Skincare's Dirty Dozen May 17 2016

Do you know what to look for when purchasing safe skincare and personal care products?  Unfortunately many products are labeled “gentle” “natural” and “organic” but still contain toxic and potentially harmful ingredients.  Because the industry is not well regulated many companies are misleading consumers with their labels claiming to be safe when in reality they are really not much better than all the other products out there.  Many companies get away with using the word organic on the label if 70% of it is certified organic.  Unfortunately this leaves 30% of the ingredients that can potentially be toxic.

Our skin absorbs the products we apply topically and when toxic/harmful ingredients get into your bloodstream they can cause all kinds of problems, from allergies to hormonal disruption and even cancer.  Not only can these chemicals be toxic to your body but they are often harmful to the environment and wildlife as well.

Because most people aren’t experts on ingredients it’s nice to have an Esthetician who you can trust to point you in the right direction, or a company you completely trust to purchase from.  But if you are out shopping on your own you should at least know the top ingredients to avoid in your skincare and personal care products.  Here is the Cosmetic Dirty Dozen:

 

  1. BHA and BHT - Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to the environment and wildlife.
  2. FD&C colors and pigments (coal tar dyes) - Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colors listed as "CI" followed by five digits. The U.S. color name may also be listed (e.g. "FD&C Blue No. 1" or "Blue 1"). Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain.
  3. DEA, MEA and TEA – Suspected carcinogens used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Easily absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in the organs and brain. Harmful to the environment and wildlife.
  4. Phthalates - Used in many personal care products. Suspected health affects include damage to liver and kidneys, birth defects and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to the environment and wildlife.
  5. DMDM Hydantoin and Urea - Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which can cause cancer, joint pain, headaches, allergies and more.
  6. Parabens - Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Have been found in breast cancer tumore. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions.
  7. Fragrance - Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as "unscented." Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma and some are linked to cancer. Some can be harmful to the environment and wildlife. Look instead for products fragranced with essential oils.
  8. PEG (propylene glycol) - Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with dioxane, which may cause cancer.
  9. Petrolatum - Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. Can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
  10. Sunscreen chemicals – Look for avobenzone, benzphenone, ethoxycinnamte and PABA. These are common ingredients used in sunscreens that are known free radical generators and believed to damage DNA and possibly lead to cancer.
  11. Sodium laureth sulfate -Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also look for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate.
  12. Triclosan - Used in antibacterial products, such as toothpastes, cleansers, antibacterial soaps and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Also has been linked to cancer. Harmful to the environment and wildlife.