Did you know there might be harmful chemicals in your skin,body,hair, and cosmetic products?

Top 12 Harmful chemicals that could be in your products you use daily.

What is in your products???

We all want to look,smell, and feel good but there could be some harmful chemical in the products that you are using. Here are the TOP 12 harmful chemical that could be in your products.

1. BHA and BHT - are related synthetic antioxidants and used as preservatives in lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics. They can cause allergic reactions in the skin

2. Coal tar dyes - also know as P-phenylenediamine and FD&C or D&C followed by a color name and number. Darker hair dyes may contain more phenylenediamine than the lighter colors. Coal tar is a mixture of chemicals, from petroleum, Coal tar is recognized as a human carcinogen and the main concern with individual coal tar colors is their potential to cause cancer. These colors may also be contaminated with low levels of heavy metals and some may be combined with aluminum substrate. Aluminum compounds and many heavy metals are harmful to the brain.

3. DEA- DEA (Diethanolamine) and DEA compounds are used to make cosmetics creamy or sudsy. DEA is mainly found in moisturizers and sunscreens. Cocamide and Lauramide DEA are found in soaps, cleansers, and shampoos. DEA and its compounds can cause mild to moderate skin and eye irritation . In laboratory experiments, exposure to high doses of these chemicals has been shown to cause liver cancers and precancerous changes in skin and thyroid

4. Dibutyl phthalate - DBP, is found mainly in nail products as a solvent for dyes and as a plasticizer that prevents nail polishes from becoming brittle. Phthalates are also used as fragrance ingredients in many other cosmetics. DBP is absorbed through the skin and it can enhance other chemicals to cause genetic mutations, although it has not been shown to be a mutagen itself.

5. Formaldehyde -formaldehyde-releasing agents are used as preservatives in many cosmetics. These ingredients are a concern because they slowly and continuously release gas which is classified as a known human carcinogen.

6. Parabens - Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics and can also be used as frangrance ingredients. They are absorbs through skin and can mimic estrogen, . They have been detected in human breast cancer tissues, suggesting a possible association between parabens in cosmetics and cancer. Parabens may also interfere with male reproductive functions. Methylparaben applied on the skin reacts with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage.

7. Parfum (Fragrance)- fragrance or parfum on a cosmetic ingredients list usually represents a mixture of chemicals. Some 3,000 chemicals are used as fragrances.  Fragrance is an ingredient in perfumes, colognes, and deodorants, but is also used in nearly every type of personal care product. Even products marketed as “fragrance-free” or “unscented” may contain fragrance along with a masking agent  that prevents the brain from perceiving odor. Many of these unlisted ingredients are irritants and can trigger allergies, migraines, and asthma symptoms.

8. PEG -compounds polyethylene glycols are petroleum-based compounds that are used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. PEGs are also used as cosmetic cream bases. PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane which can harm the nervous system.

9. Petrolatum- Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly used to lock moisture in the skin. It is also in a variety of moisturizers and also in hair care products to make your hair shine. Petrolatum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies suggest that exposure to PAHs including skin contact over extended periods of time is associated with cancer.  PAHs in petrolatum can also cause skin irritation and allergies. 

10. Siloxanes - silicone-based compounds are used in cosmetics to soften, smooth, and moisten. They make hair products dry more quickly and deodorant creams slide on more easily. They are also used extensively in moisturizers and facial treatments. Cyclotetrasiloxane and cylcopentasiloxane ( D4 and D5) are toxic and have the potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. Also, the European Union classifies D4 as a endocrine disruptor, based on evidence that it interferes with human hormone function , and a possible reproductive toxicant that may impair human fertility. High doses of D5 has been shown to cause uterine tumors and harm to the reproductive and immune systems. D5 can also influence neurotransmitters in the nervous system.

11. Sodium laureth sulfate - Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is used in cosmetics as a detergent and make products bubble and foam. It is common in shampoos, shower gels and facial cleansers. Depending on manufacturing processes, sodium laureth sulfate may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Sodium laureth sulfate may irritate the skin and eyes

12. Triclosan - Triclosan is used mainly in antiperspirants/deodorants, cleansers, and hand sanitizers as a preservative and an anti-bacterial agent. Triclosan can pass through skin i and is known to interfere with hormone function. The extensive use of triclosan in consumer products may cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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David Suzuk, " “The Dirty Dozen” cosmetic chemicals to avoid",2018

https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals-avoid/