Once upon a time everyone used only natural ingredients on their skin, but then one day some high powered, money hungry idiots came along and decided to throw in some toxic chemicals to make their products more appealing and "effective" while quietly side stepping the truth of what these ingredients were actually doing to our body.
I'm not gonna sugar coat things for you, I'm here to tell you the hard truth so that you have the opportunity to make better choices before it's too late. These ingredients are wreaking havoc on your endocrine system (the network in your body that produces hormones), causing issues with your respiratory system, giving you allergies and/or eczema and causing cancer! Yes, that dreaded c-word. These ingredients could potentially kill you! I think we can all agree that perhaps now would be a good time to start ditching them, right?
What's even more scary is that while you are pregnant these toxins pass the placental barrier into your unborn baby! It is a known fact that the average baby is born with over 200 chemicals in its umbilical cord blood! If that hasn't put the fear in you to stop using commercial products then I don't know what will.
In case you haven't managed to catch up to what these companies have been putting into their products, here's a list of the most toxic ten (there are many more than this) and next time you grab an item off the shelf make sure you take a minute or two to read the label on the back and if you see any of these listed then quickly put it back and run as far away from it as possible.
1. Fragrance: This particular category is pretty scary, because what does “fragrance” mean anyway? This term was created to protect a company’s “secret formula.” But as the consumer you could be putting on a concoction that contains tons of chemicals that are hazardous to your health. Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. It can be found in many products such as perfume, cologne, conditioner, shampoo, body wash and moisturizers; and household cleaning products.
2. Parabens: Parabens are widely used preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria, mould and yeast in cosmetic products. They possess estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. These chemicals are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumours. They can be found in makeup, body washes, toothpaste, deodorants, shampoos and facial cleansers. You can also find them in food and pharmaceutical products.
3. Phthlates: A group of chemicals used in hundreds of products to increase the flexibility and softness of plastics. They are known to be endocrine disruptors and have been linked to increased risk of breast cancer, early breast development in girls, and reproductive birth defects in males and females. Unfortunately, it is not disclosed on every product as it’s added to fragrances (remember the “secret formula” not listed), a major loophole in the law. They can be found in deodorants, perfumes/colognes, hair sprays and moisturizers.
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): This surfactant can be found in more than 90 percent of personal care and cleaning products (think foaming products). SLS’s are known to be skin, lung, and eye irritants. A major concern about SLS is its potential to interact and combine with other chemicals to form nitrosamines, a carcinogen. These combinations can lead to a host of other issues like kidney and respiratory damage. They can be found in shampoo, body wash/cleanser, mascara and acne treatment.
5. Flouride: Flouride is a neurotoxin and can be found in toothpaste and our water supply. Long-term ingestion is harmful to the brain, digestive system, heart, bones and even the tooth enamal it's supposed to help. It can weaken skeletal health, is toxic to the thyroid, calcifies the pineal gland, accelerates female puberty, is toxic to the kidneys and harmful to make and female fertility.
6. Formaldehyde: Yes - the same stuff used to preserve corpses is also used in a range of grooming products to help keep them fresh by preventing microbiological growth. Formaldehyde has strong links to asthma, neurotoxicity, cancer, and developmental toxicity.
7. Mineral Oil: Mineral oil is a clear, odourless liquid that has been used routinely for many decades in a wide variety of grooming products. It is cheap, fragrance-free and colourless, doesn't oxidize, and can easily be kept for a long time - making it very popular in the grooming industry. Mineral oil is an occlusive emollient, meaning that it helps to keep your skin hydrated by locking in moisture by forming a barrier on your skin's surface. Exposure to mineral oils is strongly associated with an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, particularly the scrotum. So stop putting vaseline on your son's nether regions!
Mineral oil is listed as:
- paraffinum liquidum
- petrolatam
- cera microcristallina
- microcrystalline wax
- ozokerite
- ceresin paraffin
- paraffin
- synthetic wax
8. Oxybenzone: Oxybenzone is most often found in sunscreens. It "absorbs UVB and UVA ll rays, resulting in a photochemical excitation and absorption of energy. Upon return to the ground state, the absorbed energy results in the emission of longer wavelength radiation and decreased skin penetration of radiation which reduces the risk of DNA damage." Meaning, it helps to protect your skin against UV rays, such as UVB and UVA rays. Oxybenzone has been found to be an endocrine-disrupting compound, i.e. interfere with your hormones. Note: Hawaii has banned oxybenzone from sunscreens because of its harmful effects on the coral reef, specifically its bleaching properties.
9. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT): BHT is a synthetic preservative that disrupts hormones, induces allergic reactions, and disrupts testosterone level. Long-term exposure to high doses of BHT causes liver, thyroid and kidney problems in mice. You can find BHT in moisturizers, antiperspirants and exfoliators.
10. Triclosan: The cosmetic industry uses triclosan as a preservative to stop bacteria from growing on the product and spoiling it. It's a biocide (a product that controls harmful or unwanted organisms through chemical or biological means) in many other personal care products such as deodorants, soaps and shower gels. It strongly connects with the weakening of the immune system, uncontrolled cell growth and developmental and reproductive toxicity. You can find them in antibacterial soaps, deodorants, face washes and shower gels.
Now that you know what to look out for, it is your duty as the gatekeeper of your family to keep these toxins as far away as possible and switch to products that contain only natural ingredients, of if that isn't possible then at least choose products that have less toxins than the ones you are currently using.
Know better, do better.