Let’s talk about a dirty topic- toxic beauty and personal care products!
With spring in full swing and our bodies naturally wanting to cleanse, it’s important to consider potential toxic exposure.
Chemicals and toxins are not only in the food we eat and the air we breathe, but they are also present in our personal beauty products. Examples of, but not limited to, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, and makeup! The FDA not only poorly regulates our food industry, but does the same with our cosmetic and personal care products.
According to the Environmental Working Group, “Nearly 90 percent of the 10,500 ingredients the FDA has determined are used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA or any other publicly accountable institution.”
Every day, we’re exposed to a ridiculous amount of toxins and chemicals. Many absorb through our largest organ, our skin.
Our bodies rely on healthy skin for both physical and emotional survival. Our skin is a waste remover (ridding toxicity), protective barrier, protector from injury, pleasure receptor, natural anti-bacterial and Vitamin D manufacturer. In addition, our skin is a large diagnostic tool. Our skin can show potential disease and early warning signs for illness. Needless to say, our skin is very important in life and we need to take the best care of it.
Using makeup that contains chemicals and toxins is not good for our skin. The toxic ingredients of makeup and personal care items cause a variety of ailments. They disrupt the endocrine system and may have been linked to certain cancers. Chemicals found in synthetic beauty products injure liver cells, irritate and penetrate the skin and are many times carcinogenic.
When switching to non-toxic products, keep it simple! Throw out any old products and switch to non-toxic ones. Chemicals and toxic ingredients like parabens are added to makeup to keep mold and bacteria from growing on the packaging. However, these toxic ingredients lead to disruption in the endocrine system and cause several illnesses. Other ingredients to watch out for are Phthalates, Synthetic Colors, Triclosan, Toluene and Propylene glycol.
A common ingredient in many products is Fragrance. This ingredient is common in perfume, cologne, body wash, conditioner, shampoo and many moisturizers. Formaldehyde is another popular ingredient that’s linked to skin irritants and harm to the immune system. In addition to many of the products listed above, it’s found in cleansers, eye shadows and nail polish.
Sunscreen products contain harsh, harmful ingredients.
The chemicals in sunscreen products function as a sunscreen agent. These chemicals are easily absorbed into the skin and are linked to disruption in the endocrine system. Some common names are BAPA, benzophenone, avobenzone, ethoxycinnmate and homosalate. According to the EWG, of the 1,400+ sunscreens tested, only 5% met their safety standards and over 40% were listed as potentially contributing to skin cancer. Spray sunscreens may be convenient and easy to apply, but they may also provide additional dangers.
To make sure that you are using toxic-free makeup and personal care products, read the labels carefully. Choose products that contain natural and safer ingredients. Find products that you trust and feel safe using. Education and research is key! Just because you’re spending a ton of money on a product, it doesn’t mean that’s a good quality product. Check out websites such as EWG’s Skin Deep and GoodGuide
In addition, create a list of all the personal care products you use. As you use up products, start replacing the toxic ones with natural products. Make sure to scan through everything – face lotion, night cream, face foundation, lipstick, face powder. Choosing the right toxic-free makeup can help ensure you and your skin are as healthy as possible.
Research or avoid cosmetic brands because a good percentage of cosmetic brands contain harmful substances. Remember that your skin is the largest organ of your body and very sensitive. Make sure to double-check makeup and cosmetics before buying and applying something on your body.
It is also very important to avoid trusting a brand. There are many instances where the labels or name brand are the result of clever marketing. Just because you invest in products promoted and advertised well, doesn’t mean that they are good for you.
When it comes to your makeup and other products, it’s very important to make a wise decision. Choosing now to switch to non-toxic personal care products is one of the first big steps to better health. It’s impossible to completely eliminate toxicity in our day-to-day life, but you can make simple changes for better health today! Educate yourself, consider possible toxic exposures and drink filtered water. Avoid foods with additives, chemicals, hormones and antibiotics. Shopping organic when possible will impact your health a great deal too!
I like to make many of my own products using ingredients like organic coconut oil, organic coffee, organic lemon, essential oils, filtered water and so forth. Consider what you can switch out and make yourself.
I would love to hear your feedback! Have you discovered ingredients lurking in your products that you didn’t know were there? Have you started making adjustments towards improving your own health?