4 Dangerous Chemicals in Everyday Beauty Products
It
seems that the world’s obsession with beauty is screaming louder and
louder every day. Take a look at your local supermarket and you'll find
an entire aisle lined with a vast array of lotions and potions to up
your beauty factor. I remember a time when I used to cover myself with
commercial moisturizers, spritz myself with perfume, lather up with
quick foaming body washes, and finish up with layer upon layer of
makeup. I was so focused on the goal of beautification that I was
oblivious to the ugly truth behind my lengthy list of products. I’m a
loud advocate for wholesome food, free from harmful additives and
artificial ingredients, however, food is just one area that you need to
clean up in order to ensure you’re avoiding the consumption of disease
breeding toxins.
Did you know that our skin absorbs a whopping 60 percent of any topical product we use?
Think about it; nicotine patches are designed to be placed on the skin
and absorbed into the body, so why wouldn’t the ingredients you layer on
your skin everyday be leeched into your system? Take this into
consideration with the fact that the average woman also wears nearly 515 chemicals a day!
The
beauty industry loves to promote the promise of eternal youth,
skyscraper lashes, and a holiday glow, but there are many scary truths
that are hiding behind these promises of beauty and perfection.
Nowadays, more than 10,000 chemical ingredients are permitted to be used
in the production of personal care products. Pick up one of those
moisturizers off the shelf next time you are shopping, and it’s no
surprise that this is true. The danger is that many of these chemicals
have been scientifically linked to a range of harmful diseases and
bodily reactions.
Here are some facts about a
handful of the most commonly used, and most dangerous ingredients in
your everyday beauty products. For a toxic-free life, look out for these
harmful chemicals when buying your next round of beauty essentials:
1. Aluminium. This
toxic metal can be found in virtually every personal care product, and
is especially present in antiperspirant deodorants. There’s an
increasing concern about the use of products containing aluminium,
especially when applied to the skin near the breast in the form of
deodorant. The reason for this is that aluminium can have
oestrogen-like effects in our systems, which can disrupt the healthy
functioning of the endocrine system.
2. Toluene. This
petroleum based by-product is most commonly found in nail polishes and
cosmetics. Toluene is a harmful neurotoxin, which can affect the
functioning of the brain and central nervous system, and can pose
implications for the healthy development of children; both born, and
unborn.
3. Parabens. These guys are a group of nasty, synthetic preservatives that can be found in just about all of your cosmetics
and personal care products. If you have babies, be sure to check the
ingredients list of your baby products too, as they are commonly found
in shampoo’s and moisturizers for the little ones. Parabens have been
linked to the disruption of normal endocrine function, severe allergies
and even cancer.
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). You’ll
most probably come across this in commercial shampoos, body washes, and
toothpastes. SLS is actually an industrial chemical designed to create
foam. Although it hasn’t been scientifically proven to be harmful on its
own, the manufacturing process of this chemical can contaminate
products with 1,4 dioxane; a bi-product that has carcinogenic and immune
system suppressing actions. What research does indicate, is that nearly
22 percent of all personal care products, including those for
children’s use, contain the cancer promoting contaminant 1,4- dioxane.
Let’s face it, it not worth the risk.
Taking these
facts on board, it’s really important to read the ingredient lists of
your products, and do your research so that you and your family are safe
from their harmful effects. Bath, beauty and skincare products should
be made with pure, organic oils, fragrances, butters and pigments, and
should contain absolutely no synthetic preservatives, toxins, artificial
fragrances, colors or mineral oils. Once you’ve re stocked your makeup
bag and bathroom with safe, organic
products, you will notice an improvement in your overall health, which
in turn, will improve the way you look, especially in the long term.
