Many ingredients found in cosmetic and skin care products are highly toxic. Check your cosmetics and personal care items now and see just how many of them contain ingredients that should be avoided!
Remember, a label may say that it contains natural ingredients or 'Herbal Extracts, but,' this is no guarantee that the product is as healthy as it sounds. It may contain harmful toxins or many synethic chemicals as well.
Below we have presented some information on ingredients which are often used in cosmetics products. We do stress that this is information which is freely available in the public domain and we would always recommend that you seek professional medical advice if you have any concerns over ingredients you may be using in any products.
Ingredients to avoid in cosmetics and skin-care products:
Aluminium Salts: e.g. Aluminium hydroxychloride, Aluminium Chlorohydrate, aliminium Sulphate etc. Block pores, linked to Alzheimer's.
Aqueous cream: Pariffin and water in suspension. It clogs the pores.
BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene. Maybe carcinogenic.
Borax: Sodium borate, strong irritant, is carcinogenic.
Caprix/caprylic triglycerides: Research uncertain at the moment.
Collagen: Often taken from young animals
Euxyl K100: Bezyl alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazoline, Mehtylisothiazolinone. Same as Kathon CG. Causes rashes and other allergic reactions.
Isopropyl myristate: Iso-propymyristate. Can react negatively with triethanolamines.
Kathon CG: Anit freeze. Wood Preservative. Actizide AC.
Lanolin: Can be contaminated with pesticides from sheep dip e.g. DDT.
Mineral oil: Blocks pores, acts as a barrier, suppresses normal skin functions.
Nitrosamines: Can cause cancers in a wide variety of animal species, a feature which suggests that they may also be carcinogenic in humans. Epidemiological data suggests that nitrosamines in preserved food cause stomach cancer.
Paraffin/Petroleum products: Lubrication oil in sewing machines, floor wax etc. Prevents absoprtion of vitamins, clogs pores, may be carcinogenic
Petroleum Jelly: Destroys vitamins, may be carcinogenic. clogs the pores.
Paraben Preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl): Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Highly toxic.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate: Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate. Very aggresive on the skin. Products containing these substances can affect those prone to eczema and other irritants. These substances provide a foaming quality to the product, allowing for better distribution of the product while washing hair or skin and while brushing teeth. When rinsed off, the product will have cleaned the area but will have taken moisture from the top layers of skin. In people with sensitive skin (prone to dermatitis, acne, eczema, psoriasis and chemical sensitivity), the drying property of these type of detergents can cause flare-ups of skin conditions or may worsen existing conditions. When combined with other chemicals, SLES and ALES can create nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. It is frequently disguised in semi-natural cosmetics with the explanation "comes from coconut". They are used in car washes, as garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers - and in 90% of personal-care products that foam.
Spermataceti Certaceum: Obtained from the head of the sperm whale.
Silk Amino Acid: From dead silk worms.
Tallow: Contains heavy metals & pesticides.
Triethanolamine: Petroleum based, very irritating, can be carcinogenic.
2-borma-2nitropropane-1, 3-diol: Causes diarrhoea, headaches, loss of appetite
Further information can be found on the following links:
Safe Cosmetics
Information on this website is intended to supplement, not be a substitute for, the expertise and judgement of your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. The sale to you by us of any product should not be construed to indicate that the use of any such product is either safe, unsafe, appropriate, or effective for you or anybody else. You must consult your healthcare professional, doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about taking, using or giving of a particular medication or product or acting or relying on any information contained in this website. Always read the label of any products purchased.
