Cosmetic Harmful Ingredients

 

Here are some facts about a handful of the most commonly used, and most dangerous ingredients in your everyday beauty products. For a toxic-free life, look out for these harmful chemicals when buying your next round of beauty essentials:
1. Aluminium. This toxic metal can be found in virtually every personal care product, and is especially present in antiperspirant deodorants. There’s an increasing concern about the use of products containing aluminium, especially when applied to the skin near the breast in the form of deodorant. The reason for this is that aluminium can have oestrogen-like effects in our systems, which can disrupt the healthy functioning of the endocrine system.

2. Toluene. This petroleum based by-product is most commonly found in nail polishes and cosmetics. Toluene is a harmful neurotoxin, which can affect the functioning of the brain and central nervous system, and can pose implications for the healthy development of children; both born, and unborn.

3. Parabens. These guys are a group of nasty, synthetic preservatives that can be found in just about all of your cosmetics and personal care products. If you have babies, be sure to check the ingredients list of your baby products too, as they are commonly found in shampoo’s and moisturizers for the little ones. Parabens have been linked to the disruption of normal endocrine function, severe allergies and even cancer.

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). You’ll most probably come across this in commercial shampoos, body washes, and toothpastes. SLS is actually an industrial chemical designed to create foam. Although it hasn’t been scientifically proven to be harmful on its own, the manufacturing process of this chemical can contaminate products with 1,4 dioxane; a bi-product that has carcinogenic and immune system suppressing actions. What research does indicate, is that nearly 22 percent of all personal care products, including those for children’s use, contain the cancer promoting contaminant 1,4- dioxane.


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List courtesy of mindbodygreen
Photo credit: raw for beauty