Many of us are aware of reading food labels and purchasing certain produce because it's on the Dirty Dozen list. We know that pesticides and GMO's are bad to consume, so we try hard to avoid them on a daily basis.
But did you know that there is a Dirty Dozen in beauty products too??
Certain ingredients that are commonly used in many beauty products are cheap to use and serve as either a great fragrance, smooth application or even as a preservative to keep the product from spoiling quickly.
When big box manufacturers produce beauty products, they dump all their ingredients in a vat and make HUGE batches at a time. These products are filled with large amounts of fillers and preservatives because they sit on shelves in warehouses for months or even years before you purchase them from a store.
Worse yet, all they need is less than 0.1% of an active ingredient to state on the label that it will reduce wrinkles, minimize acne or even the skin tone.
When a product DOES work to reduce wrinkles, it's NOT the active ingredients working, it's the fact that your skin has had a reaction to the fillers and irritating ingredients and becomes inflammed, which causes the skin to swell or "plump" the skin which gives the appearance of diminished fine lines and wrinkles.
The problem is that this causes MORE aging to the skin and overtime creates unnecessary skin sensitivities that can be prevented.
Without further ado, I give you the Dirty Dozen in beauty products...
1) Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
Used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers, this ingredient is in 90% of our beauty products. SLS is what gives our products their ability to foam. SLS can poses serious health threats and young eyes may not develop properly. SLS may also damage the skin's immune system.
Found in baby washes, baby shampoo, antibacterial hand soap, shaving cream, shampoo & body washes.
2) Propylene, Butylene and Ethylene Glycol (Propylene Glycol is the most common)
Found in Antifreeze and used to de-ice planes. Glycols acts as a surfactant (wetting agent & solvent) that penetrates the skin & weakens the protein & cell structures. Glycols are strong enough to remove barnacles from boats and factory workers are required by the FDA to wear protective clothing when using & disposing of these ingredients.
Found in baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, facial cleansing cloths, facial cleansers, body washes, shampoo & toothpaste.
3) DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine) & TEA (Triethanolamine)
Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates. These ingredients can potentially increase the risk of liver and kidney cancers which can be more prominent in children.
Found in body lotion, body washes, cleansers & shampoo.
4) Polyethylene Glycol
Carcinogenic petroleum-based ingredient that reduces the skin's natural moisture. Polyethylene Glycol increases the appearance of aging and leaves you vulnerable to bacteria.
Found in baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, cleansers, body washes & deodorant.
5) Sodium Hydroxide
This caustic Lye is the main ingredient in Drain-O. May be fatal or cause permanent damage if swallowed - AVOID all contact with skin, eyes, mouth & clothing. Olives are soaked in Sodium Hydroxide to give them their "black" color.
Found in toothpaste, baby lotions, hand & body creams.
6) Triclosan
Commonly used anti-microbial agent that accumulates in our bodies and has been linked to hormone disruption and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Triclosan is found in our sewage treatment plants, ground, surface and drinking water and CANNOT be completely removed during water treatment processes.
Found in antibacterial hand washes, soaps and toys.
7) DMDM and Urea
These formaldeyhde-releasing ingredients are KNOWN carcinogens. These ingredients act as preservatives and can cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pain, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep.
Found in body washes, body lotion, antibacterial hand washes, cleansers and shampoo.
8) Parabens
Have the ability to cause estrogenic-effects in the body. The problem is, the Dutch study that started the paraben scare, was a blind study and only showed that parabens were present in ALL breast cancer patients. Parabens are a preservative and are seen as methyl-, ethyl, propyl-, and butyl-parabens.
Found in baby wipes, baby lotions, baby washes, antibacterial and hand soaps, facial wipes, body lotions and shampoo.
9) Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)
Drying, irritating solvent that strips the skin of its natural moisture and immune barrier, making us vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. Made from the same petroleum-derivative as shellac and antifreeze. Alcohol promotes brown spots and premature aging.
Found in creams, lotions and deodorants.
10) Mineral Oil
Petroleum by-product that coats the skin, similar to plastic wrap, which clogs the pores. Mineral oil interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promotes acne and other skin disorders. It also slows down skin function & cell development, which promotes aging.
Found in lotions and creams.
11) FD&C Color Pigments
Synthetic coal tar that deposits toxins on the skin, causing skin irritations. Absorption of certain colors can deplete oxygen in the body.
Found in makeup, shampoo, toothpaste, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorant, lotions and creams.
12) Fragrance
Can contain one of 4,000 ingredients (which over 2,000 are toxic or carcinogenic). Fragrances are NOT regulated by the FDA and a fragrance is a general word put on a food or beauty label. Fragrances affect the Nervous System and can cause headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions, depression, nausea, vomiting, coughing, skin discoloration, hyperactivity and irritability.
Found in practically EVERYTHING!!! Even non-fragrance products contain some form of fragrance!!!!!
Here's the bottom line, print this out and read labels when shopping for beauty products. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, I'm happy to guide you to safer products for you and your family.
