Unfortunately when it comes to beauty you don’t have the choice to buy directly from nature like you can with food. If you ever buy packaged food you know that you have to be a detective and read every single ingredient because there are so many things hiding in there.
We work hard to keep our bodies healthy but what about what we put on our skin, which is our largest organ? I’m hoping this list will make it easier for you to make better decisions about your beauty purchases.
I have been into healthy eating for a long time. However, around 10 years ago or so I decided to take a serious look at what products I was using on my face and body. There really is no point working so hard on a healthy diet and lifestyle just to smear a bunch of questionable ingredients all over yourself? Don’t you think?
IT IS NOT EASY
Let me tell you, it was not an easy task when I decided to look through my collection of beauty and skincare products. I consider myself a beauty and skincare junkie. I have loved Sephora from the time I walked into one when I was on my first trip to New York more than 20 years ago. I have spent A LOT of money there over the years. I never realized I was spending my hard earned money on products that could be detrimental to my health.
Tossing that first Chanel foundation into the trash was a struggle. However, by the time I was finished sorting through all my cosmetics and skincare products it was somewhat therapeutic and I really felt empowered to make better choices.
Getting rid of products with yucky ingredients was challenging, and finding non-toxic replacements was even more difficult. But over time I found safer replacements for all my favorite products. And 10 years ago there was not nearly the assortment of clean products on the market that there are now. Or the ability to purchase safe, non-toxic products from places like Sephora, Ulta and even Target. The market is flooded with clean products these days making it pretty easy to find something you will love.
DON’T TRUST THE PACKAGING CLAIMS, STILL DO YOUR RESEARCH
However, just keep in mind that even though a product may say organic, biodegradable, natural etc. It does not mean it is free of dangerous chemicals. Just like food you have to be vigilant. It is wise to read every ingredient on the label while doing a bit of detective work to ensure you are purchasing something that is as safe as possible. There are plenty of resources available to help with your detective work.
One of my favorite resources is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep. You can search by product or ingredient or search their library of EWG verified products. Some retailers and brands are labeling their products as EWG verified making the shopping process even easier.
I do know how challenging it is to be 100% perfect, but I think any step, no matter how small gets you closer to living a healthier life. Being a more informed shopper starts with education. So many people have no idea that chemicals in the products we use every day can be harmful to our health. Therefore, share this post with someone you think will find it helpful!
NOW FOR SOME STATISTICS
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The average American woman uses 12 beauty products just in the morning. With makeup touch ups and a second shower after the gym this can add up to hundreds of chemicals every single day. This statistic only covers women but some men and teens probably use close to the same number. In addition, babies and children come in contact daily with products such as baby shampoo, diaper cream and lotion. Don’t think products for kids are any safer. They are not!
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This may alarm you. It alarmed me the first time I heard it. Did you know the European Union has banned close to 1,400 ingredients? However, the United States has only banned or restricted 11? This statistic blows my mind and honestly makes me angry. We may think our country would want to protect us but the reality is it’s our job to seek out information and protect ourselves. The beauty industry in the US is very similar to the food industry. Many of the ingredients we put in our processed foods are NOT allowed in other countries. If there is anything I have learned on my healing journey from Ankylosing Spondylitis and Chronic Iritis it is you have to be your own advocate.
This post aims to inform you of the BIGGEST OFFENDERS so that you can make a better more informed decision. These are the top 6 toxic ingredients I avoid at all costs. You will find many more out there but I wanted to make this simple and give you a place to start.
Parabens
I think most of us have heard the word parabens by now because they are in a lot of beauty products out there. They are probably the first toxic ingredient I became aware of. I do think they are one of the top ingredients that manufacturers have been removing from their products. However, they are still readily used. I find they are usually at the end of the ingredient list and you will find them in multiples so they are pretty easy to spot. Some examples include ethylparaban, butylparaban, methylparaban and propylparaban. Parabens are a preservative added to help products have a longer shelf life. They are cheap for manufacturers to buy. Parabens have been found to be hormone disruptors and there is research out there that links them to certain types of cancer.
Phthalates (aka fragrance)
The most significant thing to note about phthalates is that they are extremely difficult to identify under a specific chemical name. More often than not they are listed in the ingredients as “fragrance”. Phthalates are added to a lot, if not all fragrances, perfumes, parfumes or anything with fragrance listed in the ingredients. So, if you see fragrance on the ingredient list you can pretty much assume phthalates are in there. Except if it is noted that the fragrance comes from, say, essential oils. Companies can use the term fragrance to protect their trade secrets so as a consumer there is no way to find out exactly what the ingredients are. Two of the most common ones are diethyl phthalate in perfumes and lotions and dimethyl phthalates in hair spray. The biggest concern with phthalates is that they are linked to bioaccumulation, which means they build up over time in the body.
PEG’s such as Propylene Glycol and Polyethylene Glycol
I did not know much about this chemical and sort of disregarded it in the past. After doing more research I have found it to be a huge concern and one I should mention. The biggest issue with PEG’s is that more times than not the chemical is found to have impurities such as heavy metals and the scariest, a known carcinogen called 1,4-dioxane. One thing to note here is that just because a product is labeled “natural” there is still a chance it contains PEG’s. My advice would be to stay away from all PEG’s regardless of how natural the product is.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
This chemical is what causes shampoos and hand soaps to foam. It is found in more than 90% of personal care and cleaning products. Therefore, you really have to go out of your way to avoid it. You can even find it in many products that are marketed as “natural”, so be sure to read the ingredients carefully. It tends to always be one of the first ingredients so it is easy to spot pretty quickly. SLS’s are known to irritate skin, eyes and the lungs and when they interact with other chemicals they can form carcinogens. Like PEG’s above contamination of 1,4-dioxane is of concern.
Triclosan
This ingredient was used heavily in anti-bacterial products as well as other consumer goods. There are concerns about this chemical increasing health risks and bacterial resistance as well as its effects on hormones. It also builds up in the body through bioaccumulation and has already been found in 75% of Americans. It was first registered as a pesticide in 1969 and technically still is if you can believe it! Minnesota banned it a number of years ago and the FDA a few years later. However, you can still come across older products in the market being sold on resale websites so I think it is pertinent to include this ingredient in this post.
Petrolatum
The market’s best known product containing petrolatum is Vaseline aka petroleum jelly. Vaseline specifically has said that their product is pure due to the triple purification process they use to remove any contaminants. If you feel comfortable applying Vaseline then it is probably fine. But, I would be cautious about generic versions of Vaseline and any product with petrolatum listed as an ingredient. Petrolatum is heavily used in both body moisturizers as well as lip products. The European Union classifies petrolatum as a carcinogen yet in the US we continue to use it in a large number of products.
I hope this post helps you to reconsider what products you are currently using and arms you with the information you need to make better more informed decisions about what personal care products you purchase.
TRY FOLLOWING THE “ONE IN ONE OUT” RULE
I know it’s not exactly realistic to just throw everything out and start over so my advice would be to follow the “one in one out” policy. Every time you run out of a product replace it with something healthier. Don’t forget, your skin is your body’s largest organ. It serves many protective functions and it’s imperative that we keep it in tip top shape so it can keep effectively doing its job.
If you are on the hunt for a simple, truly natural skincare line the one I have used for a long time and continue to see results from is Herbal Face Food.
If you want to learn more here are my reviews for The Serums, The Cure X Soap + The Cream.
In Love, Health + Gratitude,
Katie