Our beauty industry is saturated with “miracle cures” for aging, acne, and sun damage, among others. This industry, coupled with our instant gratification society, has become obsessed with the next best product that promises instant youth, sun-kissed but sun-protected skin and longer lashes than nature ever intended.
All this hype for external beauty, but has anyone ever stopped to ask what is actually in these products that we are rushing to buy?
It used to be that the beauty industry was only under scrutiny for its animal testing practices, but these days they have other practices to conceal. It seems that many beauty products on the market today are not well-regulated, in fact many of them utilize synthetic chemicals that have not yet been approved by federal regulating bodies. These chemicals are well hidden in your day-to-day beauty products through regulatory loopholes.
Loopholes are obviously not protecting our bodies from these toxic cocktails. The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It protects us from the external world and is responsible for ridding the body of nearly a ¼ of bodily toxins every day. The skin is also an effective delivery route for medication. You’ve probably heard of the nicotine patch? What goes ON our skin goes into our bodies! And does it not seem counterintuitive to slather toxins upon the very organ that is meant to protect us? If we are waiting for federal regulations to protect us from these toxic invaders, we may be waiting indefinitely and in vain.
How can you safeguard yourself against these silent but often deadly offenders that are contributing strains of cancers, as well as kidney and nervous system debilitations? Education is key.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate
This chemical compound has been banned in Europe and Central America, but is still found in products in the U.S. It is a foaming substance that is generally used in shampoos, body and shower gels. It is a suspected carcinogen linked to nervous system impairments, kidney and liver damage and eczema/dermatitis.
Parabens (menthyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl)
These substances have been banned in Japan and Sweden and are currently under review in the UK. They are generally used as a preservative or as a germicide in products, such as hair conditioners and gels, nail creams, make-up foundations, mascara, facial masks, skin creams, deodorants, sunscreen, and hair coloring products. Parabens are known to disrupt hormones by mimicking natural estrogen production in the body, which can lead to certain cancers (breast cancer especially), as well as skin irritations.
Phthalates
This substance has been banned in Europe, but is also still on the shelves here in the U.S. It is used as a softening agent for plastics and can be found in nail polishes, hair-straighteners, sprays, body lotions and deodorants. It is a carcinogen, which has been linked to birth defects, lowered sperm counts, damage to reproductive organs, and lung, liver and kidney cancers.
Formaldehyde Family (Diazolidinyl urea, 3-diol Imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Nitorpropane-1, Formalin, Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Methylene oxide, etc.)
Used as a disinfectant/germicide/fungicide, preservative and defoamer, this compound is generally found in hair care products including shampoos, conditioners and hair gels, as well as shower gels/bubble baths and liquid soaps, skin lotions, antiperspirants, nail polishes, talc and mouthwashes. It can cause allergic reactions, dermatitis, headaches, and has been linked to joint and chest pain, dizziness, fatigue and immune system deterioration.
A smart body is a healthy body. Take the time to read the list of ingredients before putting anything on your skin. In the long run, you will be glad that you thought twice before chemically altering your body. There are natural solutions out there just waiting to be discovered on your shelves! Give them a try!
– by Donnalyn Civello, Ayurvedic Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Life Coach