We’ve all heard about watching what we eat, but what about your skincare products? A lot of harmful ingredients are used in the production of some skincare products. Some of them are even directly linked to cancer!
The worst part of it all is that the cosmetics sector isn’t well-regulated. For starters, cosmetics don’t need FDA approval before they go into the market, and the FDA can’t force them to recall products. Shocking, but true. So, choosing safe products for your skin falls to you, which starts with knowing what to avoid.
We’ll show you some ingredients you might find in your lotion or makeup that are wreaking havoc in your body. These include:
Parabens
These are a group of chemicals that are widely used as preservatives in cosmetic production. They prevent harmful bacteria from growing in your skincare products. They seem nice, don’t they?
Well, parabens can also mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen in the body. That would cause a disruption of hormone production in both males and females, leading to fertility issues. They might also cause cancer.
You can find parabens in almost anything from hair products to lotion. They can be in the form of Methylparaben, Propylparaben, or butylparaben. Here’s a rule of thumb, if there’s ‘-paraben’ in the name, don’t use it.
Toluene
This is a solvent used mainly in hair dyes and nail polish. Toluene can irritate the skin and respiratory tract, and in dire cases, it can cause respiratory complications.
It is even worse if you’re pregnant because toluene can also retard the development of your unborn child. As an expectant mother, it’d be best if you laid off the nail polish.
Diethanolamine
You might see this one as Dea on the labels. It acts as a foaming agent in cosmetics. So, you can find it in soaps, bubble baths, and detergents.
Diethanolamine can cause cancer after prolonged usage. The European Union has restricted its use, but it is still freely applied in the U.S.
If you see cocamide or lauramide DEA on product labels, do leave them on the shelf too.
Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent used in soaps, lotions, antiperspirants, and many other products. It was banned from use in household soaps by the FDA in 2016, but it still finds its way into personal cosmetics today.
Triclosan increases the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, making them harder to eliminate. It also causes hormonal imbalances.
That said, don’t use Triclosan.
Phthalates are used as preservatives in cosmetics. These have also been banned in the EU but are still found in U.S products.
They can cause hormonal disruptions, which could lead to infertility. It affects males more than females. Phthalates may also cause cancer.
You can find them in products as ‘phthalate,’ ‘DEP,’ ‘DBP,’ and ‘DEHP.’ Phthalates can also be found in some fragrances.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) compounds.
These are used as moisture-carrying agents or softeners in some moisturizers. Sadly, they do their work a bit too well.
PEG compounds are penetration enhancers. They make it easier for substances to enter the body through the skin. These may include toxic substances.
Siloxanes act as lubricants in cosmetics. They are bad ingredients that you can find in lotion, foundation, deodorant gels, and moisturizers.
These compounds are hormonal disruptions, but that’s not all. They are also persistent and can accumulate to toxic levels in the environment.
They can be found in products as cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and Cyclopentasiloxane (D5).
Conclusion.
Skincare products are great. They make you look pretty and give you a little boost of confidence to tackle your day. Something so great shouldn’t be the cause of health problems. You need to avoid these bad ingredients and make sure they are not in your skincare products. At Laudee, you can be sure to get products that are free from harmful chemicals because we care. Check out our extensive catalog for safer beauty products. You’ll be glad you did.
©2022 by Laudee Group