Toxic Ingredients In Skin Care Products
Parabens
What are they? Most widely used preservative in cosmetics.
Why are they harmful? Mimics estrogen and can be a contributor to hormonally induced cancers. They damage beneficial active ingredients.
DEA (diethanolamine)
What is it? Organic compound that makes cosmetics creamy or sudsy.
Why are they harmful? Exposure to high doses can cause liver cancer and precancerous changes in the skin and thyroid.
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
What are they? Synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives and to aid in formula stability.
Why are they harmful? Long-term exposure can cause liver, thyroid and kidney problems as well as affecting lung function and blood coagulation.
SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
What are they? A detergent to make products bubble and foam.
Why are they harmful? Damages the skin’s immune system. Can be retained in the skin for up to five days, during which time it may enter the heart, liver, lungs, and brain.
Petroleum
What is it? A crude oil used as a barrier to lock moisture in the skin and to make your hair shine.
Why is it harmful? Can be contaminated with cancer causing impurities. Can cause skin irritation and skin cancer.
Phthalates (Used since the 1950’s)
What is it? A solvent for dyes and as a plasticizer that prevents nail polishes from becoming brittle.
Why is it harmful? Interferes with hormone function which can harm unborn children and impair fertility. May also cause liver and kidney failure in young children when chewing on teething rings.
Mineral Oil (Most harmful when poorly refined)
What it is? A component of engine oils and pesticides used as a preserving agent that assists in retaining moisture in skin creams and lotions.
Why are they harmful? Is associated with cancer. Habitual use can cause skin absorption, affecting the liver. It clogs pores and interferes with the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders.
Oxybenzone and Avobenzone (In chemical sunscreen)
What is it? Organic compounds that absorb into the skin.
Why are they harmful? A chemical reaction occurs when uv light activates these ingredients. Causes free radicals which has the ability to attack DNA cells, it is a contributing factor in the recent rise of melanoma and breast cancer.
Heavy Metals: Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Nickel and More
What are they? May be an added ingredient or a by product of contaminants in color additives.
Why are they harmful? They build up in the body and are known to cause varied health problems, which include: cancer, neurological problems; memory loss; mood swings; nerve damage.
Aluminum
What is it? A metal that forms a plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat which forces toxins to flow back into the bloodstream.
Why is it harmful? Linked to Alzheimer’s and brain disorders and a possible risk factor in breast cancer.
Hydroquinone
What is it? A lightening agent for hyperpigmentation.
Why is it harmful? Can cause pigmentation to become a permanent. Promotes cancer and organ toxicity.
Talcum Powder
What is it? A mineral mined from the earth used in baby powder and mineral makeup.
Why is it harmful? In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos which cannot be removed which can cause ovarian cancer and lung cancer.