INGREDIENTS TO AVOID

You’re familiar with patches...for smoking, birth control etc.? It is now a scientific fact that what we put on our skin is absorbed by our bodies. So it stands to reason that what you slather on your body in the name of beauty is also absorbed into your skin. The results can cause allergies, asthma, eye irritations, skin rashes, skin irritation, dryness of skin, hair loss, dandruff, headaches, dizziness, rashes, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, breast cancer, male reproductive problems and/or toxicity of the body.

Take care...try to avoid these common ingredients:

FD&C colour pigments ~ often made from coal tar, these artificial colourings can cause skin sensitivity and may be carcinogenic. FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3 are carcinogenic, and D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 5, and FC&C Yellow 6 have been shown to cause cancer when applied to the skin. Some artificial coal-tar colors contain heavy-metal impurities, including arsenic and lead, which are carcinogenic (and toxic in other ways as well). Since moisturizers lie on large areas of the skin for extended periods of time, exposure time is increased.

Imidazolidinyl urea (Germall II) and diazolindinyl urea (Germall 115) ~ these are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just over 10° F.

Isopropyl alcohol ~ a petroleum-derived solvent found in hair rinses, hand lotions, and shaving products.

Mineral oil (also listed as Liquidum paraffinum, Paraffin oil, Paraffin wax, Petrolatum) ~ a petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. It interferes with the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Baby oil is 100% mineral oil.

Parabens - Methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl ~ used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Leave-on products such as facial makeup and skin lotions are of greatest concern because of the long exposure time and opportunity for migration via the skin into the bloodstream. The recently discovered estrogenic effects of parabens, and their subsequent effects on the endocrine system of humans and wildlife, is of growing concern—especially in relation to women’s risk of breast cancer. According to study published in 2004 in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, parabens have been found in tissue samples from human breast tumors. Reproductive abnormalities in young boys exposed to such chemicals either prior to puberty or as fetuses also may increase risk for undescended testicles, testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders.

Petrochemicals ~ any petroleum-derived compound, usually identified on labels by the prefixes or suffixes propyl-, methyl-, eth-, or -ene.

Petrolatum ~ mineral oil jelly. Causes many problems when used on the skin. It can produce photosensitivity (sun damage) and it tends to interfere with the body’s own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. Creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is extremely inexpensive.

Propylene glycol ~ ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions. An active ingredient in industrial antifreeze, propylene glycol may cause kidney and liver abnormalities and damage cell membranes, resulting in rashes, dry skin and surface damage to the skin. Glycol ethers are often used as solvents in cosmetics. Some glycols can affect the reproductive system or cause birth defects, and overexposure can result in kidney damage and liver abnormalities. Glycols may also cause contact dermatitis. Avoid the following: EGPE, EGME, EGEE, DEGBE, PGME, DPGME; and those with methyl in their names.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) ~ used to break oil or help thicken products, this ethozylated wetting agent for detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers, and solvents is sometimes contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a potential carcinogen that can penetrate the skin.

PVP/VA Copolymer ~ a petroleum-derived chemical used in hair sprays, perms and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since particles may contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs of sensitive people.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ~ this synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf (similar to dandruff) and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation “comes from coconut”.

Synthetic fragrances ~ The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. Manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients used in “fragrance,” but common ingredients also include methylene chloride, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl alcohol and benzyl chloride, all of which are hazardous. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say “fragrance”. Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation etc. Phthalates, a family of chemical plasticizers that are used in personal care products to moisturize skin and as a solvent, are almost synonymous with fragrance. Phthalates have been shown to cause birth defects, reproductive impairments, and liver damage in lab animals. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fragrance is the number one cause of allergic reactions in cosmetics. Look for “fragrance-free” skin care products or ones scented with essential oils.

Sunscreens ~ moisturizers with SPF offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays, but some sunscreens come with risky side effects. For instance: benzophenones (benzophenone-3, homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate)) have shown estrogenic activity in lab tests. Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 are chemicals that have the potential to damage DNA when illuminated with sunlight. On the skin’s surface, the chemicals do protect from UV damage, but once absorbed, these same chemicals can prove destructive. Dr. Knowland, a biochemist at Oxford University, has studied both of the chemicals mentioned above and warns, “DNA damage inflicted by an excited sunscreen is much less capable of being repaired by naturally occurring repair mechanisms than the DNA damage inflicted by UV alone.”

Triethanolamine ~ often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (sterate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. 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.