Nasty skincare ingredients to avoid for healthy skin - part two!
Last week we wrote about chemical skincare ingredients you should be avoiding. Bad news is, there's more. My advice, check your labels now and start looking at alternatives.
Sulfates
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are detergents & foaming agents that pose serious health threats. This is always the first product I advise people to cut from their routine. I personally find that anything with SLS or SLES aggravates my eczema so badly. I avoid it at all costs.
Animals exposed to SLS can experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because essential proteins are dissolved (and yes, it is included in many baby care products too). SLS may also damage the skins immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame. SLS has been linked to being carcinogenic. Your body may retain the SLS and it may enter and maintain residual levels in the body causing organ toxicity & disruption of hormones as it is an endocrine disruptor.
SLS + SLES are used in car washes, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and in up to 90% of personal care products - that is a RIDICULOUS amount. This includes shampoos, hand wash, body wash, toothpaste and basically anything that foams. These ingredients are also used by many companies, even ‘natural’ brands that you would think would avoid them, so definitely be vigilant when checking labels.
Parabens
Parabens are used as a preservative in cosmetics. Look for methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben on the label. Parabens are commonly found in many lotions, shampoo, conditioner, deodorants, makeup & skincare- some estimates say up to 85% of personal care products contain these ingredients. Again, a RIDICULOUS amount. This is because when water is added to a product it makes it highly susceptible to bacteria. Some products are up to 90% water, and parabens are added to combat this and extend the shelf life.
Parabens have been found in breast cancer tumors & are deemed to be xenoestrogens- which means they mimic estrogen in the body. Estrogen disruption has been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues and it is unclear whether we can properly process and expel parabens or if they build up in the body. To be safe go for natural products without water listed as an ingredient- this reduces the risk for preservatives like these.
Check out our all natural products - we don't use water as a filler and this reduces the need to add in artificial preservatives.
Petro chemicals
Ok so this one really grinds my gears- and I have definitely fallen victim to using petroleum based products without knowing in my time.
These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and be toxic to the kidney, brain and respiratory system. Petroleum by-products coat the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. In face many plastics are made from petroleum by products. They interfere with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne, blackheads and other skin conditions.
There are a lot of products out there that use petrochemicals in various forms, including baby oil which is up to 100% mineral oil! One product to especially look out for is lip balms. If you have to re apply 20 times a day because your lips feel dry, but you are staying hydrated, and your lip balm has no ingredients list you can bet your bottom dollar it's petrochemical based.
One in particular to look out for is the Australian cult favourite red tube of 'ointment'. It usually feels awesome at first- have you ever managed to spill petrol on yourself? It actually feels quite silky and soft. But in the long term it can have negative effects on your health, is super drying and slows down skin function and cell development- which accelerates aging. Look out for petroleum, mineral oil, certain alcohols, or terms ending in “anol”, like isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol, methyl alcohol or methanol, butyl alcohol or butanol, ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and be toxic to the kidney, brain and respiratory system. Petroleum by-products coat the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. In face many plastics are made from petroleum by products. They interfere with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne, blackheads and other skin conditions.
Try to look for products with vegetable based oils like almond, coconut, avocado, rosehip, argan and hemp- but avoid products labeled ‘vegetable oil’ as this can be code for palm oil (this also applies to food products).
Synthetic dyes
It takes up to 25 synthetic chemicals to create one artificial die. Look out for any term that begins with “F&DC”, usually followed by a color and a number. If a product is purple, it could potentially have 50 or more chemicals just in the color. As we've mentioned last week, if an ingredient makes up less than 2% of a product it legally doesn't need to be listed on the label.
You’ll find them in soaps, lotions, shave gels, toothpastes, shampoos, styling creams, face creams, toners, cleansers, bath gels, and more.
Many are made of coal tar, and may contain heavy metal salts like arsenic and lead that can deposit toxins onto the skin. These toxins increase your risk of skin sensitivity and irritation, and are known for blocking pores and increasing the risk of acne, blackheads and breakouts. If they’re included in products you leave on your skin, such as moisturizers and masks, they may be absorbed into your body where they can cause additional damage. Certain colors can be absorbed into the skin and cause depletion of oxygen in the body, and some studies (on animals) have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic- just another reason to avoid them!
Most manufacturers of cosmetics don’t believe we are in danger from these colours because artificial colors make up only a small amount of cosmetic formulations. However researchers haven’t determined is the risk of long-term use, particularly of several colored products a day.
The good news is we refuse to use any of the following ingredients in our products! We have high standards and choose oils and plant based extracts to create the best formulations, for the best results. View our naturally nourishing range.