5 Toxic Ingredients To Avoid in Your Skincare

June 03, 2021

Have you ever had a skim over the label of any conventional skincare product? If you have then you may have seen some very foreign-looking names and may have wondered what they even are.

A good rule of thumb is that if it looks really strange or you can’t pronounce it then it’s probably not something you really want to put on your skin.

Many conventional products are formulated with a vast array of chemicals that may end up in your bloodstream and put your health at risk, since at least 60% of everything you apply to your skin will end up in your body.

Of course there may be some natural ingredients that sound strange but are actually totally okay for you. This is why it’s so important to be able to read skincare labels.

To make it a little easier for you to identify and avoid the especially bad ingredients we thought we would highlight them in today’s post.

Keep reading for 5 ingredients we highly recommend you stay far away from!

Parabens

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics today. They are synthetic chemicals that may disrupt your hormones, putting your health at risk and possibly even increasing your risk of cancer.

Parabens may be listed as methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, and ethylparaben on the label.

Phthalates

Phthalates, pronounced tha-lates, is a nasty group of chemicals used to make plastic pliable and soft. We know… why the heck is it ever used in skincare or cosmetics?!

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and may induce early puberty. On the label they are often listed as dimethyl phthalate (DMP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), and diethylphthalate (DEP) on the label.

BHA and BHT (Butylated compounds)

These are preservatives added to skincare products to extend the shelf life, you’ll even find them in the foods we eat!

These are actually chemicals that can cause anything from skin flare-ups to reproductive issues and skin diseases, so it's best to avoid wherever possible!

PEG Compounds

Also known as polyethylene glycol, PEGs are petroleum-based compounds used in cream-based cosmetic formulas to thicken and soften formulations.

The issue with these synthetic compounds is that they are most often contaminated with toxic ingredients like ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen or cancer-causing agent!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfates

We thought we needed to mention this one again because it's so rampant throughout our hair and skincare products.

It's responsible for that foamy lather when cleansing our skin or shampooing our hair but it quickly strips your hair and your skin of natural oils leaving your locks lank and your skin barrier at risk.

Sulfates are what causes that foamy lather, and they may be contaminated with a chemical called 1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen, meaning it can increase your risk of cancer. Sulfates may appear as different names on a label, such as sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate.

If you see the word “sulfate” at all, rather ditch it.

We hope you learned something from today’s article. These are just some of the ingredients we recommend you steer clear from. We have a part one that you can check out here.

You never have to worry about exposing yourself to harmful synthetic toxins when you treat your skin to our beautiful all natural ingredients.

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