Clean Beauty: 11 Highly Toxic Ingredients In Beauty Products
Are you trying to switch to clean beauty products but don’t know what ingredients look for? Here are 11 highly toxic ingredients in beauty products to avoid!
Every day, women use products such as lipstick, moisturizers and mascaras that are promised to make us more beautiful and increase our confidence.
What we don’t realize is these products contain chemicals that can affect our health and the environment.
On average, women use 12 beauty and personal care products and are exposed to a whopping 168 chemicals daily!
Consequently, these chemicals have been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, allergic reactions, and eczema and are potentially harmful to our overall health and well-being.
On the positive side, this toxin exposure is entirely avoidable if you know what ingredients to avoid when buying beauty products.
In this post, we review 11 of the most toxic ingredients in beauty products so you can live your cleanest and healthiest life.
Medical Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, doctor, or healthcare provider. The information provided on this blog is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions or taking actions based on this content. With Love Nicola is not responsible for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.
THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT 15 TOXIC INGREDIENTS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS
1) Sulfates
Other Names For Sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfates (ALS)
Sulphates are responsible for the lather in personal care products, such as toothpaste, shampoo, and body wash. They are added to products to create a foaming effect that gives you a “clean” feeling after use.
The issue with Sulphates is they can strip the skin of natural oils and create irritation.
Additionally, sulphates been known to cause allergic reactions and sometimes are contaminated with 1,4 Dioxane, which is a potential carcinogen.
2) Parabens
Other Names For Parabens: Propylparaben (or propyl 4-hydroxylbenzoate), Butylparaben (or butyl 4-hydroxylbenzoate), Ethylparaben (or ethyl 4-hydroxylbenzoate)
Parabens are a group of preservatives commonly used in beauty products such as makeup, soaps and skincare.
They have been known to cause allergic reactions, and skin irritation and can potentially disrupt your hormones.
With this in mind, avoiding Parabens in your beauty and personal care products is best. This is especially important if you wish to protect your fertility.
3) Formaldehyde
Other Names For Formaldehyde: Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl urea, Polyoxymethylene urea, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol), Glyoxal
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Formaldehyde? Personally, it’s a molecule I learned about in chemistry class that I would not voluntarily put onto my body.
So why is it present in so many of our personal care products today?
Formaldehyde is an inexpensive and effective preservative and, as a result, is often appealing to manufacturers when they are formulating their products.
Formaldehyde is a group one carcinogen, which means there is strong evidence that it is linked to many types of cancers.
In addition to being carcinogenic, it is also known to cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, respiratory irritation, and eye irritation.
It’s best to avoid formaldehyde when purchasing beauty or personal care products, as the risks far outweigh the benefits!
READ: The Best Non-Toxic Makeup Products To Add To Your Collection
4) Synthetic Fragrances
Other Names For Fragrances: Fragrance, Perfume, Parfum, Essential oil blend, Aroma
When trying to switch to clean beauty products, many brands that claim they are “clean” contain synthetic fragrances.
Synthetic fragrances have been linked to respiratory irritation, neurological effects such as migraines and have also been known to disrupt the endocrine system.
While many products contain synthetic fragrances, many clean beauty brands use natural scents derived from essential oils.
Avoiding synthetic fragrances is a great way to lower your toxin load to live a cleaner, healthier life.
5) Phthalates
Other Names For Phthalates: Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP, Fragrance, Parfum
Phthalates are used in many beauty and personal care products to make them more flexible or stable.
Unfortunately, phthalates are known to disrupt hormones, cause allergic reactions, are possibly carcinogenic and also can increase the risk of birth defects when exposed at high levels in utero.
In addition, phthalates are often disguised under “fragrance” or “parfum. This can make it difficult to identify when looking for clean beauty products.
When avoiding toxic ingredients in beauty products, it’s best to stick to reputable, clean beauty brands that avoid phthalates in their formulations.
READ: Better Than Botox: 11 Insanely-Good Natural Botox Alternatives
6) Talc
Other Names For Talc: Talcum powder, Cosmetic talc, Magnesium Silicate Hydrate
Another commonly used ingredient in beauty products is talc.
Talc is a mineral which is mined from the earth and is refined into a powder form. This is then added to powder makeup, dry shampoos, baby powder and more.
Although talc on its own is generally considered safe, it’s often contaminated during the mining process with a known carcinogen called asbestos.
This has been linked to respiratory irritation and various cancers. Consequently, 60,000 lawsuits have been filed against companies such as Johnson and Johnson for their use of contaminated talc in baby powders potentially causing various cancers.
When trying to cut down on toxic ingredients in beauty products, it’s best to avoid talc altogether, as it is hard to verify the purity. Instead, opt for alternatives such as rice starch, oat flour or cornstarch.
7) Oxybenzone
Other Names For Oxybenzone: benzophenone-3
Oxybenzone is a type of physical sunscreen that is widely used in cosmetics to block harmful UV rays.
However, in recent years it has been criticized for its potentially negative side effects.
When applied, Oxybenzone is rapidly absorbed by the skin and can be detected in the blood and urine. Although studies are limited, it can potentially be an endocrine disruptor due to how it mimics estrogen in the body.
It has also been linked to allergic reactions and can potentially cause cancer.
Another reason to avoid Oxybenzone is that it’s toxic to coral reefs. Studies have found that Oxybenzone found in the ocean can cause deformities in young corals, damages DNA and can cause coral bleaching.
This can be devastating to marine life, as so many species rely on the coral reefs for survival.
For this reason, Oxybenzone is banned in places such as Hawaii and parts of the Caribbean.
When buying sunscreen, look for mineral-based ingredients such as Zinc or Titanium Dioxide and look for “reef-safe” logos.
8) BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
BHA and BHT are antioxidants that act as stabilizers that are often added to various foods and cosmetics to help with preservation.
Studies have suggested that BHA & BHT can interfere with hormones, and cause allergic reactions. BHA also is classified as a possible human carcinogen.
For this reason, it’s best to avoid BHA/BHT and instead opt for products with natural antioxidants such as rosemary extract or vitamin E.
9) Petrolatum
Other Names For Petrolatum: Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin Oil, Mineral Oil, White Petrolatum
Petroleum, also known as petroleum jelly, is a common ingredient in cosmetics to help lock in moisture.
Although generally considered safe, Petrolatum is made from refined petroleum (oil) and has potential health risks. These include allergic reactions, skin irritation and possible cancer risk.
To avoid possible negative side effects, opt for products containing natural ingredients such as shea butter or beeswax.
10) Triclosan
Other Names For Triclosan: Triclosan (TSC) Triclocarban (TCC)
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that is commonly found in soaps. mouthwashes, and deodorants.
Although this ingredient can be beneficial to help stop the spread of bacteria and the growth of fungus, it can also have some serious side effects.
In the health community, triclosan has been flagged for various potential risks. These risks include Endocrine disruption (affecting the thyroid), skin irritation, allergic reactions, and is flagged as a potential carcinogen. The overuse of Triclosan can also cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
You can avoid triclosan by opting for products that use natural alternatives containing antibacterial properties, such as tea tree oil, lavender and rosemary.
11) Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)
Other Names For PEGs: PEG-40 Stearate, Dihydroxypropyl PEG-5 Linoleammonium Chloride, Ceteareth-30, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-12 PEG-50 Lanolin, Laureth-4, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
PEGS are derived from petroleum that acts as stabilizers that are commonly found in products such as shampoos, mascara, toothpaste and body lotions.
As they are derived from petroleum, they can contain trace amounts of 1,3-dioxane, which is a possible carcinogen. Furthermore, the structure of PEGS is highly absorbed by the skin, potentially letting harmful byproducts penetrate deeper.
