The Toxins in your SkinCare Products!
Lately, people seem to be more and more aware of chemicals and toxins in their food. We are reading labels and looking to eat more organic and non GMO foods, and most of us are willing to pay a little extra to eat clean to keep our insides free from toxins and to stay as healthy as possible. But what about what we put ON our bodies? Products we use every day like moisturizers, body washes, shampoos, sun tan lotion, face washes, anti-aging products etc.?
Until recently, it never occurred to me that what I was putting on top of my skin could affect my health. Who knew that it takes seconds for creams and lotions to seep into your skin and enter your bloodstream which can ultimately cause health issues such as cancer, fertility problems, allergies, ADHD in children, hormones, immune system and cell damage to name a few.
All the eye catching ads, commercials and celebrities are meant to sell products but as consumers, we need to be responsible for our own health and that means making the right decisions and purchases. I’m not perfect and my home is not completely chemical free…yet…but I am slowly making small changes which I hope will add up to better health for my whole family.
For the past few years, I have become very aware of the toxins in my skincare products. I read labels and try to purchase as many chemical free products as possible. If I see ingredients such as parabens, retinol, petroleum, fragrance, phthalates and BHA/BHT to name a few, I put it back on the shelf. If the product includes natural or botanical ingredients such as green tea, coconut oil, cucumber or Vitamin C, I will take a closer look.
It can definitely be confusing, so I’ve done a little research and found that the following ingredients seem to be some of the most common in skincare products and are the chemicals we need to watch out for.
Here is the list I've compiled:
Synthetic Fragrance (fragrance, perfume or parfum) – Found in body washes, face creams, lotions and deodorant
Sulfates (SLS – Sodium lauryl sulfate or SLES Sodium laureth sulfate)- found in facial cleansers, shampoos and body washes
Parabens – mostly found in moisturizers, facial cleansers and make up
Amonia Compounds (diethanolamine DEA or triethanolamine TEA) – found in soaps, facial cleansers, and body washes
Propylene Glycol (1,2 dihydropropane or 1,2 propanediol) – found in sunscreens, moisturizers and cleansing creams
Retinol (Retinol or Retinyl Palmitate/Acetate) – Found in skin and lip products
Mineral Oil (liquid paraffin, light liquid paraffin or baby oil) – found in lotions, creams and ointments
Some of the more common natural ingredients include:
Vitamin C – a natural skin brightener, enhances cell turn over and naturally produces collagen
Shea Butter – provides natural moisture as well as soothing protection for dry, red flaky skin
Raw Honey – provides moisture, helps reduce breakouts and can help rashes and scars
Coconut Oil – Coconut Oil is full of antioxidant, anti-fungal , antibacterial and antiviral properties. It can help moisturize skin and hair.
Aloe Vera – has healing and soothing benefits, anti -inflammatory and detoxifying properties
Hyaluronic Acid – a powerful anti-aging agent, keeps skin hydrated and plumps lines and wrinkles
Green Tea – is a natural ingredient that can treat acne, keep skin hydrated, help with anti-aging and can reduce sun damage
Caffeine – stimulates the skin around the eyes decreasing fluid buildup which cause bags and dark circles
CoQ-10 – helps keep healthy cells looking plump and healthy and helps fight signs of aging.
In the end, we need to take responsibility for our own health and what we put into our bodies as well as what we put on our bodies. Knowing what to look for in your skincare products will help you make the right choices and you can feel confident that you are doing what you can to keep your body clean and healthy.
Click this link for my favourite holistic skin care products:
http://bit.ly/youngshop
References:
Moccia, Liane. “5 Nontoxic Anti-Aging Skin Care Ingredients That Really Work.” Mindbodygreen,22 Dec.2014, www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16576/5-nontoxic-antiaging-skin-care-ingredients-that-really-work.html
Cunningham, Vanessa. “10 Toxic Beauty Ingredients to Avoid.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Nov. 2013, www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-cunningham/dangerous-beauty-products_b_4168587.html
Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM. “19 Chemicals to Avoid in Skin Care - Organic Skin Care.” Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles, Global Healing Center, Inc, 18 Feb. 2016, www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/chemicals-to-avoid-in-skin-care-organic-skin-care/.
