9. Lead
Lead is found in lipsticks, eye-liners, foundation and whitening toothpastes. Lead is not directly added to lipsticks but is a major contaminant in colorants used in lipsticks. Love wearing lipstick to work every single day? We do, too! And we needed this reality check!
Lead is a heavy metal that is naturally found in the earth’s crust. We are already exposed to enough lead in our air, food and water. The U.S. FDA (food and drugs association) regulates cosmetics and has allowed lead in 0 to 20 parts-per-million (ppm).
10. Chemicals In Sunscreens
Chemicals like PABA, benzophenone, oxybenzone, ethoxycinnmate and homosalate are used in sunscreens. They are believed to absorb light, but they cause more damage to the body instead of protecting. These sunscreen chemicals are endocrine disruptors.
11. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
PEG is used as a thickening agent in skincare products like lotions, sunscreen and shampoos. It can cause cancer and respiratory disorders. It can also strip off the natural oils (sebum) from your skin and trigger the sebaceous glands (oil-producing glands) to make more sebum that can make the skin greasy.
12. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is often used as a preservative in skincare. It is a colorless gas and is used to prevent the growth of bacteria. Formaldehyde can be found in nail polishes, hair straightening treatments, hair gels, nail hardeners, shampoos, deodorants, lotions and makeup. It is associated with developmental toxins, hair loss, scalp burns, asthma and neurotoxicity. When inhaled, formaldehyde can cause dizziness and suffocation.
13. Diethanolamine
We love the foaming cleansers, body washes and shampoos. Don’t we? But are you aware of the ingredient that helps in foaming. It is diethanolamine. It is a foaming agent that is commonly found in body washes, shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. It is a cancer-causing agent and a respiratory toxin.
14. Alcohol
Alcohol is a common solvent in skincare products. It is helpful in absorbing the products better and hence, a great fit for certain creams and lotions. But alcohol is a toxic skincare ingredient. Alcohol (drying alcohol) in skincare can leave the skin dry and flaky. It disrupts the skin renewal process. However, not all alcohols are bad for your skin. Fatty alcohols are derived from natural fats and oils and are great moisturizing agents.
15. Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is used in skincare for skin lightening. It is used to treat pigmentation related to acne scars, freckles, melasma, age spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone functions by reducing the melanin pigment-producing cells (melanocytes).
However, hydroquinone is a known carcinogen. Prolonged use can lead to whitening of the skin, as it reduces melanocytes to a great extent.
16. Petrolatum
Petrolatum has a softening effect and is recommended for dry skin. Lip balms and moisturizers contain petrolatum. While it creates a barrier to prevent water from escaping, it also prevents absorption of moisture from the air. Your skin drys out eventually and this is the reason why you are tempted to reapply your lip balm. Also, if not refined well, harmful chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be retained in it.
How Do I Know If A Product Contains Harmful Chemicals?
- Read the labels on your skincare products before you buy them.
- SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) are the common sulfates that you spot on the labels of your shampoos and other personal care.
- Chemicals under methyl, butyl, propyl classes fall under parabens.
- Toluene is often labelled as benzene, phenylmethane, toluol and methylbenzene.
- PEGs can be spotted as numbers like 100, 120, 14M, 30, 32, 40, 75 and so on.
- Formalin, formaldehyde, glyoxal and bronopol on the labels of skincare products indicate formaldehyde.
- Diethanolamine is abbreviated as DEA on skincare products.
- Ethanol, methanol, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol are all drying alcohols.
- Mineral oil, benzene, paraffin wax and compounds that end in -eth are also petrolatum ingredients.
- FD&C or D&C represent artificial colors. F means food and D&C means drugs and cosmetics.
- Look for beauty brands that are transparent and disclose all their ingredients.
- Consider natural brands that are not just safe, but also contain potent ingredients.
- Don’t be quick in judging a natural brand as some of the natural, plant-derived ingredients can also turn out to be an irritant for you.
What Are Non-Toxic Skin Care And Makeup?
Non-toxic skincare ingredients include everything that is not a red flag ingredient. These ingredients are not hormone disruptors, carcinogens or allergens. They are safe to use and are not listed as toxic by environmental agencies. Most of the natural ingredients from plant sources come under the category of non-toxic skincare and cosmetic ingredients.
The makeup and skincare industry will not make it a priority to make us aware of what goes into their products. But we should. Do your own research, switch to safer ingredients for a healthy skin and body.
SOURCE: ttps://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/toxic-chemicals-in-cosmetics
