7 Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Your Beauty Products
When it comes to makeup and skincare, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. That’s why we encourage you to check your labels for these common culprits from in everything from makeup and skincare to household products like detergent.
1, 4 dioxane
A report found that 65 of 80 household products tested contain the known carcinogen 1,4 Dioxane. Short term exposure to this toxin has been linked to irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. It is also a suspected skin and kidney toxicant. Because 1,4 dioxane is a byproduct, the FDA and EPA do not require manufacturers to list the chemical in ingredient lists.
Read your labels and look out for ingredients that include “xynol”, “ceteareth”, and “oleth”. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also commonly contaminated with 1, 4 Dioxane. Be sure to check body washes, soaps, baby products and even kids cosmetic products.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Look out for SLS & SLES in products that lather and bubble (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, facial cleanser, etc). This toxin has been linked to skin irritation, eye damage, canker sores, birth defects and cancer.
Dimethicone
Dimethicone is used to create a soft feeling on the skin and hair, and is often found in conditioners, facial serums, and even sunscreen. This ingredient can cause skin irritation and sometimes acne, as it blocks your pores and traps bacteria beneath its synthetic barrier. Dimethicone is also an endocrine disruptor and can impair fertility.
Read your labels and look for: dimethicone, methicone, phenyl trimethicone, cyclomethicone, dimethiconol, and dimethicone copolyol.
Nitrosamines
Nitrosamines are linked to cancer, believed to cause endocrine disruption, and create toxic build up in the liver, bladder, and other organs.
Read your labels and check for MEA (monoethanolamine), DEA (cocamide diethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine) and watch out for ingredients ending in -amine.
Formaldehyde
Yes, you read that right. Your products could be contaminated with formaldehyde, and it isn’t even required by law that companies tell you.
Read your labels and look out for: Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal.
Aluminum & Other Heavy Metals
Found in deodorants, antiperspirants, eyeshadow, concealer, lip products, and more, heavy metals (lead, aluminum, arsenic, mercury, zinc, chromium, and iron) accumulate in the body and take longer to flush out, which means longer exposure to these toxins.
Aluminum exposure has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and interference with estrogen levels. When your body can’t process estrogen properly, there’s a higher risk for breast and prostate cancer.
Read your labels and look out for: Aluminum, aluminium flake, aluminum, LB Pigment 5; Pigment metal 1; A 00; A 95; A 995; A 999; AA 1099; AA1199, lead acetate, lead flake, chromium, thimerosal, hydrogenated cotton seed oil, and sodium hexametaphosphate
PEG Compounds
Most commonly found in skincare, hair care, makeup, baby care products and contact lens cleaners, PEG compounds can be contaminated with 1, 4 Dioxane at the top of this list. They can also cause skin irritation, and even allow other chemicals to more readily absorb through the skin and into the body, especially when used on damaged or broken skin.
Read your labels and check for: PEG-(followed by a number), polyethylene glycol, PPG, polypropylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a related ingredient.
Is your beauty routine in need of an upgrade after reading this?
Check out these references and sources for more information:
