6 ingredients that you do not want in your cosmetics

The cosmetics, hair and skin care industries use over 7,000 ingredients in products derived from natural or synthetic sources. As many as one-in-seven of these have harmful or toxic effects on the skin or body, ranging from minor skin irritation or contact dermatitis to carcinogenic implications. While risk factors appear to be greater with synthetic ingredients, they still exist with certain plant-derived ingredients. We refuse to use any ingredient where credible evidence casts doubt over its safety. This offers an ounce of prevention by excluding potentially harmful substances from our products and your usage. The following is our list of six ingredients to avoid and our reasoning. Chances are that that at least one is among your personal care products.

1. PARABENS (METHYL-, PROPYL-, BUTYL- etc.)This is a group of synthetic preservatives widely used in foods and personal care products, even many that claim to be 'natural' or 'organic'. Parabens are used because they are antimicrobial killing a wide range of bacteria and molds that may infect products. Recent research by Darbre et al links for the first time parabens and their estrogenic properties with human breast cancer tumors. Parabens can also be allergenic and toxic and have also been linked to asthma and eczema.

2. SODIUM LAURYL or LAURETH SULFATE (SLS or SLES)Sodium lauryl sulfate is an inexpensive and potent detergent commonly found in foaming rinse-off products such as facial cleanser, shampoo, shower gel, soft soap, shave cream, dish soap and toothpaste. Its strong degreasing action can irritate and dry the skin, hair and scalp. Sodium laureth sulfate is somewhat milder than Sodium lauryl sulfate yet either used in shampoo can lead to episodes of dandruff or a dry flaky scalp. Used on the skin, they may cause cracking of the epidermis and severe inflammation of the underlying layer. Any product containing SLS or SLES must be thoroughly rinsed off and discontinued if rash or irritation symptoms occur.

3. PETROLATUM (Petroleum Jelly)This is a heavy oil extracted from petroleum. It is comedogenic, meaning it does not absorb well into the skin, and thus can be pore clogging. This may trigger dermatitis, pimples or even acne. Furthermore petrolatum smothers skin so that it cannot breathe naturally and may cause discoloration of the skin. Frequently used in lip balms for extended durations, petrolatum provides quick moisturization effect while it gradually thins the skin of the lips, which eventually causes chapping and a "lip balm addiction".

4. PROPYLENE GLYCOLAn inexpensive substance derived from petroleum, propylene glycol is used as a humectant (moisture retainer), surfactant (spreading agent) and solvent (dissolving agent). In the motor vehicle industry it is used in antifreeze and hydraulic brake fluid! Studies have shown it can penetrate the outermost skin and carry other ingredients into the deeper layers of the epidermis where it often causes allergic and toxic reaction.

5. DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA) or TRIETHANOLAMINE (TEA)These are synthetic compounds, made from ammonia and ethylene oxide, that are used in many skin lotions, eye gels, moisturizing creams, shaving foams, shampoos and dermatological soaps as emulsifiers or acidity regulators. DEA and TEA may contain nitrosamines that are potential carcinogens and can also cause severe facial and contact dermatitis.

6. IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DIAZOLIDINYL UREA These are commonly used antibacterial preservatives with poor anti-fungal action so are often combined with parabens for broad-spectrum activity. Both compounds can potentially cause skin sensitization and allergic reaction, especially in those sensitive to formaldehyde because under certain circumstances they can release this colorless and poisonous gas
Research recently published by Darbre et al reports on the high levels of estrogenic parabens discovered in human breast tumors with potentially far reaching implications. Parabens—a class of synthetic preservatives thought to be safe—are widely used in personal care products and even in the food we eat. In our modern society, preservatives are considered necessary to protect us from pathogenic organisms that cause harm, yet clearly additional investigation is needed on the risk of parabens. Are parabens worth their risk when safer and natural albeit more expensive alternatives exist?

PARABENS IN BREAST TUMOURS 1
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. Appl. Toxicol. 24, 1–4 (2004)