Ingredients to Avoid

Good Things Green Things Chemical Database

It’s hard to know what to look for in a natural beauty product. There are so many things that can be harmful to you and your loved ones. While most of these ingredients only occur in small amounts in each product, you have to look at the bigger picture. Think of how many products you use on yourself and your family every day: shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, deodorants, makeup and so many others. If everything we put on ourselves everyday has something unnatural in it, think of the build-up of toxins in our bodies. I know I don’t want that for myself or my loved ones. Here’s a list of some of the ingredients that I feel should definitely be avoided. This is just my opinion, and meant to be informative for you. Please feel free to research these ingredients yourself, and come to your own conclusions.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: A chemical compound used as a detergent in many beauty, household, and industrial products. Household essentials like cosmetic cleansers, bath gels, shampoos, and dishwashing detergents contain up to fifteen percent sodium lauryl sulfate. It is irritating to the skin (rashes) and eyes (possible cataracts), and some people claims that it is retained in organ tissues, like the heart, liver, and brain. Corrosive by nature, it can also cause hair loss by eating away at the hair follicle. Some people also suggest it can cause cancer, but research is inconclusive.

Parabens (Propyl, Butyl, Methyl, Ethyl and Iso): Parabens are a group of chemical compounds which are widely used as preservatives, especially in cosmetics. Studies have shown that parabens have estrogenic qualities and can be disruptive to the endocrine system, with the potential to cause cancer. Parabens have also shown up in breast cancer tumors, but there is no data to prove the parabens caused the tumor itself.

Petroleum Products: This category gets a bit tricky considering there are so many different petrochemicals used in personal care products today. To name a few: coal tar, denatured alcohol, propylene glycol, paraffin, glycerin(non vegetable derived), petroleum, and mineral oil. All derived from crude oil. We're dependent enough already aren’t we? Do we really need it in our skin care? These products have the possibility to be carcinogenic, and can be very irritating to the skin. Petroleum products create a coating on the skin that doesn’t allow your body to absorb beneficial ingredients, or release any toxins.

Phthalates: Phthalates are used to increase the flexibility of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).Most plastic toys have phthalates in them. Though due to recent controversy, they are being removed from children’s products. They are also used in a variety of products other than plastics, such as personal care products, glues, paints, and pharmaceuticals. They have been known to cause hormonal changes and birth defects, and can be damaging to the liver and reproductive system.

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