21 toxic chemicals in cosmetics and skin care products to avoid
There is a variety of cosmetics and skin care products in the market. How to choose right ones? You may be a wise user when picking organic products. Actually, you should also identify whether they are really safe ones or not. This article will help you have an overview & get list of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and skin care products to avoid, plus some guidelines in choosing safe and natural products.Toxic Chemicals In Cosmetics And Skin Care Products To Avoid
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Cosmetics are personal care products we put on the body for the sake of beauty, anti-aging, health and self-confidence such as makeup, deodorant, nail polish, shampoo, hair conditioner, hair gel, sunscreen, toothpaste, aftershave and the list still goes on and on.
Serious problems come when these products contain toxic chemicals that are linked to allergies, headache, birth defects and cancer.
I. List Of Top 21 Toxic Chemicals In Cosmetics And Skin Care Products To Avoid
Here is a full list of the most common and dangerous toxic chemicals you should check out:
1. BHA
BHA is used mainly in makeup and moisturizers as preservatives. This chemical is suspected to cause endocrine disruptors and can cause cancers. BHA is not only harmful to human but also be the same with fish and other wild animals.
2. Coal Tar Dyes
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Colors and p-phenylenediamine are often listed as “CI” (Color Index) and it is followed by a 5-digit number. Beside coal tar dyes, inorganic and natural pigments used in beauty products are also assigned CI numbers in the 75000 & 77000 series.
When choosing hair dyes, look for p-phenylenediamine types and other products which colors are listed as CI with 5 digits.
3. DEA
This is a 2-dimensional structure of diethanolamine (DEA). It is a contaminant that is associated with lauramide DEA and cocamide DEA. These ingredients are used as foaming agents and emulsifiers in a variety of products such as shaving creams, shampoos, moisturizers and baby washes.
DEA may be absorbed through the skin and act like a carcinogen and be converted into nitrosamine. DEA is also considered a hormone disruptor that robs choline for our fetal brain development.
DEA is harmful to fish and many other animals.
4. Dibutyl Phthalate
This chemical is used as a plasticizer in nail care products. It is suspected to cause reproductive toxicant and endocrine disrupter. Dibutyl phthalate is also harmful to under water wildlife and other animals.
5. Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
When shopping, look for some ingredients such as diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, quarternium-15 and methenamine in a variety of cosmetics and beauty products. If possible, release small amounts of formaldehyde that causes cancer.
6. Parabens
Parebens chemical is often used in cosmetics as preservatives. It is suspected to cause endocrine disrupters and linked to male reproductive dysfunctions.
7. Parfum
Pay attention to parfum ingredient in any mixture of fragrance even in products that are marketed as unscented. Parfum can cause asthma and allergies in some people. It is also linked to neurotoxicity and cancers, harmful to under water lives and other animals.
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
8. PEG Compounds
They are commonly used in cosmetic cream bases. They are related to propylene glycol and may be contaminated with dioxane (1,4) and cause cancer.
9. Petrolatum
This ingredient is often used in hair products for shine and used as a moisturizer in lipsticks, lip balms and various moisture products. Petroleum can cause cancer as it is contaminated with some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
10. Siloxanes
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Pay attention to siloxanes in ingredients that are ending in “methicone” and “siloxane”. Siloxanes is often used in numerous cosmetics to moisten, soften and smoothen. Like dibutyl phthalate, this chemical is suspected to cause reproductive toxicant and endocrine disrupter.
11. Sodium Laureth Sulfate
This chemical is used in many foaming cosmetics such as facial cleansers, shampoos and bubble bath. It can be contaminated with dioxane (1,4) and cause cancer. Be careful to read labels and avoid using this ingredient and other ones with the letters eth.
12. Triclosan
Triclosan is used in different anti-bacterial cosmetics like cleansers, soaps, bosh washes, deodorants, toothpastes and antiperspirants. This chemical is suspected to cause endocrine disrupter. Some anti-bacterial agents in triclosan can be absorbed through skin and secreted in breast milk. These ingredients can be carcinogenic and toxic. A study has indicated that triclosan can interfere with testosterone functioning in body cells. Triclosan can kill good bacteria and pathogens, hence actually increase susceptibility to the infection. Cosmetics and beauty products with triclosan may increase the development of bacterium resistant strains.
13. Butyl Acetate
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Butyl acetate is used to strengthen and polish nails. Its vapors can cause drowsiness and dizziness. The frequent use of nail care products containing butyl acetate can cause skin crack and dryness.
14. Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Butylated hydroxytoluene is included in many personal care products and cosmetics. It is actually an antioxidant which helps in slowing the rate of color changes over time. However, this ingredient may cause eye and skin irritation.
15. 1,4-Dioxane
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
1,4-dioxane is a contaminant associated with sulfate, sodium laureth, PEG, and ethoxylated ingredients with letter ending in eth. Those ingredients are included in many personal care products such as body washes and shampoos.
1,4 dioxane is really dangerous. This chemical is known to cause cancer both in human and animals.
16. Methanal
Methanal is a chemical compound. It is used as a preservative and disinfectant in many cosmetic products such as soaps, nail polishes, deodorants, shaving creams, eyelash adhesives and shampoos. Even if methanal is not listed as an ingredient in labels, it still results in the breakdown of other chemicals such as diazolidinyl urea, quaternium compounds and imidazolidinyl urea.
Formaldehyde has been banned in cosmetics and personal care products by the European Union as it’s associated with various health concerns like respiratory tract, eye irritation, immune system, cancers, triggering asthma and genetic damage.
17. Fragrance
The “catch-all” name fragrance often is used as an ingredient in cosmetic products. In fact, artificial fragrance is an agent causing cancer. It indicates a certain amount of chemicals included in that product.
Most fragrances are toxic and they don’t come from natural materials. Some may be phthalates that act as obesogens, causing obesity and may disrupt your normal endocrine function including your reproductive health. Plus, phthalates may cause developmental delays and defects.
18. Lead
Lead occurs as a contaminant like in hydrated silica. Lead acetate is also included in toothpastes, lipsticks, men’s hair dye and women’s foundations.
Lead is actually a neurotoxin. This chemical can cause developmental delays and brain damage, even at low concentrations.
19. Mercury
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Mercury is a heavy metal. This ingredient is allowed to use in eye makeup such as mascaras at concentrations of 65 parts/million by The FDA.
Mercury is related to many health concerns such as skin irritation, allergic reactions, bioacculumation, toxicity, neurological damage and environmental damage. This chemical passes into human body through skin, so a normal use of mercury containing products results in exposure.
20. Talc
Talc is often used in eye beauty and other cosmetic products such as baby powders, soups and deodorants that provide sparkle in eye shadow and on skin.
Talc may act as a carcinogen and directly associate with ovarian cancer in women. Similarly, talc may act to asbestos and lead to the lung tumors formation.
21. Toluene
Toluene is known as toluol or methylbenzene. It is found in hair dyes and nail polishes to improve adhesion as well as add gloss.
Toluene is toxic and it can associate with developmental and reproductive damage. Toluene is also carcinogenic, causes decreased fertility and causes liver and kidney damage.
II. Toxic Chemicals In Cosmetics & Skin Care Products To Avoid – Some Advices In Choosing And Consuming
Getting clear about the list of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and skin care products as well as their harmful effects to your skin and health. Use less commercial products, if possible, consume organic or homemade natural products. For more details, you should pay attention to the following advices:
1. Avoid Artificial Fragrance
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Artificial fragrance may contain hundreds, even thousands of toxic chemicals, a major cause of allergy conditions. When a personal care product includes parfum or fragrance as an ingredient, avoid buying it. All companies aren’t obliged to tell us what exactly makes it smelly, and as you know, this is often applied to perfumes you like to wear.
2. Use Truly Natural Or Organic Beauty Products
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
Read product labels to get specific information about ingredients rather than looking at claims like “natural” or “organic”. A certified organic product must have 95% or more of organic ingredients. Actually, claims such as “made with natural ingredients” or “made with organic ingredients” still leaves harmful synthetics. Many toxic chemicals such as parabens and phthalates are found in common shampoos, makeup, lotions and other beauty products. Look for natural ones or make your DIY with household ingredients.
3. Avoid Toxins From Sunscreens
Avoid spraying and powdering with zinc oxide as it can be inhaled. Avoid oxybenzone or use a sunscreen without this chemical as it can be absorbed through the skin, cause hormone disruption, link to cell damage and cancers.Make sure that your sunscreen has at least 7% of zinc oxide.
When placing shampoo and conditioner onto scalp, keep in mind that about 20 blood vessels, about 650 sweat glands, and about 1,000 nerve endings are soaking in toxins.
If possible, reduce your frequency of washing hair weekly, just 3 times, instead of 5 times or daily. In addition, choose natural products to wash your hair such as vinegar and care for your hair with natural coconut oils, olive oils or other essential moisturizing oils you have.
Many commercial beauty products include endocrine-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens that increase women’s breast cancer risk. Look for products with fewer chemicals, simple ingredients to reduce both the quantity of chemical you will be exposed.
I’ve listed out the list of top 21 toxic chemicals in cosmetics and skin care products to avoid, plus some suggestions on choosing safe cosmetic and personal care products. It’s hoped that you found useful information after reading.
Leave your comments at the end of this post of how to be more productive to let us know what you think. We will answer all as soon as possible.
4. Avoid Toxins From Shampoos And Hair Conditioners
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| List of toxic chemicals in cosmetics & skin care products to avoid |
When placing shampoo and conditioner onto scalp, keep in mind that about 20 blood vessels, about 650 sweat glands, and about 1,000 nerve endings are soaking in toxins.
If possible, reduce your frequency of washing hair weekly, just 3 times, instead of 5 times or daily. In addition, choose natural products to wash your hair such as vinegar and care for your hair with natural coconut oils, olive oils or other essential moisturizing oils you have.
5. Use Fewer Cosmetic Products With Simple Ingredients
Many commercial beauty products include endocrine-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens that increase women’s breast cancer risk. Look for products with fewer chemicals, simple ingredients to reduce both the quantity of chemical you will be exposed.
I’ve listed out the list of top 21 toxic chemicals in cosmetics and skin care products to avoid, plus some suggestions on choosing safe cosmetic and personal care products. It’s hoped that you found useful information after reading.
Leave your comments at the end of this post of how to be more productive to let us know what you think. We will answer all as soon as possible.
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