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The chemicals that we are exposed to over a lifetime can accumulate in the blood and breast tissue, affecting everything from hormone levels to reproductive wellness, and is especially harmful to children.<\/p>\n
Clean cosmetic advocates are concerned about what the cumulative, gradual exposure to toxins from multiple products, multiple times a day, for decades, will do to the body. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The companies manufacturing these products were not required to conduct long term heath and safety studies; that would delay the product launch meaning a loss of billions. But the evidence has been building for decades – that the toxic ingredients we’ve been introduced to through these personal care products stay in our systems and wreak havoc.<\/p>\n And why do companies put these ingredients in their products? Because they are CHEAP AS FUCK to manufacture. Many of them are even chemical byproducts from industrial processes that they have found a way to profit from by adding them as fillers.<\/p>\n Here’s a list of ingredients to avoid in your personal care products along with natural alternatives to choose.<\/p>\n Warning: initial \u201cwhat the hell have I been putting on my skin?\u201d shock my set in; this can be a good thing. Take this knowledge and arm yourself with it. Keep ingredient notes in your phone and pull them up when you are shopping for household and personal care items. Share the information with family and friends, suggesting natural alternatives.<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid<\/strong>: petrolatum, mineral oil, propylene glycol, mineral jelly, petroleum jelly (vaseline), paraffin, propylene glycol, toulene, benzene<\/p>\n This is an extremely cheap and common petroleum derivative which is found in the majority of drugstore skincare products. You guys\u2026petroleum is refined crude oil. Yes. The fact that these petroleum derivatives are still present in most mass market beauty brands and even in\u00a0baby products\u00a0<\/a>BLOWS MY MIND. Putting a fossil fuel on your body was never, and will never be, good for you or the environment. Petroleum molecules\u00a0sit on top of the skin<\/a>, acting as a barrier, preventing the skin from breathing. Even if there are a couple good-for-you ingredients in the mineral-oil based lotion you use, the skin can\u2019t let in any of the benefits because the mineral oil is acting as a barrier. There is zero skin nourishment taking place.<\/p>\n This stuff is comedogenic (literally suffocates your skin) and can cause\u00a0pimples and blackheads<\/a>. While there is conflicting information about the risk of using\u00a0mineral oil and cancer risk,<\/a>\u00a0I choose to side with common sense and not put an oil derivative, no matter how refined it is, on my skin.<\/p>\n Natural Alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Look for ultra-moisturizing products with natural butters and oils. A couple of my favorite are coconut oil and shea butter.<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid:<\/strong>\u00a0ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate<\/p>\n These are harsh, sulfur-based synthetic detergents, many sourced from petrolatum, which strip hair and skin of moisture and oils produced by your scalp. The most common of these is sodium laurel sulfate. We have been conditioned (pun intended) to think that squeaky clean equals better performing products and this is reason why the same chemical companies making your dish detergent and toilet cleaner love to add the same harsh lathering agents to their shampoos and body washes. They are cheap to make and provide the consumer with the lathering action they think they need.\u00a0Yes, you will have the squeaky clean feeling, but all that signals is that natural oils, like sebum, (the oil produced by the scalp) has been washed away, leaving skin dry and hair dull and prone to frizz due to the ionic imbalance.<\/p>\n Natural Alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Look for plant-based cleansers (often coconut-derived). I use shampoo from brands like Rahua, Acure and Shea Moisture.<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid:<\/strong>\u00a0sulfates, parabens, crude oil-based ingredents, any ingredients with the clauses, \u2018PEG\u2019, \u2018xynol\u2019, and \u2018oleth<\/p>\n The FDA does not require this to be listed as an ingredient so refer to the list, above, to avoid. This chemical is a manufacturing by-product of crude oil-derived ingredients, including sulfates and phthalates. It can be removed, but many manufacturers\u00a0skip this step<\/a>, writing if off as low-level of exposure.<\/p>\n But these are the effects of long-term, repeated exposure reported by the\u00a0CDC:<\/a>\u00a0\u201cThe substance may have effects on the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. This substance is possibly carcinogenic to humans.\u201d Why risk it?<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid<\/strong>: anything ending in \u201c-paraben\u201d. The most common forms are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, or benzylparaben.<\/p>\n These are chemical additives used to prolong the shelf life of a product and prevent microbial growth and can be absorbed by the skin, digestive system and blood. Parabens have been linked to endocrine disruption by\u00a0mimicking estrogen<\/a>, strengthening the suggestion of the link to reproductive toxicity and breast cancer. According to Environmental Working Group,\u00a0a study found<\/a>\u00a0that traces of multiple types of parabens were found in breast tissue samples of 19 of 20 women with breast cancer, demonstrating that paraben molecules are in fact absorbed by the body and accumulate in breast tissue. \u00a0Another study\u00a0<\/a>found that higher concentrations of parabens are found in the\u00a0axilla quadrant<\/a>\u00a0of the breast (closest to the armpit). Did I mention that\u00a0parabens are major compounds in antiperspirants<\/a>?<\/p>\n Natural Alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Many natural products use tocopherol (vitamin E) as a natural preservative, which I use in many of my DIY recipes. Grapefruit seed extract and rosemary oil also have antimicrobial properties. Most natural products have a shorter shelf life than dirty products and this is a good thing. Think of it like the benefits of eating fresh food versus packaged.<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0“FD&C” or “D&C” colors.<\/p>\n These petroleum-derived dyes are everywhere, from our food, toothpaste to eyeshadow. Some dyes identified as carcinogenic have been banned by the FDA, but there are many still in use, like Yellow #5, which is\u00a0banned in some European countries<\/a>\u00a0due to its link to cancer, ADHD, and migranes.<\/p>\n Natural alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0look for natural or mineral colors or dyes such as Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Iron Oxide, Tin Oxide, and Ultramarines.<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid<\/strong>: Sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds, chemicals that include xynol, ceteareth and oleth, BPA, Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), fragrance<\/p>\n These chemicals of different classes are used in detergents, cosmetics, perfumes and air freshener to hold hold to synthetic fragrances and also are also added to plastics to make them softer and durable. Phthalates have been\u00a0banned in in the EU\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0along with nine other countries like Mexico and Japan. There has been a growing\u00a0amount of concern<\/a>\u00a0surrounding children\u2019s vulnerability to phthalates, interrupting hormones affecting their reproductive ability in adulthood. These chemicals are also known to mimic hormones, raising concern about\u00a0increased breast cancer risk.<\/a><\/p>\n Natural alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Reduce risk of exposure to phthalates in packaging by choosing products in glass packaging, where possible. Use unscented products or products using naturally-derived fragrance from essential oils.<\/p>\n Ingredients to avoid<\/strong>: \u00a0\u2018fragrance\u2019 or \u2018parfum\u2019<\/p>\n If the word \u2018fragrance\u2019 is in the list of ingredients, it is a HUGE RED FLAG and should actually say “a shit ton of chemicals that we don’t have to list”. Because fragrance is not regulated by the FDA, a company is not required to disclose the ingredients in their formula so phthalates and synthetic chemicals are hidden under the \u2018fragrance\u2019 umbrella. There is an average of<\/p>\n Natural Alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Essential oils blends scent most natural products. Any truly natural company will indicate whether the scent is sourced from essential oils. If only \u2018fragrance\u2019 or \u2018parfum\u2019 is listed, it is most likely synthetically-derived.<\/p>\n Commonly used in most conventional sunscreens, these chemicals penetrate the skin, enter the bloodstream and mimic estrogen. These can also trigger allergic reactions.<\/p>\n Natural alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Mineral sunblocks made with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and can be used, but clarify that they are non-nanoparticle. Nanoparticles can be absorbed by the skin and possibly enter bloodstream.<\/p>\n Update:<\/strong> The FDA finally banned triclosan from antibacterial soaps, but is still used in loads of other products, so read those labels!<\/p>\n This chemical is a harsh antibacterial added to soaps, household cleaners, even toothpaste and thousands of other products found around the house. Exposure is so common that it found in the blood, urine and breast tissue of\u00a0people around the globe<\/a>. Studies show that there is no added benefit to triclosan over plain soap and water. In fact, a study by the FDA found that the widespread use of triclosan has also\u00a0contributed to the evolution of \u201csuperbugs\u201d<\/a>, bacteria that is resistant to antibacterials, now a major public health concern. Even the\u00a0AMA recommends<\/a>\u00a0not using triclosan at home. And with this antibacterial being washed down the drain and into waterways, it is killing aquatic life, toxic to many plant species.<\/a><\/p>\n Natural Alternatives:<\/strong>\u00a0Stick with warm water and bar soap, like Dr. Bronners with Tea tree, a natural antibacterial. If you must use a hand sanitizer, make sure that the active ingredient is alcohol.<\/p>\n The Think Dirty App<\/a>\u00a0is one of my most used apps! Scan products with your phone to see the safety of a product. Each ingrdient is listed with a toxicity rating, explaining why. The app also automatically suggests safer products.<\/p>\n And when in doubt about an ingredient in a product, check Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep<\/a> website and check out their research and studies.<\/p>\nJust Say No: The Toxic List<\/h1>\n
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1. Petroleum\/Petrolatum<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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2. Sulfate<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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3. 1,4-Dioxane<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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4. Parabens<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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5. Synthetic Dyes<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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6. Phthalates<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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7. Synthetic Fragrance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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8 & 9. Oxybenzone and Benzophenone<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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10. Triclosan<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n