10 SKINCARE INGREDIENTS YOU DON'T WANT ON YOUR SKIN IF YOU TAKE YOUR HEALTH SERIOUSLY
Today we are spoiled for choice
when it comes to skincare products. Creams to target certain concerns or those
for general moisturising, they have their benefits clearly highlighted on
flashy packaging. As our attention span has shortened dramatically over the
last decade or two, that's all we need in our busy lives. We don't like to read
lengthy ingredients' lists which we don't even understand. If you care about
your health however, it's time you pick your face cream more wisely. Skincare
industry commonly practices the use of toxic and potentially harmful chemicals.
Therefore I have prepared a list of ten controversial ingredients for you to
learn more about. Check them out.
PEG
This mysterious three letter code
is a short for polyethylene glycol that is widely used in skincare or hair care
products. If you picked up a random product that you have in your bathroom,
you'd find this ingredient on the label. It's that popular. Do you use anti
freeze in your car? That's 100% all polyethylene glycol. In skin care, PEG is
used in lesser amounts to give the formula appealing texture and prevent it
from separation. All reliable sources insist on the fact there's not enough
evidence for PEG to be harmful when applied on the skin at low levels. If taken
internally however, it can cause liver toxicity or death. That's pretty scary
knowing that PEG is easily absorbed by the skin and it helps other ingredients
penetrate into the deeper areas of dermis. Avoid where possible.
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
I have not got much tolerance for
sodium laureth sulfates. A true black character amongst skincare ingredients.
What's worse, it's also very popular. You will find in almost every foaming
product you use, shampoos, shower gels, bath soaks and in toothpaste. Why is it
so famous? It effectively removes the
impurities from the skin and creates a desirable foam. On the other hand
though, it also strips the skin from natural protective lipid layer causing
severe irritations. It doesn't end here. SLS gets easily absorbed by the body's
internal organs, including brain, heart,
lungs, liver and eyes. Prolonged build up of this toxin will potentially
give you a serious health problems down the line. Not a good news at all, especially if you are a big fan of high foam
products. Any alternatives? Dry sand scrubbing anyone? Or, It's time to check
that natural black soap out.
PARABENS
Paraben family are utilised by
skincare industry to prolong the shelf life of the products. There is a lot of
disagreement in regards to the safety of these preservatives. The most commonly
found are methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Regulatory bodies
claim they are safe to use in beauty products. Independent sources state that
even though parabens aren't harmful as such, in combination with other
preservatives, they can release formaldehyde, a nasty chemical that is used to
embalm dead bodies for example. That's when the risk of cancer increases
dramatically and so is confusion as to which blend of chemicals is potentially
giving us one way ticket to the graveyard. We would need a lot of scientific
knowledge, private lab and a lot of spare time to identify whether our daily
face wash is an assassin. It seems like it's a wise choice to stick to paraben
free products.
SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE
Whereas parabens may not be as
bad as they sound, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate is without a doubt the
preservative to be avoided. It will irritate the most resilient of skins and it
will cause many more health problems. Don't be fooled by skincare companies
claiming it is a gentle preservative that comes from a natural amino acid.
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate requires complex processes to take place,
therefore its chemical structure changes into a nasty toxin that can transform
you from a healthy individual into an allergy prone weakling catching
infections one after another. Yes, it does stop unwanted microbes from growing
inside your cream but the negative side effects by far outweigh the benefits. STOP
using immediately.
BENZOPHENONE
This suspect is used in sun
blocking products. It will protect your skin from UV sun rays damage but it
will do much more than that. It has the increased ability to penetrate deep
into your blood stream, delivering nothing less than a huge cancer hazard. It
interferes with estrogen levels, spiking the risk of breast cancer. Life's
ironic side showing again here, you protect yourself from getting melanoma
whilst risking cancerous damage to inner organs of your body. There are many
types of sun blocking screens out there, but benzophenome is the one to be
dropped by all means. Some manufacturers may question that statement claiming
there's not enough evidence. Well, isn't it because the rats haven't even
survived the testing process?
MINERAL OIL
Mineral oil known also as a
paraffin oil or liquid petroleum is widely used in skincare, especially in baby
care products. It is a by product of gasoline. That's right, the one you use in
your car. To be honest, mineral oil originates from a naturally occurring
fossil fuel. It has to go through a radical purification process though to be
considered as a safe ingredient in skin care. Mineral oil is so popular because
it has one major benefit. It adds moisture to your skin at an instant and
visibly reduces lines. Unfortunately, it can also lead to the skin being too
moist, which will impair its natural biological cycle. As a result you may end
up with mineral oil dependant skin, unable to function and prematurely aged.
What's more, with different mineral oil grades available on the market that are
destined to be used in diverse industries, it is very difficult for us mortals
to identify whether the product we are just about to buy isn't contaminated
with cancer inducing toxins. No, thank you.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum based compounds found in
deodorants and feminine hygiene products
may be a threat to our hormonal system. Considering the fact that our body,
mind and soul are all under dictatorship of a balanced hormone level, we don't
want to interfere with its majestic powers by spraying some nasties all over
our skin. On the good note though, before you get rid of your favourite
anti-perspirant, aluminum can't be
absorbed through your skin, unless you spray on open wounds or cuts. Just
eliminate direct aftershave application and you can enjoy safer use of
deodorant. What gets absorbed through your nose though, is another story.
SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE
It is worth mentioning that
fragrance chemicals are used in almost every skincare or hair care product you
can find, surprisingly, even in the unscented type. Your beloved perfume may be
a mixture of hundreds of unique compounds. To escalate this issue to a panic
level, majority of perfume manufacturers never reveal the formula, making it a
trade secret. The exposure can lead to allergies, sinus problems, asthma, cancerous changes and nervous system
toxicity. Dietyl phtalate for instance, is used by companies to make the
fragrance linger on the skin. Not only does it linger, but also it flirts with
hormonal function of the wearer him/herself making it a very risky romance.
POLYETHYLENE
Polyethylene, in other words
plastic. Yes, to your astonishment,
plastic is used in cosmetics, namely in pressed powders, foundations, face
exfoliators, body scrubs, hair styling products and toothpaste. It works as an
emulsifier which means it binds oil with water based ingredients. Amongst other
uses like solids dilution, or thickening the formulas, it has some serious side
effects too. In labs, it proved to cause immunotoxicity and skin irritations.
Although polyethylene could not penetrate into the body through a healthy skin,
it was harmful when applied to open nicks or scratches. When inside ,
potentially resulting in tumour formation.
COCAMIDE DIETHANOLAMINE
Cocamide Dea is found in a range
of beauty products, face cleansers, shampoos, hand soaps, foundations and shave
creams. Number ten on our list is a
definite leader in carrying health hazards to its users. Cocamide dea has been
unanimously announced a cancer causing chemical. Backed by research and good
intentions - two key players within skincare industry Colgate-Palmolive and
Lush decided to drop cocamide dea from their ingredients reserves. As they
aren't exactly natural brands, it puts even darker shade on the chemical that
somehow did make it into our bubble bath.
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