Hello Ladies,
Nowadays we hear a lot about the danger of certain ingredients that should be avoided in our skin care products.
Paraben Free, sulfate free, organic, natural…Lots of vocabularies and logos that we sometimes don't really know the meaning of
So today in this article we will focus on 6 ingredients that can be toxic for your overall health.
Let’s dive into it with the well-known parabens!
⛔Parabens: Propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben and ethylparaben.
Parabens are used in cosmetics to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and fungi. They are strongly suspected of disrupting the endocrine system and causing cancers, particularly breast cancer. When applied on the skin, they penetrate deep, stay in the tissues of your body and can disrupt the hormonal system.
Please note, the words “paraben-free” on cosmetics are in no way a guarantee of safety. To replace them, manufacturers use other preservatives, just as harmful, like those we talk about below.
⛔Triclosan
Triclosan is a synthetic antibacterial agent recognized as an endocrine disruptor, which particularly affects the thyroid. It forms carcinogenic residues in the body, which can’t be eliminated.
It has been banned by the European Commission in cosmetics applied on a large surface and which remain on the skin, such as foot creams or body lotions. However, it is still authorized in toothpastes, soaps, deodorants, powders and makeup.
⛔Methylisothiazolinone
Known as MIT or Kathon CG are used as preservatives in moisturizing creams, baby wipes and shampoos for instance They are allergens and have been more and more used in cosmetics in recent years due to the questioning of parabens. These substances are very allergenic for the whole family, particularly in stay-on products which remain in contact with the skin for a long period. They are a very irritating preservative often found in shampoos, shower gels, skin creams and even baby wipes. It can also cause contact eczema which can appear in the form of red, itchy patches up to 72 hours after applying the product containing methylisothiazolinone
⛔Phenoxyethanol: Phenoxyethanol, EGPhE or phenoxytol
It is a preservative harmful to the liver and the blood. It poses carcinogenic risks as well as hormonal dysfunction in men by reducing fertility.
Some people are allergic and can develop eczema or hives upon contact with it. Also, this substance should be avoided even more with children (check wipes ingredients) whose tolerance threshold is lower than adults’.
⛔Formaldehyde
In cosmetic products, it is used as a preservative (one more!). Some studies show that formaldehyde is bad for your health. It is a carcinogen that can cause asthma and irritation. It is also neurotoxic.
⛔Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
In beauty products, BHA and BHT are present as antioxidant and stabilizer to increase the lifespan of products.
At the moment, the side effects are only hypotheses, but there are concerns about effects on the liver, on the endocrine system and carcinogenic properties.
There are other ingredients that we will recommend to avoid in your cosmetics products such as sulfates (SLS…) or silicones (dimethicone…).
It is well established that most of them are very harmful to the environment and that their manufacturing process is very polluting. They do not bring any benefits for your skin nor hair but and they pose more a risk but of allergy and irritation.
For me, there are 2 ways to avoid using beauty products containing these ingredients, or to use them consciously if that is your choice.
First, by buying organic or certified natural products containing natural yet effective active ingredients. You are almost sure that you will not find the ingredients described above in their ingredients ‘list.
Also, you can always check the composition of a product before purchasing it. There are a lot of good apps or websites out there!
Regarding the list of ingredients of a product, it should also be noted that they are listed in descending order of importance. So, in general, the first 3 or 4 ingredients compose more than 80% of the product. Below 1%, ingredients may be listed out of order.
This can help you decide to buy one product rather than another!
Care and beauty products as well as makeup stay on your skin for a long time and can also penetrate deeply. Having all the information to decide what to buy is a way to take care of yourself and your whole family. 🤗
