Estival Life (3 May 2018)

Skincare and personal care is just our daily routines.  While we pay much attention on what we eat and drink and check the labels before we shop, do you do the same to skincare and personal care products?  Our skin is in fact the largest organ, which protects all our internal organs and our body from elements and regulate body temperature. Skin is also partially penetrative, which may allow what we put on, to go through it and go into our body. 

Every day we use / apply dozens of skincare and personal care products, like cleanser, toner, lotion, serum, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, make-up, deodorants, and the like.  All contain a long list of ingredients of which many are chemical names you can’t even pronounce.  Currently there are basically not many regulations regarding the safety of these products.  Although the long-term impacts of certain chemicals are still controversial, there’re many more evidence and researches showing the hazards of some chemical ingredients commonly available in our toiletry and skincare products.  They are skin irritants, hormone disruptors, and even probably carcinogenic. 

Below is the list of the 5 potentially harmful ingredients which you should avoid from your skincare and personal care products.

Parabens

Parabens act as a preservative commonly found in moisturizers, hair products, and cosmetics to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold. That's not all. "Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity," a study by the nonprofit Cosmetics Safety Group cites. It has even been identified in breast cancer tumor biopsies, as well. The European Union banned parabens in 2012, but the U.S. Food & Drug Adminstration (FDA) has yet to regulate this ingredient in America.

Phthalates

Phthalates are key components of plastics and are widely found in lotions, nail polish, perfumes, and hair spray. A study by Harvard School of Public Health showed increased levels of phthalates resulted in DNA damage in human sperm. They may be linked to other cellular damage, as well.

Scanning your labels? Phthalates are often not even mentioned, instead remaining hidden in the term "fragrance" or not listed at all — a loophole in the FDA law protecting cosmetic companies from revealing their "industry trade secrets."

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde can be found in your mascara, nail polish, cleansers, and more. While it acts as a preservative to prevent bacteria growth, formaldehyde is deemed a human carcinogen by The International Agency For Research on Carcinogens (IARC). It is also an irritant, causing many skin allergic reactions and may even be harmful to the immune system. Give natural makeup products a try instead.

Synthetic Colours

If you choose the products by their colours, take note that synthetic colours are additives often derived from petroleum and tar sources, or chemical compounds blended to react and create a color. Many of these have been labeled as carcinogens or linked to ADHD in children.

The European Union has banned artificial colors in the food and body care products. Always look for certified natural and organic products, which are 100% guaranteed without using artificial colours or dyes.

Chemical Sunscreens

The UV-ray absorbing chemical oxybenzone is a highly absorbent ingredient that has been shown to mimic estrogen in the body and has a high rate for skin allergy as well, according to studies compiled by the Environmental Working Group. Other synthetic chemical sunscreen agents including benzophenone, PABA, avobenzone, homosalate, and methoxycinnamate may cause cellular damage and cancer in the body. These chemicals are none too friendly to the environment either and are toxic to many organisms, including coral.

Of course, we fully recommend wearing your SPF daily. Look for brands containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which act as a physical UV-block and are not readily absorbed by the skin. Prevent destruction of our oceans and always look for the "reef-safe" stamp of approval when hitting the beach.

Reference:

Check Your Beauty Products — Here Are 5 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid (Popsugar)

OTHER ARTICLES: