Figuring out how to find the right skincare for your skin is a task on its own and can be extremely overwhelming. Even for someone like myself, who is a self-declared skincare junkie. On top of having to navigate through the thousands of “amazing, skin changing” products that are on the market, it’s also important to understand which products can cause more harm than good.
The world of cosmetics and the products on the market are BIG BUSINESS, and more often than not the products we all use and love are filled with ingredients that are toxic to our health and actually create skin issues we never had. Unfortunately, beauty brands are smart and have found ways to deceive us with great marketing and packing to assume the products they’re selling are safe to use. The regulations for the chemicals and ingredients in beauty products are pretty much non-existent. Actually, in Europe, where there are much stricter regulations, there are over 1300 chemicals banned for use in cosmetics whereas only 11 have been banned in the US.
It is worth mentioning that the word natural means nothing when it comes to cosmetics and is used to make consumers believe they are making the “natural” choice but really it holds no bearing and is misleading.
All this to say, we have to be our own advocates and get a better understanding of what to avoid. I have rounded up a list of common ingredients to look out for in your everyday skincare and makeup products that are toxic, bad for the skin and our health.
FRAGRANCE
For the most part, your cosmetics shouldn’t have a scent. Synthetic or even “natural fragrance” is abrasive on the skin, toxic and brands aren’t required to list what is actually inside these fragrances. This is a great way for brands to hide chemicals behind the term “fragrance” such as allergens and irritants.
PARABENS
Parabens are preservatives found in everything from soap to lotion to makeup. If it has water in it, it probably has a paraben to keep it from growing bacteria. Examples include: methylparaben, propylparaben, isopropyl paraben, and isobutyl paraben. If “paraben” is in the word, avoid it. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body and can lead to hormonal imbalances.
SLS- SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
SLS has been linked to skin irritation, canker sores, disruptions of skin’s natural oil balance and eye damage. It is also widely believed to be a major contributor to acne (especially cystic acne) around the mouth and chin. This is ingredient is often found in shampoos, toothpastes, body wash and foundations.
PEGs- POLYETHLYENE
PEGs are often used to thicken products; they are also those tiny plastic beads in face or lip scrubs and exfoliating washes. Not only bad for the environment but also bad for your skin. These are synesthetic chemicals that can be considered a carcinogen and should be avoided.
OXYBENZONE/ AVOBENZONE
Oxybenzone is found in sunscreens and is a chemical that acts like estrogen in the body, alters sperm production in animals and is associated with endometriosis in women. Studies on cells and laboratory animals indicate that oxybenzone and its metabolites may disrupt the hormone system. It also has high rates of skin allergy. Using a chemical-free, mineral based sunscreen is a much better choice. Click here to see my personal favourites.
PHTHALATES
A phthalate is a plasticizer that is added to plastic to keep it from becoming brittle. Phthalates are used in cosmetics primarily in fragrances and can also be found in other personal care products, such as hair spray and nail polish. Examples include: DBP, DEHP and DEP. Like parabens, phthalates are endocrine disruptors and can cause hormonal and reproductive problems and birth defects.
The list goes on but this is a great place to start when looking to clean up your cosmetics and make better choices. I will continue to expose harmful ingredients as I learn more about the ones to avoid. Let me know of other ingredients you are aware of, that should be avoided in the comments below.
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