Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products: What You Should Know

With so many personal care products on the market today,  consumers need to become aware of the potentially hazardous and toxic chemicals that might be lurking in them. Many people are not aware that the FDA does not monitor the marketing or manufacturing of beauty products. The Environment Working Group states, “89% of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, or any other publicly accountable institution.” Per the FDA, “A cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from the FDA”. Shocking!

I want consumers to be aware of the dangers in these products and hope that they can take some of this information and protect their growing children and themselves from these hazardous ingredients, pregnant women should pay special attention to ingredient labels because of the unknown effects they can have on the developing fetus.

The chemicals I’m listing have been linked to breast cancer, heart disease, birth defects, memory loss, depression, allergic reactions, skin disorders–these are just a few of the conditions that have been associated with their use in beauty products and baby products. It’s sad that large companies have become more concerned with how a product looks on the outside and spends $2 billion a year on advertising instead of providing the public and their children with safe and effective products. When you read a beauty product label, please be aware of the potential danger hiding behind deceptive packaging and labels. Below you will find a list of toxic ingredients and some of the effects they can have on your body. And please remember that there’s also natural alternatives in the beauty product industry that are completely free of chemicals and are 100% safe for you and your little ones to use.

“For Professional Use Only”

This phrase allows cosmetic companies to remove harmful chemicals from their labels. This is a very deceptive tactic from the beauty industry, please pay attention when your hairdresser uses products on you many of the products they use contain this phrasing!

FD&C Color & Pigments AKA Coal Tar!

Synthetic colors from coal tar contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins in skin, causing skin sensitivity / irritation. Absorption can cause depletion of oxygen and death. Animal studies show almost all are carcinogenic. I’ve also seen many pictures of numerous ladies having severe and almost disfiguring burns after using hair dye that contains Coal Tar. You can easily Google “coal tar reactions” to see  the evidence yourself. I do not recommend doing so if you have a weak stomach as the pictures are graphic.

Dioxin:

Will NOT appear on an ingredient list. Often contained in antibacterial ingredients like triclosan, emulsifiers, PEGs and ethoxylated cleansers like Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Dioxin causes cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, miscarriages and birth deformity. It’s a hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion–one drop in 300.

Diethanolamine (DEA):

A lathering agent in soaps and shampoos, DEA isn’t carcinogenic by itself, but can react with other chemicals in products to create a carcinogen readily absorbed into the skin. Look for DEA in many forms, such as Cocamide DEA, Oleamide DEA and Lauramide DEA.

Formaldehyde:

Hidden by the names of: DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): Just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, cancer, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, aggravate coughs and colds. The EPA classifies formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen.

Parabens:

Parabens have had a lot of press lately and I’m finding more and more products specifically labeled “paraben free.” This is because parabens, in their many forms (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben) have been linked to breast cancer. The FDA claims that parabens aren’t dangerous at very low levels, but when you consider that 25,000 different cosmetics and skincare products contain these chemicals, it’s feasible to build up quite an exposure in a lifetime.

Phenylenediamine (PPD):

An ingredient used in hair dyes (including eyelash dye), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has run studies that show a higher incedence of Cancer among hairdressers and cosmetologists; they have the highest PPD exposure. Although PPD is not approved for products that come in contact with the skin, hair dye usually gets on your forehead or ears for up to 30 minutes.

Phthalates:

The subject of much controversy because of hormone-disrupting phthalates being found in plastic baby bottles and teethers,  they’re also a common ingredient in cosmetics, too.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES):

A foaming agent in soaps and shampoos, SLS and SLES are skin irritants and can enter the heart, brain and liver through the skin and accumulate in these organs.

Toluene:

Found in nail polish and hair dye. Toluene is toxic to the nervous system, and breathing it in can cause dizziness and headaches. High exposures can lead to birth defects and miscarriage.

Fragrance:

Because of an FDA loophole, cosmetic companies can hide a whole slew of chemicals, many of which are phthalates, under the label “fragrance.”  The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products. Also in the ranks of undisclosed ingredients are chemicals with troubling hazardous properties or with a propensity to accumulate in human tissues. These include diethyl phthalate, a chemical found in 97 percent of Americans (Silva 2004) and linked to sperm damage in human epidemiological studies (Swan 2008), and musk ketone, a synthetic fragrance ingredient that concentrates in human fat tissue and breast milk (Hutter 2009; Reiner 2007). According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fragrance is the number one cause of allergic reactions in cosmetics. Check out natural fragrance alternatives.

Triethanolamine (TEA):

TEA is used to balance PH and is a common ingredient in “gentle” cosmetic products, but unfortunately it’s been known to cause allergic reactions, is an eye irritant and can cause dry hair and skin. With consistent use, TEA is absorbed into the body and accumulates, where it can become toxic.

Hydroquinone:

A skin-bleaching ingredient, hydroquinone is banned in Japan, the European Union, and Australia, but it’s still in use in the United States and other countries worldwide. Hydroquinone is found not only in Asian and African skin-lightening products, but in creams to lighten age-spots as well. There’s some evidence that hydroquinone is a carcinogen, and is linked to ochnronosis, a condition in which grayish brown spots and bumps occur on the skin.

Lipsticks:

Watch out for lipsticks as well. In an analysis done of 33 different popular brands of lipstick by an independent lab, it was found that 61% contained lead. Lead is readily absorbed by the body and accumulates in bones. It is highly toxic to the nervous system and can also cause serious gastrointestinal symptoms of lead poisoning including diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting.

Sunscreen chemicals:

Avobenzone, benzphenone, ethoxycinnamate, PABA are commonly used ingredients that are known free radical generators and are believed to damage DNA or lead to cancers

This article was contributed by Candace Hall over at Natures Garden Therapies