In some situations, ignorance is bliss, especially when it comes to what’s present in common makeup and skincare products, i.e. all kinds of harmful ingredients.
Unfortunately, there’s scarce or no government regulation in the world of cosmetics and the ignorance to what’s in these products can harm our health.
Believe it or not, the EWG found that the average woman uses 12 products with 168 unique ingredients on a daily basis. And, most of them have endocrine disruptors that can have a negative impact on their hormones and fertility.
And, there are also those linked with cancer. These are makeup products we put on our lips and eyes, products we cover our face with.
Knowing that there’s no regulation from authorities and that we can’t always trust cosmetic companies to put our safety over financial benefits, it’s best to avoid certain ingredients commonly found in makeup.
Find out more about 7 such harmful ingredients below…
7 Ingredients to Avoid in Makeup & Skincare Products
- Toluene
This chemical is often present in nail polish and hair dyes. This volatile petrochemical solvent may be toxic to the immunity and lead to birth defects. Therefore, if you’re pregnant, be very careful and avoid nail polish with this substance.
- Formaldehyde
This chemical is often used as preservative in cosmetic products. However, it’s a known carcinogen associated with neurotoxicity and asthma.
- Triclosan
This antibacterial agent was banned from antibacterial soaps back in 2016; however, it’s still present in personal cosmetics. Unfortunately, it’s been linked with endocrine disruption, formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, gut inflammation, and tumor growth.
- Oxybenzone
Sunscreens are of two forms, i.e. chemical or mineral filters. The most common ones use chemical filters like oxybenzone. This endocrine disruptor can mess with the thyroid function and trigger skin allergies. It’s present in lip balms, makeup products, and moisturizer.
- PEG
This chemical is present in a lot of cosmetics, including shampoos, sunscreens, and lotions. It’s often contaminated with 1, 4-dioxane (linked with respiratory issues and prohibited in Canada) and ethylene oxide (a carcinogen).
- Phthalates
This is a plasticizer added to plastic to prevent it from becoming brittle. In cosmetics, it’s present in fragrances, as well as nail polish and hair sprays. Some of the most common phthalates are DEP, DEHP, and DBP.
- Artificial fragrance
Almost every skincare or cosmetic product has artificial fragrances. This is because manufacturers don’t have the obligation to reveal what’s in their fragrances and you’ll only see ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ on the list of ingredients when it’s actually a mixture of irritants, allergens, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens.
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