Here are 10 harmful ingredients
to look for in your hair, skin, nail and other personal care products. If your
products contain these, throw them out.
1. Formaldehyde: A known carcinogen and
irritant found in nail products, hair dye, fake eyelash adhesives, and some
shampoos. Banned in the EU.
2. Fragrance/Perfume: A source of hidden chemicals such as phthalates, which have been
linked to hormone disrupting effects. Fragrance is also connected to headaches,
dizziness, asthma, and allergies.http://www.fda.gov/downloads/cosmetics/productsingredients/ingredients/ucm377016.pdf
3. Lead: A known carcinogen and hormone disruptor found in certain
eyeliners, hair dye, and lipsticks but never listed because it’s a contaminant,
not an ingredient. The FDA has not set limits for lead in cosmetics.
4. Mercury: A known irritant and
allergen that, with body accumulation over time, can impair the brain and
nervous system. Found in skin lightening creams, mascara and some eye drops.http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=700.13
5. Parabens (Propyl-, Isopropyl-, Butyl-, and Isobutyl-): Used as
preservatives, found in many products. A study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2004 detected parabens in breast tumors and discussed the
estrogen-like properties of parabens. While this doesn’t create a direct
connection with cancer, I recommend avoiding these ingredients until research
shows their safety.
6. Oxybenzone: Active ingredient in chemical sunscreens that accumulates in
fatty tissues and is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, cellular damage,
low birth weight.
7. DEA/TEA/MEA (Ethanolamines): Used as emulsifiers and
foaming agents for shampoos, body washes, soaps and topical application has
been associated with cancer in animal studies.(http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm109655.htm)
8. Sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate
(SLS, SLES): A former industrial
degreaser now used to make soap foamy, it’s absorbed into the body and
irritates skin.
9. Coal Tar: A known carcinogen
banned in the EU, but still used in North America. Used in hair dyes. Also, a
coal-tar hair dye containing p-phenylenediamine (PPD) can cause dangerous skin
reactions in some people.
10. Diethylene glycol (or DEG): A Central Nervous System
depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin. Sometimes found in fragrances.
Glycerin and Propylene glycol are sometimes contaminated with DEG, which are
common ingredients in personal care products.
These are just 10 of the
many possible ingredients that have been linked to harmful health effects. The
concern is that skin care ingredients are not well regulated by the FDA, so we
need to be careful. I’m not intending to scare you, but I just want you to be
aware so you can make smart choices.
Scientists have found some
of the ingredients above, like phthalates and fragrance components, in human
tissues and samples, so it’s safe to say they’re being absorbed through the
skin. These ingredients reach the bloodstream and, once there, have been linked
to hormone disrupting effects.
Why is this a problem?
Because research shows that these and other hormone disrupting chemicals have
been linked to a number of health problems including infertility, lowered sperm
counts, obesity, diabetes, thyroid imbalance, and certain types of cancers.
In addition, some
ingredients have been linked to birth defects, low birth weight and preterm
birth of babies whose mothers use them during pregnancy. Some of the research
is from animal studies, but I suggest we not wait for human studies to take
precautions now.
