Is THIS in Your "Natural" Product? 10 Ingredients to Eliminate to Boost Your Skin Care Regimen

                                 

For many of us, discovering our favorite skin care and beauty products has been a lifelong quest. Finding new products to love that are free of toxic chemicals, synthetic fragrances or preservatives, and impurities (like traces of lead or other heavy metals) may seem impossible.

There are MANY ingredients to avoid but here's our list of the top TEN ingredients you may still find in products claiming to be natural. 

1. DMDM Hydantoin is an organic compound that 
many companies use to help preserve; however, it can cause dermatitis and releases formaldehyde.

2. Propylene Glycol in organic compound that is used as a surfactant or wetting agent that is known to penetrate quickly into the skin. This is actually the active ingredient in Anti-Freeze! You can find it in many makeup, lotion, hair care products, aftershave, and mouthwashes. 

3. Parabens are antimicrobial preservatives that can accumulate in fatty tissues, mimic estrogen, and has been linked to cancer. Parabens are found in personal care products, food and pharmaceuticals.

4. Synthetic Fragrances can contain as many as 200 different chemicals. Many of the compounds in fragrances can affect the central nervous system may also be carcinogenic.

5. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) can be found in shampoos, body washes, soaps, toothpastes  as a foaming agent and surfactant. SLS causes eye irritation, skin rashes and hair loss- some studies even show damage to the immune system through repeated exposure.

6. Phthalates are absorbed into the skin and will accumulate over time. They disrupt estrogen metabolism and have been linked to liver toxicity, genital malformation, and are thought to cause some cancers. They are found in nearly all mainstream fragrances, perfumes, nail polish, and hairspray.

7. Triclosan is an antibacterial and antimicrobial agent. Many manufactures use this in soap, mouthwash, deodorant etc.  Triclosan has been linked to hormone disruption, causes bacterial resistance overtime and is damaging to the environment. 

8. Synthetic  Colors are labeled as FD&C or D&C followed by a color and number (i.e. Yellow #5. These hey are often derived from metals or animal sources. There is also evidence to support development of behavioral problems or cancer and should be avoided as best possible. 

9.  Petrolatum (aka Mineral Oil) is used in lip products such as lipsticks and balms. Manufactures use petrolatum because it is SUPER cheap. Acting as a plastic wrap, Petrolatum tends to interfere with the body’s own moisturizing mechanism leading to dry skin and chapping (requiring you to reapply again and again). 

10. Imidazolidinyl Urea is another commonly used preservative, after parabens. One of the main causes for contact dermatitis, this will also release formaldehyde- and at just over 10 degrees! 

Our bodies are subjected to endless toxins on a day-to-day basis: pollution, stress, genetically modified foods... Start reading your labels and take baby steps to limit exposure or lose these ingredients entirely to find your way to healthy skin care and beauty regimen. 

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