serves to really irritate the skin and disrupt thyroid and hormonal functions.
PEGs also come in many different numbers. So you can see them as PEG numbers 100, 120, 12, 14M, 150, 180, 2, 20, 30, 32, 4, 40, 6, 7, 75, 8, 80 and 90M. Parabens are a whole family of chemicals (methylparabens, propylparabens, butylparabens, and ethylparabens) that help preserve the shelf life of products. When I reviewed my own products, parabens were the most common offender.
I found them in almost every product, from facial cleansers, night creams, makeup, masks, body wash and shampoo, they were everywhere. Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, altering our delicate hormonal balance. Group of chemicals phthalates used to soften and increase flexibility of plastics in cosmetics. This helps the products adhere to our skin.
Phthalates can be extremely dangerous for children, but it's best to avoid them altogether, as they can be serious endocrine disruptors and even cause birth defects. In fact, Congress has banned several types of phthalates in children's products. The products are high-performance, luxurious and the company has an incredible social mission behind it, which is a BIG part of the reason I partnered with them. My beauty cabinet and makeup bag are almost 100% Beautycounter and have been for years.
While lead occurs naturally in the environment, you'll also find this ingredient as an impurity in cosmetics such as lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushes, compact powders, shampoos, and even body lotions. Many users find that their skin becomes irritated and bumpy, while others develop contact dermatitis and sun sensitivity. My skin is clearer, looks healthier, and I feel good knowing that I am doing something positive for my long-term health. So if you want to avoid products with phthalates, it's not enough to take a look at the list of ingredients.
Alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol and propanol are denatured alcohols and are the most irritating to the skin. A skin-friendly fusion of Raw Nature and Clinical Actives that can be felt as soon as your fingers touch the skin. Please check all of your current cosmetics to see if they have these ingredients and keep an eye on them when you shop next time. However, most skin care products contain such small amounts of formaldehyde that many manufacturers don't consider their use to be a risk.
With the ubiquity of harmful chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, it can be difficult to navigate all the toxic skin care ingredients to avoid. Often, the ingredients include tons of chemicals that can cause allergies, hormonal disorders, and lead to major health problems, reproductive problems, and infertility. Unfortunately, they can also remove natural moisture from the skin and contribute to the formation of oily or oily residues on the skin. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are used as preservatives in both personal care products and foods.
Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in skin care products to prolong their lifespan. . .
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