Ingredient Breakdown
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Are you ready to dive into the world of clean and green beauty? Congratulations! You're not just making a great choice for yourself, but also for your home. Choosing natural and non-toxic ingredients isn't just a trend; it's a step towards a healthier lifestyle. But hey, no need to worry, I'm not here to scare you. Instead, I want to share what I've learned in a simple, easy to digest guide, so you don't have to sift through a mountain of articles.
As I started exploring clean products, I was shocked by some of the ingredients lurking in our everyday items (Teflon and Formaldehyde? 😱). It's wild to think about how these chemicals might be impacting our bodies. While personal care products are reviewed by the FDA, they don't need approval before hitting the shelves. That means it's up to us to stay informed about what we're putting on our bodies.
Let's talk about a few reasons why making the switch to clean beauty matters:
1. Hormone Harmony: Chemicals like phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and PFAS can throw our hormones out of whack, messing with everything from our mood to our reproductive health.
2. Skin Smarts: Sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances can be troublemakers for our skin, causing irritation, redness, and all-around discomfort.
3. Allergy Alert: Ever experienced a skin freak out after trying a new product? Chemicals like formaldehyde and certain metals can trigger allergic reactions, ranging from minor annoyances to major discomfort.
4. Long-Term Wellness: Some studies suggest that using certain chemicals over time, like formaldehyde and heavy metals, could lead to serious health issues down the road, including increased risks of cancer and reproductive problems.
5. Earth Love: We've only got one planet, so let's treat it right! Many beauty and home products contain ingredients that harm our environment. From reef-damaging sunscreen to pollutants in the air, every little change we make counts.
When it comes to getting new products, remember to read those labels. I know it can be overwhelming. Some products have lists longer than your weekend to do list. Also, don't forget, sometimes one ingredient can be a sneaky cover-up for a whole bunch of toxic stuff (looking at you, "fragrance"). Although it's important to be educated on what to look out for in labels, I will also take some of the guesswork out by providing product recommendations in other blog posts that will help you get started.
Here's a quick cheat sheet of ingredients to avoid and their possible effects. These include the well known Dirty Dozen as well as some others. Keep in mind, research is ongoing, so these findings may evolve over time.
Parabens - skin irritant, hormone and reproductive system disruptor
Phthalates - skin irritant, reproductive system and metabolic function disruptor
Formaldehyde - skin irritant, headaches, wheezing and with long term use or high level exposure possible cancer risk.
Triclosan - skin irritant, hormone disruptor, may aid in development of food allergies and possible cancer risk. Note: There are also studies that show that Triclosan can be used for cancer treatment in particular prostate cancer.
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) - skin irritant, hormone/reproductive disruptor, possible cancer risk, toxic for aquatic environment
Coal/Tar Dyes: These may be listed on labels as p-phenylenediamine, FD&C, D&C or colors listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number and are in many hair dyes - cancer risk
Siloxanes (cyclotetrasiloxane, cylcopentasiloxane, D4, D5) - hormone, reproductive, nervous and immune system disruptor.
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) - skin irritant, nervous system disruptor, cancer risk, and environmental hazard
Petrolatum or PAHs - skin irritation, allergies and cancer risk
Polyethylene glycol (PEG’s) - skin irritation, nervous system disruptor, cancer risk and may be an environmental hazard
Fragrance/Parfum (3000+ ingredients can fall under this label) - skin irritant, may cause allergies, hormone disruptor, cancer risk, some fragrances are environmental hazards
Ethanolamines (Monoethanolamine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) - skin irritant, cancer risk and environmental hazard
Oxybenzone & Oxtinoxate (found in many sunscreens, but bans in different states/countries) - Skin irritant, reproductive disruptor, cancer risk and environmental hazard
Talc (Talcum Powder, Cosmetic Talc) - may contain asbestos, can cause respiratory issues, cancer risk and may cause inflammation and infection in female reproductive system
Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) - hormone and reproductive system disruptor, cancer risk and environmental hazard
Carbon Black - cancer risk and increased risk of lung and cardiovascular disease
Homosalate (found in sunscreen) - Hormone disruptor and may enhance the amount of pesticides we absorb in our skin
If you want to dive more into ingredients here are a few great resources: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, EWG and David Suzuki Foundation
Thanks for joining me on this clean adventure! Stay beautiful, stay green.
XoXo,
The Green Hue