Poisoning your skin is NOT something we ever set out to do. I use the term ‘poison’ to get your attention. It’s the chemicals in skin care products that are the poison our bodies don’t need. Our skin is the largest organ on our body and needs to be protected and nourished. (Just like the chemical additives in food, they make us sick.)
You can eliminate the chemicals that are poisoning your skin.
How? Here’s a list of the most common ingredients (chemicals) to avoid:
- Acrylamide – Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
- Dioxane – Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin.
- Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?
- Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system.
- Phenol carbolic acid – Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
- Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
- Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine,” a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived.”
- Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
Safe Cosmetics is a great gateway to learning what ingredients are in the products you are using and if they are safe.
“I Specialize in The Little Things that affect our health and well being using a bit of common sense. “Health Matters”.
PS. Did you learn something new in Are You Poisoning Your Skin? Was it helpful? Let me know how in the comments below.
PPS. Please share this post with those you care about. Together we can help more people have healthier skin.
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