Toxic Cosmetics Products to Watch Out For
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There are many chemicals found in your beauty products. From alcohol to zinc, it’s in there! You may be wondering if your cosmetics are toxic? Can they harm you and your family? Researchers say ‘yes’, they can!
The average American woman uses around 12 personal care products per day. The beauty business is a $50 billion industry with very little safety nets and seriously inadequate labeling requirements. Just think about this: since 1938, the FDA has banned only 8 out of 12,000 ingredients that are used in cosmetics. Know what to look for when it comes to toxic chemicals you are putting on yourself, your baby, or your dog or cat.
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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This is a chemical that is used as a thickening and foaming agent. It can be found in high concentrations in floor cleaners, degreasers, and other industrial products. It is also found in toothpastes, bubble baths, shampoos, and soaps. beauty A byproduct called 1-4 dioxane which is suspected as a carcinogenic item. This product is a known skin and eye irritant and is said to be carcinogenic if mixed with certain other chemicals.
Phthalates
This is a toxic chemical that is found in perfumes and other cosmetics. Phthalates are also added to plastics to make them more flexible, increase transparency, encourage durability, and make them last longer. Just about all plastics have these chemicals. These are said to ‘stabilize’ the smell of perfumes beauty and the color in cosmetics so they are often used in cosmetics. This product is said to be an estrogen mimicker that causes problems for the endocrine system. This leads to irritability, depression, and hyperactivity. In Europe, the phthalates DEHP, DBP, and BBP are banned for use in toys and cosmetics. Look for these on your labels – DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, or DNOP.
Lead
Even though lead has been banned from paint in 1978 in the United States and other places, it is not required to be listed as an ingredient in cosmetics, even if it is in them. Lead is a toxic heavy metal. Make sure your products are labeled as “lead free.” Lead poisoning can affect every organ of the body including the brain and kidneys and can cause irregular heartbeat, anemia, and high blood pressure.
Mercury
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal. This ingredient is said to lead to autism in children and cause brain damage. It is used in most vaccines and dental amalgrams. Mercury is found in mascaras and other cosmetic eye items, as well. Don’t use a product if it has mercurous chloride or thimerosal on the label.
Propylene Glycol
This chemical is related to anti-freeze and comes from petroleum beauty , a fossil fuel product. Propylene glycol is recognized as safe (by the FDA) to be in food, yet it has been linked to liver problems and kidney damage. What’s more, it is a known skin and eye irritant. It can be found in moisturizers, toothpaste, mouthwash, fragrance oils, massage oils, lotions, deodorants, and more. Monitor the label for Propylene Glycol, Proptylene Glycol, 1 or 2-Propanediol, PEG, or PPG.
Triethanolamine
This is an ingredient that is used as a pH balancer in many cosmetic items such as eye gels, skin lotions, shampoos, and shaving creams. This substance is thought to form carcinogenic compounds known as nitrosamines in the body. It is often abbreviated as TEA or TEOA on labels.
The ‘Parabens’
Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, and Ethylparaben are all in the class of chemicals called the Parabens. These are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics and medications. They are found in shampoos, shaving creams, moisturizers, personal lubricants, spray tanning solution, toothpastes, deodorants, and lotions. The Parabens have been linked to breast cancer, allergic reactions, and estrogenic activity.
Formaldehyde (Methanol)
This is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). beauty It is a chemical used as a preservative and it has been associated with cancer, asthma, developmental delays, and reproductive issues. It is used as a preservative in vaccines, nail polishes, shampoos, and bleach. Read the label for formaldehyde, formalin, formic aldehyde, oxomethane, or oxymethylene. Japan and Sweden has banned formaldehyde as a usable product.