Interesting Beauty Product Info
Now that I'm in my 30's, I've become a little more aware of what I put into my body, and what products I use on my body. I just recently found this article, which is a little lengthy, but I think is very important:
Eight Chemicals in Skin and Hair Products You Should Never Use:
1) Propylene Glycol – this is a cheap synthetic petrochemical used as an emulsifying base in creams and lotions to make the skin look smooth, but ultimately it ages the skin faster. It can denature the skin’s protein, leading to poor, saggy skin. It can be absorbed through your skin and potentially cause allergic reactions, and liver and kidney damage.
2) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – this harsh, caustic detergent is used because it’s cheap and sudses well. It’s used as an engine degreaser and garage floor cleaner but you’ll also find it in shampoo, soap, facial cleanser, etc. Research shows that SLS has a degenerative effect on the cell membranes and denatures protein such as in hair or skin. This can damage skin or hair, leading to aged skin and poor hair. SLS can corrode hair follicles and inhibit hair growth, contributing to hair loss. SLS has the potential to cause cataracts (through skin absorption, even without direct eye contact). SLS can denature the protein of the eyes and delay the healing time of the eyes. From skin contact, SLS can be absorbed into your circulation and concentrate in your organs, such as your heart, liver or brain. This is potentially dangerous since SLS is a mutagen.
3) Fragrance – When the word “fragrance” is listed on a label, it means a synthetic fragrance made in a test tube from any of over 200 synthetic chemicals. These “fragrance” chemicals, which can bio-accumulate in your organs, can cause many symptoms, such as headaches, lung problems, skin irritation, dizziness, memory impairment, rash, hyper pigmentation, vomiting, even potential brain damage and more. They are very cheap, toxic imitations of real herbal scents.
4) Mineral Oil – this cheap, petroleum-based oil clogs the skin’s pores and enlarges them, leading to poor, saggy skin.
5) Parabens (propyl, methyl, butyl, or ethyl) – these cheap preservatives are used to inhibit microbial growth in skin care or hair products even though they are known to be highly toxic.
6) Imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl urea – these are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. They are an established cause of contact dermatitis and release formaldehyde which is toxic.
7) Synthetic colors – synthetic colors are used in skin and hair care products to make them colorful. Avoid them at all costs, along with hair dyes (with the exception of some henna products.) They can cause allergy, skin, and nerve problems. Synthetic colors are labeled FD&C or D&C, followed by a number and color.
8) Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) – often used in the base of a product and to adjust the pH. DEA and TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and can be toxic if absorbed into the body over time. They are chemicals that react with other common shampoo ingredients to form potent cancer-causing agents known as nitrosamines.
In another article, I read it says to stay away from deodorants that have aluminum in them. Use herbal-based, non-aluminum products. Aluminum compounds have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
For sunscreen, don’t use products with padimate-O, which can damage DNA when it is exposed to sunlight. Benzophenones are also bad, causing cells to weaken or die. Use products containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide instead.
Following is a list of companies that use natural, non-toxic products, and are available at Drugstore.com
-Alba Botanica
-Avalon Organics
-Beauty Without Cruelty
-Burt’s Bees
-EO
-Ecco Bella
-Shikai
Eight Chemicals in Skin and Hair Products You Should Never Use:
1) Propylene Glycol – this is a cheap synthetic petrochemical used as an emulsifying base in creams and lotions to make the skin look smooth, but ultimately it ages the skin faster. It can denature the skin’s protein, leading to poor, saggy skin. It can be absorbed through your skin and potentially cause allergic reactions, and liver and kidney damage.
2) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – this harsh, caustic detergent is used because it’s cheap and sudses well. It’s used as an engine degreaser and garage floor cleaner but you’ll also find it in shampoo, soap, facial cleanser, etc. Research shows that SLS has a degenerative effect on the cell membranes and denatures protein such as in hair or skin. This can damage skin or hair, leading to aged skin and poor hair. SLS can corrode hair follicles and inhibit hair growth, contributing to hair loss. SLS has the potential to cause cataracts (through skin absorption, even without direct eye contact). SLS can denature the protein of the eyes and delay the healing time of the eyes. From skin contact, SLS can be absorbed into your circulation and concentrate in your organs, such as your heart, liver or brain. This is potentially dangerous since SLS is a mutagen.
3) Fragrance – When the word “fragrance” is listed on a label, it means a synthetic fragrance made in a test tube from any of over 200 synthetic chemicals. These “fragrance” chemicals, which can bio-accumulate in your organs, can cause many symptoms, such as headaches, lung problems, skin irritation, dizziness, memory impairment, rash, hyper pigmentation, vomiting, even potential brain damage and more. They are very cheap, toxic imitations of real herbal scents.
4) Mineral Oil – this cheap, petroleum-based oil clogs the skin’s pores and enlarges them, leading to poor, saggy skin.
5) Parabens (propyl, methyl, butyl, or ethyl) – these cheap preservatives are used to inhibit microbial growth in skin care or hair products even though they are known to be highly toxic.
6) Imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl urea – these are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. They are an established cause of contact dermatitis and release formaldehyde which is toxic.
7) Synthetic colors – synthetic colors are used in skin and hair care products to make them colorful. Avoid them at all costs, along with hair dyes (with the exception of some henna products.) They can cause allergy, skin, and nerve problems. Synthetic colors are labeled FD&C or D&C, followed by a number and color.
8) Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) – often used in the base of a product and to adjust the pH. DEA and TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and can be toxic if absorbed into the body over time. They are chemicals that react with other common shampoo ingredients to form potent cancer-causing agents known as nitrosamines.
In another article, I read it says to stay away from deodorants that have aluminum in them. Use herbal-based, non-aluminum products. Aluminum compounds have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
For sunscreen, don’t use products with padimate-O, which can damage DNA when it is exposed to sunlight. Benzophenones are also bad, causing cells to weaken or die. Use products containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide instead.
Following is a list of companies that use natural, non-toxic products, and are available at Drugstore.com
-Alba Botanica
-Avalon Organics
-Beauty Without Cruelty
-Burt’s Bees
-EO
-Ecco Bella
-Shikai
