5 Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare and Makeup

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs EVERYTHING that is applied to it. This is very evident with bio-identical hormone treatment. When you apply a treatment cream to your skin that contains estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, it alters your entire hormonal system, your endocrine system, your musculoskeletal system, and your nervous system. All are absorbed through the skin. It’s pretty powerful stuff. 

So imagine applying the latest creams, washes, makeup, and lotions to your skin without ever investigating if they contain any harmful toxic ingredients. Not only can certain toxins send your skin out of balance, creating skin conditions like pigmentation, eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and even premature aging – but they can also disrupt your entire body and your brain. This can even lead to serious illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s, neurological disorders, and even death.

5 Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare and Makeup

Here’s a list of potentially harmful ingredients found in mainstream skincare, personal care, and makeup ranges.

1. Sodium Lauryl (or Laureth) Sulfate

This ingredient is car wash soap, an engine degreaser, garage, and concrete floor cleaner. 

When used in beauty and hair products, it is known to surround hair follicles in shampoo to keep them from growing, with the result that hair falls out. In toothpaste, it may weaken enamel in the teeth and cause cavities: SLS is very abrasive and may burn the skin, mouth, or scalp.

2. Cocoamide, Lauramide DEA (diethanolamine)

This ingredient is readily absorbed through the skin and is a potentially cancer-causing ingredient found in many mainstream cosmetics and toiletries. It reacts with nitrates in cosmetics to form another potential carcinogen/DEA. 

3. Petrochemicals

Many skincare products contain synthetic substances – petroleum (chemical) based. One major concern with petrochemicals is 1,4-dioxane – a byproduct that is created during the production processes and that is a potential carcinogen.

4. Parabens

Also known as Methylparaben, Propylparaben, IIsoparaben, Butylparaben, parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They have been linked to possible carcinogenicity, as well as an estrogenic effect from being exposed to the continued use of parabens as preservatives. 

5. Parfum

The common ingredients found in perfume are benzyl alcohol, acetone, linalool, ethanol, ethyl acetate, benzaldehyde, camphor, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, and limonene. Exposure to fragrance chemicals can cause:

• Headaches
• eye
• nose
• throat irritation
• nausea
• Forgetfulness
• loss of coordination
• other respiratory and/or neurotoxic symptoms. 

Many fragrance ingredients are respiratory irritants and sensitizers, which can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate sinus conditions. These chemicals can also be found in many face and body moisturizers, shampoos, body washes, and cleansers.

What now?

With the above in mind, I urge you to become your greatest ally, by educating yourself with every single product you are using. Read every ingredient list and google any ingredients that you have never heard of, or you can’t pronounce. These are usually the ones to watch out for. In your Google search, always type in: “potential adverse effects from XXX ingredient in skin care or make up”. You’ll find a wealth of information to arm you with the knowledge to be in the best health of your life. 

Wishing you joy on your Google travels into the deep unknown of toxic ingredients that could be harming your health. Let’s turn this ship around!

Who is the author?

Nicole Sherwin

Nicole Sherwin is passionate about the environment, wellness, and social responsibility with a strong belief in animal rights and beauty without cruelty. She worked in Los Angeles for six years, where she created a non-profit event and Expo THE GREEN LOUNGE EXPERIENCE, interviewing celebrities about their healthy lifestyles, the charities they support, and their health and skincare regimens. After returning to Cape Town in 2010, Nicole joined Simply Green magazine as their editor. She was then invited to join the team as a DIY eco expert on a morning show. 

Two years and over 80 natural formulas later, Nicole became known as ‘Eco-Diva’. With requests from viewers to turn her DIY formulas into products, she set about finding an eco-certified laboratory in Cape Town. Fifteen of her recipes have been trialed, tested, and perfected to make up Eco Diva Natural. At Eco Diva Natural you can rest assured that there are zero toxic ingredients ever used in the range, only helpful, nourishing, nutritious superfoods that allow your skin to heal and repair every day.

References

Engeli, R. T., Rohrer, S. R., Vuorinen, A., Herdlinger, S., Kaserer, T., Leugger, S., Schuster, D., & Odermatt, A. (2017). Interference of Paraben Compounds with Estrogen Metabolism by Inhibition of 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(9), 2007. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18092007

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