Are your beauty products making you sick?

As phrases such as, “a natural beauty product,” or, “made with organic ingredients,” become more common in the beauty aisles, It is important to understand what these claims actually mean.

While they sound good initially, you might be surprised to learn that there is very little guidance or restrictions on what these products contain. So, even though no one wants to be putting harmful chemicals or artificial products onto their skin, we often unintentionally do so without knowing.

According to a new research study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, women in the US apply an average of 168 chemicals to their face and body every day (EVERY DAY!) in the form of cosmetics, perfumes, personal care products, and even feminine hygiene products.

Many of these chemicals have be shown to have harmful, longterm effects, such as these:

• Irritants - may cause skin rashes, irritations or other allergic reactions
• Respiratory irritants - may cause breathing difficulties, wheezing, or asthma
• Endocrine disruptors - can imbalance hormones and reproductive systems, and can lead to infertility in both men and women, and/or birth defects in unborn children
• Nervous system disruptors - headaches, fatigue, nausea, drowsiness or impair brain function
• Mitochondrial disfunction - lowers energy levels and causes fatigue
• Carcinogenic - cancer causing

What To Avoid

I know that reading the backs of shampoo bottles can be daunting, unless you have a degree in chemistry, but having a list of the most harmful ingredients can help you to know which products to avoid.

Here’s a list of some ingredients your natural beauty products shouldn’t contain:

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
• Diethanolamine (DEA)
• Monoethanolamine (MEA)
• Triethanolamine (TEA)
• Propylene Glycol (PEG)
• Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Propyl, Ethyl)
• Isopropyl (SD-40)
• Mineral Oil
• Triclosan
• DMDM Hydantoin & Urea
• FD&C Color Pigments
• Synthetic Fragrances

Fragrance

This is a particularly important ingredient to look out for. Fragrances can include thousands of different chemicals and are considered proprietary information, which means manufacturers do not need to disclose the individual ingredients used, in their formula. To avoid fragrances in your beauty products, look for items that are scented with essential oils.

Certification Labels

Did you know for a product to say, “made with organic ingredients,” it only has to contain 70% organic ingredients? While the remaining ingredients need to meet a quality standard, they may not be the same quality as the organic products.

Products labeled “organic” must contain 95% organic ingredients. While this is exponentially better, it’s still hard to tell what the effects of remaining 5% could be doing to your skin and overall health.

You want to look for labels that read, “certified organic,” or, “made with natural ingredients,” to ensure there aren’t any hidden chemicals or parabens.

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