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Doing our groceries Going to the drugstore or supermarket isn’t complete without heading for the personal care section to buy hair and body products.
We've seen commercials promising us desirable results, and in the hopes of obtaining long shiny hair, soft and supple skin, or pearly white teeth, we make these products a part of our daily skin and hair care routine. We're oblivious to the fact that these personal care products contain harmful ingredients.
According to research conducted by the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 products that contain 168 harsh ingredients. The average man, on the other hand, uses 6 products that are found to have harmful chemicals. This means that every day, men and women are exposed to ingredients known to be carcinogens.
These ingredients can be commonly found in potions and lotions. While considered safe when applied in small amounts, our skin's exposure to these chemicals on a daily basis creates a compounding negative effect.
Just because we're not ingesting these chemically-based ingredients doesn't mean that they don’t pose any threat to our bodies. Skin, being the largest body organ, absorbs some of whatever we apply to it.
So before you grab that bottle of lotion, get to know these ten harmful ingredients. Chances are your favorite personal care brand might be guilty of harming you instead of taking care of you.
They also have a negative impact on our endocrine system. Based on research, parabens can contribute to the growth of breast cancer cells by stimulating them. Male reproduction can be affected as well.
Below are the six types of parabens most commonly used in personal care products:
These soaps also contain chemicals which can affect our antibiotic resistance and disrupt our microbiome. While there are many claims about its effectiveness in killing germs, nothing can be as effective as using regular soap and water. Or better yet, anall-natural soap alternative that is cleansing and nourishing.
3. Sulfates
Sulfate is the ingredient responsible for making our soaps frothy. We can find it in beauty care products, cleaning products, and body washes. When our skin comes into contact with sulfates, it can cause skin dryness and irritation.
The most common are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). To help you pinpoint a sulfate ingredient at the back of a product label, below are the most common types of sulfates you should be aware of:
Petrochemicals are insanely pervasive in the beauty and personal care industry. Petroleum products are a huge health concern because they can generate a cancer-causing substance called 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct.
This cacogenic ingredient can be found in the sunscreens, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that you are using every day.
For example, sunscreens that have petrochemicals can penetrate the skin and bioaccumulate (meaning they stay in your body for a long time).
Even if you wear sunscreen only in the summer, the nano ingredients will stay on you all year long. This is why choosing anon-nano and petrochemical-free sunscreen is a great investment if you use sunscreen often.
Here are 20 of the most common petrochemicals used in personal care products:
When fluoride accumulates in our body, it can deter our thyroid from functioning properly. It is also a known carcinogen and may cause bone disease.
Switch to anatural toothpaste that doesn’t not only whitens and prevents plaque buildup but is also good to for your oral health.
8. Formaldehyde
Deodorants, cosmetics, cleaning products, toothpaste, baby products, shampoo, and nail care may contain formaldehyde which can cause allergies and skin irritation. This ingredient is also known for increasing the risk of cancer and is considered as a neurotoxin.
9. Phthalates
Phthalates are another ingredient we should avoid. They are present in skin care products, cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos. They can impact male fertility and reproduction by altering sperm count and sperm quality. Some of the most commonly used pthalates in personal care products are DEP, DBP, DEHP and fragrance.
Artificial colors and dyes that make personal care products pretty are made with synthetic chemicals that are actually bad for your health. In fact, It takes up to 25 synthetic chemicals to create one artificial die.
You'll find them in soaps, lotions, shave gels, toothpastes, shampoos, styling creams, face creams, toners, cleansers, bath gels, and more. Many of these are made of coal tar and possibly contain heavy metal salts like arsenic. These chemicals can deposit toxicity onto the skin.
Ensuring that our skin gets the pampering it needs doesn't have to be harsh. We can instead use personal care products with natural ingredients.
Making the switch to all-natural and organic personal care products will give us peace of mind knowing that we're not applying dangerous chemicals to our skin.
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