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As a Cosmetologist, it's my obligation to not only help people look good and feel good about themselves, but also educate them and share with them important information about products out there in the market that can be harmful to your health. So I have decided to share information here about products you need to avoid when choosing your cosmetics, skin and personal care products. I hope this helps and if you have any other information you'd like to share with me, please feel free to send me a note through my Contact form linked below. Thanks! Geneva.
1. Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl): are preservatives used in cosmetics. While these preservatives inhibit microbial growth and extend product shelf life, they are also estrogenic and disruptive of normal hormone function. Exposure to these parabens has been linked to breast cancer.
2. Formaldehyde (hydantoin dmdm): which is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
3. Phthalates: which are hormone mimickers and can cause breast cancer, miscarriage and reproductive abnormality concerns. This can be found sometimes in perfumes, some hair sprays, lotions and baby bottles.
4. Propylene Glycol (PG): It's used as a skin penetrator in cosmetics. Butylene Glycol (BG): Derived from petroleum, these ingredients penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to carry formula extracts, it is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats and is an active ingredient in industrial antifreeze.
5. Sulfates: used in shampoos/conditioners to create foam. Can be contaminated with dioxanes. They remove oils from skin, color from hair(hence your color can fade quicker) and cause irritation( eye membrane damage, eczema, acne, psoriasis, cradle cap, dry scalp, dermatitis) I can attest to that, I got some mild dermatitis in my hands from this. Now, some examples of those that you need to be on the look-out for are sodium lauryl sulfate, dodecyl sulfate, laureth sulfate, lauryl ether sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, trideceth sulfate. These cheap, harsh detergents, used in shampoos for their foam-building properties, are also used in car washes, as garage floor cleaners, and as engine degreasers. They are often derived from petroleum and can cause eye irritation, scalp irritation, and tangled hair. There are many sulfate free shampoos and products that you can use instead and you can get them through your salon.
6. Citrus oil: Photosensitizers, used in baby bath products and that burn or irritate eye membranes.
7. Artificial Colors can contain carcinogens mostly in children's bath products, colors that make fruit punch, red, gelatin green and cereal blue. Synthetic Colors and Dyes: Used in cosmetics. Synthetic colors and dyes derive from coal tar and contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing irritation. Animal studies have shown almost all synthetic colors and dyes to be carcinogenic. These are labeled FD&C or D&C followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 or D&C Green No. 6.
8. Toluene : which is used in nail polish. Can cause miscarriage, reproductive abnormalities, respiratory disease.
9. Dioxanes: are carcinogens in bath and personal care products.
10. Lavender and Tea Tree Oil: recent research linked both to Gynecomastia which is a condition where boys could develop breasts. Females can still use them but remember that anything in excess is not good for you.
11. Diethanolamine(DEA): used in cosmetics, can become a potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine(readily absorbs through skin). Linked with stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder cancers. Triethanolamine (TEA): These ingredients are synthetic emulsifiers and/or foaming agents. They are highly acidic and can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are ammonia compounds, which are potent carcinogens.
12. Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidiazolidiny Urea: formaldehyde concerns.
13. DMDM hydantoin and Imidazolidinyl urea toxic contaminants
14. Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone allergies, nervous system.
15. “PEG” and “-eth” toxic contaminants
16. Triclosan and triclocarban thyroid and environmental concerns
17. Triethanolamine (TEA) allergies, toxic contaminants
18. Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA, and BHA acids
19. Liquid hand soaps with triclosan
20. Nail polish and removers with formaldehyde
21. Skin lighteners with hydroquinone
The sources for this information are: Think Before You Pink, a project of Breast Cancer Action, National Cancer Institute, CDC, Cancer Prevention Coalition, ABC Science. The Environmental Working Group I have read extensively about this through many other sources as well.
Some tips about Essential Oils to keep in mind:
* Sweet fennel, hyssop, sage and rosemary should not be used by anyone with epilepsy.
* People with high blood pressure should avoid hyssop, rosemary, sage and thyme.
**Oils to Avoid During Pregnancy:
*Bitter almond, basil, clary sage, clove bud, hyssop, sweet fennel, juniper berry, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sage, thyme and wintergreen.
**Skin Irritants:
*Allspice, bitter almond, basil, cinnamon leaf, cinnamon bark, clove bud, sweet fennel, fir needle, lemon, lemongrass, melissa, peppermint, tea tree and wintergreen.
I will be updating this page soon with some advice, tips and general information that I have studied, learned, researched and I hope you will find really handy so keep checking in!
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