Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics

Did you know that over 80%* of all beauty products, and over 93%* of all hair care products available today are made with toxic chemical ingredients?

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, absorbing up to 60%** of what you put on it.

CARCINOGENS IN SKINCARE PRODUCTS

The following list of chemicals is a guide to enable you to check the products that you buy.
Remember: many sales people DO NOT KNOW about these so it is up to you to check for yourself in the product.

CHEMICAL CATEGORY OR INGREDIENT FUNCTION FOUND IN PRIMARY CONCERN

Parabens
(ethyl, methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl-, and butyl)


Preservative


Lotions, creams, foundations, and more


Endocrine disruption, studies have shown the parabens get absorbed into the bloodstream & disrupt the hormonal system. They may be associated with breast cancer.


Methylisothiazolinone (MI, MIT) /
Methylchloro-Isothiaz Olinone (MCI, CMIT)


Preservative


Shampoo, conditioners, body washes, body lotions, and more


Weaken immune system, Linked to skin allergies and eczema

Phenoxyethanol
Preservative, 
fragrance ingredient


Cleansers, scrubs, lotions, creams, foundations, and more


Irritation and sensitivity to skin, eyes or lungs, and there is a moderate concern for organ system toxicity.

Sodium Laurath Sulfate (SLS)
Widely used surfactant


Bubble bath, soap, shampoo, and more


Lathering agent, strips the hair and skin of moisture, enhances penetration, may also be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane*.


Mineral Oil / Petroleum, Paraffin


Cosmetic additives


Lotions, body oil, cosmetics, and more


Block pores, promotes skin irritation, allergic reaction and contribute to dry skin and itching.


Phthalates (DBP, DMP, DEP),
Ethyl Acetate


Plasticizing agent, fragrance ingredient, Solvent


Nail polish, bath salts, cleansers, lotions, and more


Skin, eyes, and lung irritation, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity


DEA / TEA / MEA


PH Adjuster,
Surfactant


Lotions, soap, body washes, and more


Trigger dermatitis, nitrosamines.


Coal Tar Derivatives (FD&C Blue1, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5, D&C Dyes and Toluene)


Dyes, toluene is a solvent


Dyes in lotions, body washes, soaps. Toluene in hair dyes, nail polish


Potentially cancer-causing. Coal tar ingredients are also frequently tested on animals due to their carcinogenic and toxic nature.


Formaldenhyde / Formaldehyde Donors 
(Diazolidinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, and Bronopol)


Preservative


Moisturizers, cleansers, scrubs, and more


Highly toxic, neurotoxic, genotoxic & carcinogenic, which react with other chemicals in the product to release formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies).


Hydroquinone


Skin lightening chemical


Skin lightening products


Research links it to cancer


Octoxynols


Surfactant


Scrubs, cleansers, creams, and more


Linked to cancer, developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, and possible 1, 4-Dioxane*** contamination.


BHA(Buthylated Hydroxy Anisole),
BHT (Buthylated Hydroxy Toluene)


Fragrance ingredient, antioxidant


Moisturizers, make-up, skin lightening products, and more


Linked to cancer, toxicity, and bioaccumulation.

Sources:
* Based on a comparison of ingredients listed and a review of the ingredients of 42,879 beauty products1 and 7201 hair care products2 on Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database conducted in May 2009.

** Beautycounter Reveals Truth About Your Cosmetics...And It May Scare You, The Huffington Post by Chrisina Anderson

*** 1,4-Dioxane is a carcinogen created when ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide, a petrochemical intermediate. According to Environmental Working Group, there are approximately 56 chemicals that may contain this contaminant.

Table: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep, National Geographic Green GuideSM Created by Lisa Sykes, Sustainability Specialist, Universal Companies, The British Association of Dermatologists