ingredients to avoid
Research has shown the amount of people with eczema, allergies and skin complaints is growing at an alarming rate.
If you decipher the ingredient list on the skin care products in the mainstream market today, it is not surprising this is occuring.
The following explains the list of preservatives and other additives contained in the majority of skin care products offered commercially. This list is only a small snapshot of ingredients found in skin care products:
Preservatives
Alcohol denat, BHT, EDTA, polythene glycol and many more. These chemicals are very toxic and can be skin irritatants.
Fragrances & Perfumes
Synthetic fragrances and perfumes are mostly toxic solvents that accumulate in fatty tissue and are toxic to many of the body's internal organs. They are easily inhaled and absorbed into the skin, but take a long time to be removed. They are also known environmental pollutants.
Petrochemicals
Petrochemicals ingredients include perfum, fragrances, petrolatum, mineral oil (used in baby oil), paraffin and propylent glycol. These are by-products of the petroleum industry. They coat your skin like plastic wrap, interfere with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins and contribute to acne and premature ageing.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Another widely used harmful ingredient which is also used commercially to remove grease from car engines and also as an industrial cleaner. It is used in laboratories to illicit skin reactions for testing and has been linked with cancer. It can have a drying effect on the skin that can cause irritation.
A very drying and dehydrating solvent which strips your skin's natural acid mantle makin gyou more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses. Used as an anti-bacterial agent in skin care products. It may promote brown spots and premature ageing of the skin. It is obtained from petroleum and is also used in anti-freeze.
Including ethyl paraben, butyl paraben, methyl paraben and propyl paraben. Parabens are synthetic preservatives and are used to extend the shelf life of products. They are easily absorbed into the skin and have been known to cause skin irritations and rashes. They have also been shown to disrupt hormone activity and lower fertility.
Found in products such as toothpaste, soaps, shower gels, shampoos, bubble baths and baby products. When combined with other chemicals they can create nitrosamines, a potent form of carcinogens (cancer causing).
Found in sun lotions, lipstick, face creams and mascara. Can be a possible allergen, cause contact dermatitis and has been linked to possible reproductive problems.
Obtained from sheep fat/wool. The majority of lanolin used in skin care is contaminated with organo-phosphate pesticides and insecticides.
Registered as a pesticide by the EPA. This ingredient is toxic and suspected of causing cancer and hormonal disruption in humans. It is used as a synthetic 'anti-bacterial' ingredient and is found in most anti-bacterial soaps and lotions.
Used in skin care to adjust the pH level. Also used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate) which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of the hair and skin and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time. These chemicals are restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects.
Check the products currently in your bathroom and you may be surprised to learn what you have been unknowingly feeding into your body. Not a very desirable pathway to healthy skin!