Photo by – womensvoices.org
1. Formaldehyde is a chemical that can cause:
- Joint pain
- Skin allergies
- Depression
- Headaches
- Lung cancer, leukemia and asthma
- Eye, nose, ear and throat infections
- Dizziness
- Chronic fatigue syndrome and more
- Reproductive, developmental, neurological and immunological toxicity
This toxic ingredient is commonly found in:
- Cosmetics
- Moisturisers
- Hair products
- Shower gels
- Liquid hand soaps
- Cream cleansers
- Nail polish
2. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
This surfactant can be found in more than 90 percent of personal care and cleaning products (think foaming products).
A major concern about SLS is its potential to interact and combine with other chemicals to form nitrosamines, a carcinogen. These combinations can lead to a host of other issues.
Found in:
Anything that foams
- Shampoo
- Body washes
- Face washes
- Soaps
Side Effects:
- Skin irritations
- Slow skin healing processes
- Lung irritations
- Eye irritation
- Adversely affects hair growth
- Kidney and respiratory damage
Checkout Sage Journals – International Journal of Toxicology
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10915818309142005
3. Parabens
Parabens are widely used preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast in cosmetic products. Sounds good, right? Not so fast, they do more than that. Parabens possess estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with increased risk of Breast Cancer.
These chemicals are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumours.
Found in:
- Makeup
- Body washes
- Deodorants
- Shampoo
- Facial cleansers
You can also find them in food and pharmaceutical products.
Side Effects:
- Skin aging
- DNA damage
4. Petroleum, Paraffin, Mineral Oil
Petrolatum, or petroleum jelly, derived from petroleum, is often used in personal care products as a moisturizing agent.
Petrochemicals are incredibly pervasive in beauty products; so many common ingredients are derived from them. A huge health concern with petroleum products is that they can generate 1,4-dioxane, a substance known to potentially contribute to some cancers. It’s also a kidney toxin, neurotoxin, and a respiratory toxin, not to mention a leading groundwater contaminant. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that an alarming 22 percent of all conventional personal care products contain unsafe levels of 1,4-dioxane. EWG also found that “these trace contaminants in petroleum-based ingredients often readily penetrate the skin…and their presence in products is not restricted by government safety standards.”
Is Petroleum bad for your skin?
Though generally regarded as safe, the components that are removed from the oil during the refining process of petroleum jelly are carcinogenic in some cases…. Petroleum jelly can create the illusion of moisturized, hydrated skin, all the while suffocating your pores.
Found in:
- Makeup products
- Body washes
- Baby oil
- Hair conditioners
Side Effects:
- Prematuring aging
- Health and skin disorders
- Such as contact dermatitis
5. Synthetics Fragrance
This particular category is pretty scary, because what does “fragrance” mean anyway? This term was created to protects company’s “Secret Formula”
But as the consumer you could be putting on a concoction that contains tons of chemicals that are hazardous to your health. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database, fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. It can be found in many products such as perfume, cologne, conditioner, shampoo, body wash and moisturizers.
Found In:
- Personal Care products
- Perfumes
Side Effects:
- Hormone disruption
- Headaches and dizziness
- Skin rashes and irritations
- Hyperpigmantation
