What Are You Feeding Your Skin?
Over 60% of what we put onto our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream and can build up in our tissues – its called “transdermal absorption.”
On average, we use approximately 10 cosmetic products daily … soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, body lotion, perfume/cologne/aftershave, facial moisturizer, lipstick/lip balm, hair styling products (gel, hairspray), etc. and expose ourselves, on average, to about 125+ different chemicals every day!
Note: studies are being done on the effects those chemicals can have on our bodies but no one is looking at the unknown effects of mixing those chemicals together and what harm and long-term effects those combinations can produce!!!
Below is a list of just a few of the most prevalent ingredients found in many “natural” body-care products and their effects on the human body … please read your labels carefully!
- Aluminum chlorohydrate – a neurotoxin that alters the function of the blood-brain barrier—Alzheimer’s disease & cancer. Widely used as an astringent in deodorants & antiperspirants
- Benzene – known to be carcinogenic. Harmful amounts may be absorbed through the skin—it is irritating to the mucous membranes and poisonous when ingested. Note: it is usually a trace element and will probably not show up in the list of ingredients
- Bismuth Oxychloride – put in mineral makeup cosmetics to give sheen to the face—soft to the touch & extremely inexpensive, it can be irritating to the skin. A by-product of lead & copper refining, bismuth oxychloride is a heavy metal. Studies have shown that heavy metals can lead to Alzheimers & Parkinson’s Disease
- Colours & dyes (FD & C or D & C) – artificial colours are made from petroleum & coal tar—believed to be cancer-causing agents. The molecular structure of these products are so small they can pass through the brain barrier
- DEA (diethanolamine) – a synthetic solvent, detergent & humectant widely used in brake fluid, industrial degreasers & antifreeze—found mostly in liquid soap, shampoo & conditioner. It can be harmful for the liver, kidneys & pancreas. Also avoid TEA and MEA
- Formaldehyde – sometimes listed under the name DMDM hydantoin or MDM hydantion—trade name is “Formalin” & is a common ingredient in shampoos. Mostly used as a preservative in shampoos, it is a suspected link to some cancers & can also cause a breakdown of DNA in the skin. Note: Because formaldehyde is often used as a preservative in lauryl sulphate & other surfactants, it is not often listed as an ingredient
- Mercury – used as a preservative & antibacterial in products such as mascara, eye drops & certain skin-lightening creams – can damage brain function even at low levels
- Nitrosamines – chemical compounds which form when certain proteins, such as diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA), are used in the same products as preservatives that can break down into nitrates. As these various compounds break down over time, they can recombine into nitrosamines * UK Department of Trade and Industry (now the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) characterizes nitrosamines as more toxic in more animal species than any other category of chemical carcinogen (i). Nitrosamines are common in cosmetics, but because they are impurities, they are not listed on product labels
- Para-Dioxane (also known as 1,4-dioxane) – known to be carcinogenic. Banned in Europe but estimated to be used in ¼ of all personal-care products sold in North America
- Parabens – are synthetic compounds used as preservatives in most beauty products. They may be listed as methylparabens, propylparabens, butylparabens and ethylparabens. Parabens may cause allergic reactions & skin rashes and have been found in breast-cancer tissue
- Phthalates – Sept/08 Alive magazine, Pg 83 “research has found that this preservative is an endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemical that can cause reproductive defects in the developing male fetus and cause early puberty in girls. The American Academy of Pediatricians Committee on the Environment in 2000 indicated that phthalates are carcinogens”
http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=414 - Propylene Glycol – is mostly found in cosmetic moisturizers, baby lotions, makeup, shampoos & hair conditioners. It is the main ingredient in anti-freeze, brake & hydraulic fluid. Material safety data sheets warn users to avoid skin contact … studies report “can cause liver abnormalities & kidney damage”. Note: it is used widely in baby wipes
- Sodium Lauryl Sulphate/Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) – make up 50% of most shampoos. Originally invented to clean garage floors, SLS has been linked to cataracts & can be carcinogenic (rapidly absorbs into the body). It is a skin irritant & may cause hair loss
- Triclosan – antibacterial compound found in cleansers, deodorants & cosmetics classified as a probable human carcinogen
- Toluene – solvent used to dissolve paint found in some nail polishes – high amounts can affect kidneys & cause birth defects