Skincare Products: What Ingredients You Should Avoid
February 22nd, 2012
What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it. Your skin is the largest organ you have, and it soaks up everything including toxins. If you are thinking about about not eating unhealthy foods like trans fat, then you will definitely want to know which synthetic ingredients you should look out for in the moisturizer and other skincare products you use.
You should avoid Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and ethyl Parabens used as a preservative to inhibit microbial growth and maximize shelf life. Unfortunately, these things can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. Preliminary research came across Parabens in human breast cancer tumors. Don’t use from; sodium Lauryl/Laureth sulfate: This is a cheap, harsh detergent used in many shampoos for its ability to cleanse and foam. Often extracted from petroleum, it causes eye irritation, dry scalp, skin rashes and other allergic reactions. Watch out for pseudo-natural products that list this ingredient with the phrase “comes from coconuts” – it is still bad for you.
Stay away from petrolatum which is also known as petroleum jelly; this is a mineral oil derivative that can clog your pores. This in turn minimizes your body’s natural ability to moisturize its own skin, leading to dryness and chapping. Manufacturers use it because it’s really inexpensive. Another ingredient is propylene glycol. Typically this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural, but it’s often made from synthetic chemicals. It has been known to cause hives and eczema. Look out for related chemicals labeled PEG and PPG.
Stearalkonium Chloride is a harsh chemical that was designed by the fabric industry to use as a fabric softener. Companies use it in hair conditioners and moisturizers because it’s much cheaper than natural conditioning ingredients such as proteins. Synthetic Colors that are labeled as FD&C or D&C and followed by a number, these make products look nice but can be carcinogenic.
Synthetic Fragrances that are labeled simply as “fragrance,” there isn’t a way to tell what chemicals are actually in the product. People can get headaches, dizziness, rashes, and respiratory issues from them. People might also experience hyper-pigmentation, which means this chemical could cause brown spots to develop on your skin. Before purchasing beauty products, check the ingredients list. These ingredients can be found in make-up, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, baby care products, sunscreens, toothpastes, nail products, and deodorants.
Is there something else you would like to know about skincare? If you want to learn more about skincare tips and how a moisturizer can help you, contact Likewise Skincare now!
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