Eliminate the worst beauty and health offenders
Whenever possible, it is important to choose organic products---especially soaps and body-washes. Keeping in mind that our skin is our largest organ and the landscape of that organ is covered in pores, why slather on chemicals, artificial fragrances, stabilizers and fake colorings? The problem is that buying "organic" isn't as easy as it ought to be. Products with often very little organic ingredients masquerade themselves as all-organic with misleading packaging and mysterious chemical ingredients.
So how do consumers know what to buy? Kathy Shoemate, a partner and product developer for Illumina Organics, explains, "The federal government has defined the USDA Organic Certification as being products that have content that are 95% organic. What consumers don’t realize is that in many products, the active ingredients that do most of the work and pose the greatest danger, make up 5% or less of the product. An unethical manufacturer can fill their product up with huge amounts of say, organic aloe juice (water with a little aloe), then dump in a dangerous chemical and still make an organic claim. " Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green, compiled this well-researched list.
It's time to clear the air. Synthetic cosmetic ingredients to AVOID:
The Worst Offenders - (Listed in order of importance)
Fragrance or Parfum
The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. "There is no way to know what the chemicals are," says Shoemate "since on the label it will simply say, 'Fragrance'." Problems may include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation.
Parabens (methyl-,ethyl-,propyl,butyl,isobutyl-)
These are chemical preservatives that have been identified as estrogenic and disruptive of normal hormone function. Estrogenic chemicals mimic the function of the naturally occurring hormone estrogen, and exposure to external estrogens has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Triethanolamine TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Can cause confusion, fatigue, irritability and is toxic to the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
Triclosan Probable human carcinogen.
1,4-Dioxane Known carcinogen.
Formaldehyde Some preservatives can become formaldehyde-donors, in that they release small amounts of formaldehyde into the skin. Many preservatives are cellular toxins. Formaldehyde can cause many health issues including joint discomfort. Examples: DMD, HYDANTOIN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, AND PHENOXYETYHANOL.
P-Phenylenediamine Commonly found in hair dyes and is also known as 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine and 4-Phenylenediamine. Damages the nervous system and can cause severe allergies.
Diethanolamine (DEA) Hormone disruptor.
Hydroquinone Neurotoxin and possible carcinogen.
Nail polish chemicals to avoid: Toluene, DBP and Formaldehyde
ORANGE ALERT:
Nitrosamines
Cocamide DEH, Lauramide DEA, Cocamide MEA, Triethanolamine (TEA), Diethanolamine (DEA)
Mineral Oils
Liquid paraffin, Paraffin oil, Paraffin wax, Petrolatum
These coat the skin like plastic so it cannot breath. They can slow down the skin’s natural functions and cell development resulting in premature aging. Mineral oils can also be contaminated with PAH (Polycyclic, Armatic, Hydrocarbons), which can be carcinogenic. "Petroleum jelly," reports Sophie Uliano, "is now thought to be a probable carcinogen because of the way it is manufactured."
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES)
This ingredient is typically used to de-grease car engines in the shop! In personal care products, it can damage the immune system. It is particularly dangerous when it is combined with other chemicals, as it can become a nitrosamine, which is a carcinogen. According to the American College of
Toxicity. “SLS stays in the body for up to five days. It is easily absorbed through the skin.
FC&C/D&C Color
Animal tests have found these dyes to be carcinogenic. They are coal-based. FD&C Blue 1 is used in some toothpastes and FD&C Green 3, is used in mouthwash.
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG)
A potential carcinogen that is typically used as a grease- dissolving cleaner and a thickener for skin care products. Also look out for PROYLENE GLYCOL, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL. .
Talc
Contains a chemical that is similar to asbestos and can increase the risk of a certain ovarian cancers.
Acrylates, Methlacrylates
These are carcinogenic. The really great news is that with so much media awareness, many of the really cool products will tell you on their labels that they do not contain the following 3 additives so you won’t have to do too much squinting at the small print.
If your product isn’t listed and you are concerned about a particular chemical, visit www.scorecard.org and click on “chemical profiles”. This is an excellent pollution informational website where consumers can check your air, water, home and general environment for toxic concerns. Not that anyone should point any fingers, but users can type in a zip code and see exactly where all the most offensive polluters are located. See how your neck of the woods stacks up, toxicity-wise, against every other area in the U.S.
Read Taking the Harm out of Harmless Beauty Products and Top-selling products for naturally beautiful hair.
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Comments
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Small point: you state that the USDA defined "organic" as 95%. That is only true for food. If the personal care product has the USDA Org. seal than it is made of food ingredients that meet the food standard, so don't worry about the 5% in certified products. If it doesn;t have the seal, read the ingredients.
I really enjoyed the article posted regarding harmful ingredients in personal care products. It was very informative, and I believe you are absolutely correct about the negative impact that these chemicals can have on our bodies. I have discovered several amazing reports to validate your position, and I think you would find the information fascinating. I would love to discuss this further with you. Please email me at your earliest convenience at tdeann24@gmail.com. One report in particular is very serious in nature and was documented on CNN. I'll send you a link.
Excellent article and I am happy that you are informing consumers about the potential hazardous chemicals that they are unwitteningly putting on their skin. It was my goal, when I discovered this, to formulate products that contained no chemicals that were found harmful. The circle of green(circleofgreen.org) certifies products that contain no harmful chemicals and lists over 500 of them. I introduced my Organoderm Skin Care line last year. All my skin care products are certified by the Circle of Green and/or the USDA(containing 95%+ certified organic ingredients-can tell by the green USDA emblem)) which is still the gold standard as far as certification is concerned.
It made no sense to me to put ANY bad chemicals on the skin to try and "help" the skin! The ideal products are those that are not only effective but also are SAFE(No Harmful Anything) and HEALTHY(Organic) like my Organoderm products.
Keep up the good work! The more written, the more aware everyone will become!
On the Mrs. Murphy's website, they state that they do use SLES rather than SLS because it is a very effective cleaning agent and milder on the skin and has been used successfully for years. I use their countertop spray & love it but wonder if this is cause for concern. Thoughts? (I'm the LA Hot Mom examiner. You can email me at rachelintheOC@gmail.com.) Thanks!
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