Want you keep your beauty routine toxic-free?
We take a lot of care to make sure good ingredients go inside our bodies. But what about the ingredients that go on our skin? Did you know that our skin absorbs about 60% of the topical products we put on?
When you start to do research into beauty care products you’ll find out that a lot of the ingredients are endocrine disruptors, parabens, and heavy metals. A lot of these ingredients can lead to cancer, hormone disruptions, and other health related issues.
On average, women absorb about 500 chemicals through their skin on a regular basis! Many of these chemicals enter through products like nail polish and remover, moisturizers, hair care products, and even high-end makeup products. These products enter through the skin and into our bloodstream. This can create a toxic burden on the liver, which can impact your metabolism, digestion, skin health, and disrupt your hormones
Even some natural or organic body care products are not truly toxic free. Learning to identify and read labels is your best defence to avoid these chemicals. Here are some important tips to help you navigate the world of beauty care products for a toxic free routine.
The first 5 ingredients can make up 90% of the product.
Be careful of filler ingredients these are used to bulk-up the product, create texture, or make the product perform better. Often in beauty products, there will be mineral oil as the bulk ingredient, then they will add a few drops of the “natural” element. Make sure you don’t waste your money on mineral oil.
Mineral oil: Just another word for petroleum, and it is very harmful to the environment.
The 1% tip.
In the cosmetic world when you see fragrance or perfume you have reached the 1% mark. Any ingredients listed after this is less than 1% and anything before that is more than 1%. Keep this in mind to really see what your product is made of.
Look for ingredients that you recognize
A good rule of thumb is: if you don’t know what it is or you can’t pronounce it then don’t put it on your skin.
Look for logo’s
that ensure your product is organic. Some common ones are Canadian Organic Association, Eco Cert, and USD Organic.
Keep it Simple:
Try not to be fooled by cosmetic advertising. There are so many beauty products, and they make about every promise under the sun. Try to simplify your routine to a basic cleanser, moisturiser, and your beauty must. Ditch the rest!
Keep on eye out for these common toxic ingredients:
- Parabens: methylparaben, butylparaben and propylparabe: these are often used as a preservative, preventing mold and bacteria growth in beauty products.Parabens have estrogen-mimicking properties that have been associated with the risk of breast cancer. Parabens have been absorbed through the skin and found in biopsy tissue samples. These chemicals have been linked to many reproductive issues
- BHA and BHT: Used in many moisturises. They are suspected endocrine disruptors and are very harmful to aquatic life.
Some of our favourite moisturises at FeelGood are:
Skin Cream Plus 250 ml- Botanical Therapeutic
Chocolate Mandarin Hand Foot and Body Balm
- Synthetic colours and dyes: If you see FD&C and D&C followed by a number. These represent artificial colours, F representing food and D&C is for drug and cosmetics. These colours are sourced from things like petroleum and coal tar. These colours and dyes are a skin irritant and suspected to be carcinogens.There is also p-phenylenediamine which is listed as ‘CI’ and followed by 5 numbers. These may contain heavy metals.
If you’re looking for a great alternative to conventional hair dye try Herbatint Hair Colour
- DEA: This is used in some foaming and creamy products. This ingredient might react with nitrosamines (a potent carcinogen) which may cause cancer. Also, harmful to wildlife and fish.
- PEG (polyethylene glycol): Is often used in cosmetic cream bases and is a petroleum-based compound. It is often contaminated with Ethylene oxide which is harmful to the nervous system and is a possible carcinogen for humans. This ingredient also remains in the environment well after it’s rinsed down the drain.
If you’re looking for a great clean cosmetic line Saint Cosmetics offers a great toxic free and curtly free line of high-performance makeup.
- Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate: Used in shampoos and bubble baths, it’s often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and has been linked to cancer. This ingredient is also called sodium lauryl sulfate.
Desert Essence has a great line of hair care and bath products that are responsible for the environment and your body.
- Dibutyl Phthalate: This is a plasticiser in nail polish and is suspected to be a reproductive toxin and endocrine disruptor.
- DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, methenamine: These ingredients slowly release a small amount of formaldehyde.
- Tirclosan: Used in cleansers, toothpaste, cosmetics, and deodorants. This ingredient has been linked to antibiotic resistance in bacteria and is a suspected endocrine disrupter. Often harmful to wildlife and fish.
Green Beaver is Canadian company that creates products that do not harm the environment, animals, or you!
- Siloxanes or Methicone: Used to moisten and smooth, but has been linked to disrupting endocrines and reproductive toxins.
Now no one has dropped dead from washing their hair. But, no one really knows how these chemicals will affect us over time, or how the combination of these chemicals in our bodies will affect us. Since we take great care to eat organic and eat clean, take the time to detoxify your make-up bag and body care routine. Your body will thank you!
At FeelGood we strive to carry natural body care products that are toxic-free and good for the environment and you. Try these great lines: