Ever glimpsed at the mind-boggling ingredients list on a shampoo bottle?

If so, you'll have noticed a string of chemicals that are almost impossible to pronounce.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only banned nine ingredients in hair and skincare products:

• Bithionol

• Chlorofluorocarbon propellants

• Chloroform

• Halogenated salicylanilides

• Hexachlorophene

• Mercury

• Methylene chloride

• Vinyl chloride

• Zirconium

You don't have to worry about any of these ingredients. A company can get into a lot of trouble if they use any of the above in their products.

Worryingly, though, the only thing the FDA regulates in skincare products are color additives. Some color additives are proven toxins. Manufacturers can use whatever they want, and they can cover up some ingredients by using the descriptor “fragrance.”

Since the hair and skincare manufacturing industries are largely self-regulated, this means many chemicals make their way into our products.

Not enough people are aware that the products we use every day like deodorant, shampoo, conditioners, and lip balms might be making us ill.

Chronic conditions are on the rise. Cancer, thyroid issues, infertility, diabetes, and ADHD are all conditions affected by the hormones. Chemicals such as formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates are known “endocrine disruptors.” The body responds by producing more estrogen, which can increase the likelihood of chronic health conditions.

We use on average around nine personal care products each according to a study conducted by EWG. Between these products, the average adult is exposed to 126 different ingredients.

We use these products to feel better about ourselves. We try to take care of our skin and hair with products because our skin is the largest organ of our body and toxins enter our body through pores.

However, the concentration levels of these chemicals in personal care products are not considered harmful. If it's a dense product, it won't be absorbed into the skin and the risk is extremely low.

Light body lotions and moisturizers are more easily absorbed into your skin and your bloodstream.

These toxins may be in very low concentrations, but they can build up gradually in the body and attach themselves to our DNA.

Some chemicals are too large to enter the bloodstream through the pores. It’s still best to avoid using products containing these chemicals for your peace of mind. If you're aware of which ingredients are carcinogenic, you can avoid them altogether.

When you buy any skin or hair care products always look out for certain chemicals that may be harmful to your health. Better still, look for completely natural products.

So which toxic trespassers are hiding in your bathroom cabinet?

 3 Harmful Chemicals In Beauty Products

Three common ingredients proven to be carcinogenic or toxic and still used in products are:

1. Formaldehyde

2. Parabens

3. Phthalates

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is typically used to manufacture building products like plywood, particleboard, glues, and insulation materials. It's also commonly used as a preservative in shampoo, conditioner, soaps, lip balm, and sunscreen.

Formaldehyde is also found in the environment, and it's naturally produced in the body. We all produce a small amount of formaldehyde.

According to the US Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde naturally occurs in the environment at safe levels (less than 0.03 parts per million (ppm), both indoors and outdoors.

This chemical breaks down quickly in the air and dissolves in water.

So, why should we be worried about formaldehyde?

Personal care products such as keratin hair smoothing products, conditioner, and shampoo contain very low levels of formaldehyde that aren't considered harmful to health. That said, the use of these chemicals can temporarily raise the levels of formaldehyde in the air. This is a potential health hazard that could be a health hazard.

Formaldehyde can be harmful if it is present at levels higher than 0.1 parts per million. When inhaled, it can cause breathing problems, especially if you have asthma, and can irritate the skin and eyes.

Formaldehyde is known to cause cancer. In skincare, they are called formaldehyde releasers. When we use lotions that contain formaldehyde releasers we put them on our skin and the releasers go into the air.

Formaldehyde is most toxic when inhaled.

Parabens

All hair and skincare formulations need preservatives.

Parabens (short for p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters) are preservatives found in skin and hair care products. They prevent the formation of microorganisms like yeast and mold.

Since the 1930s, manufacturers have added parabens to their products, but they now have a bad reputation.

Common parabens used in these products include:

• Methylparaben

• Propylparaben

• Butylparaben

Parabens are steeped in controversy even though they're considered safe by the FDA. They've been found in breast cancer tissue. However, there are no studies that have discovered a direct causal link between skincare products and cancer.

There's also concern that those parabens create estrogen-like effects in mice and rats which can lead to cancer and tumors. Regardless of hard data, this represents a worrying state of affairs.

Phthalates

Phthalates are a plasticizer used to make things more flexible. They go in hair spray, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, and deodorant.

Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that urine samples of adult women contain higher metabolites for phthalates than men. Women typically use more products like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and moisturizers.

Just like parabens, the phthalate content in these products is so low it shouldn't cause health problems. Unfortunately, phthalates are another endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDR) that may cause a hormonal imbalance and cause health problems such as reproductive issues and genetic defects.

A Harvard study also discovered a link between exposure to phthalates and gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

There may also be a link between phthalates and neurodevelopment. Some researchers believe there could be a causal link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and phthalate exposure in early development.

These are not just three chemicals found in skin and hair care products which could be harming us. There are many more, even though the FDA considers the concentration levels so low they are negligent.

What should you keep your eyes peeled for, then?

Other Chemicals to Look Out For

It’s not just formaldehyde, parabens, or phthalates you need to watch out for. Other potentially harmful chemicals to be wary of include:

• DMDM Hydantoin

• Mineral Oil

• Aluminum

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

 DMDM Hydantoin

DMDM Hydantoin is another formaldehyde releaser used as a preservative in skin and hair products.

This white, crystalline substance is completely odorless. The International Journal of Toxicology states that DMDM hydantoin is present in these products at such low levels that they're not harmful to health. The formaldehyde vapors released when you wash your hair equates to the levels emitted by an apple or a pear, completely harmless.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oil might sound healthy, but it originates from gasoline. This is not something we want to be putting on our skin. We know mineral oil can cause cancer. It can build up in our bodies, in our fat, and certain organs.

Aluminum

Some researchers express concern about the levels of certain metals like aluminum contained in personal care products. In concentrated amounts, aluminum is harmful to health. Research suggests there is a direct causal link between aluminum levels and Alzheimer's, breast cancer, and neurotoxicity.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Another chemical to be wary of is sodium lauryl sulfate. While this chemical is considered safe in very small amounts, it’s known to trigger eczema in higher doses.

So, if you're using a particular moisturizer repeatedly throughout the day, it might be causing you more harm than good.

What’s the solution, then?

Luckily, that’s the easy part, and that’s where we come in…

Look For Clean and Natural Products

While the concentration of chemicals that go into these products is not considered harmful, many still feel uncomfortable about using products with these chemicals at all. After all, these ingredients may build up in the body over time.

There's nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution by avoiding these chemicals completely.

When you're shopping for personal care products, try searching for items that contain natural preservatives or no preservatives at all.

If you purchase products without preservatives, you'll need to treat them like fresh food. They will spoil if not used immediately.

Shampoo Bars

Soap bars are a great option. You can even make your own using body butters. They don't require antimicrobial agents. Shampoo bars are becoming ever more popular. They don't strip your hair like detergent based shampoos, they're travel-friendly, last much longer than liquid shampoo, and don't require nasty plastic packaging.

Hair Conditioner

We become accustomed to the soft silkiness that parabens in conditioner give our hair. If you're going au naturel, though, it's time to ditch this type of conditioner in favor of natural and organic options.

The drawback of this approach is adapting to your hair feeling less silky, but you'll have peace of mind that the product you're using is safe and chemical-free.

When shopping for hair conditioner, opt for products that contain:

• Aloe Vera

• Castor Seed Oil

• Coconut Oil

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Honey

• Jojoba Oil

• Shea Butter

• Vegetable Glycerin

 

Deodorants

To stay fresh naturally, avoid deodorants containing aluminum or formaldehyde. There’s a growing market for natural deodorants with anti-bacterial ingredients like tea tree oil or eucalyptus.

Lip Balm

For worry-free luscious lips, go for natural lip balms containing nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, kokum butter or coconut oil. Petroleum jelly is commonly contained in lip balms. This can aggressively dry out your lips.

Moisturizers

You can keep your skin and hair soft and hydrated without using moisturizers with chemical preservatives. Look out for skincare products that include ingredients like the following:

• Mango Butter

• Aloe vera

• Coconut oil

• Honey

• Olive oil

• Shea Butter

• Jojoba oil

 Wrap-Up

 Do yourself a favor and stick with natural beauty products.

 Don’t forget to bookmark our site before you head off. We’d like you to consider us your go-to option when you need advice on all aspects of beauty done the right way. We’ll see you soon!