Ingredients to Avoid Knowledge Base
Fragrance
Artificial fragrance and synthetic colours are two of the leading causes of allergy and sensitization in all cosmetics. To make just one artificial scent can require up to 4000 individual synthetic ingredients. These synthetic fragrances often contain phthalates which are extremely toxic .
So if it looks colourful or smells artificial – avoid it!
Colouring
Synthetic Colours and artificial fragrance are two of the leading causes of allergy and sensitization in all cosmetics. Most colours are derived from coal tar. Coal tar is used as a colouring agent (such as green no 3 or red no 33).
They can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks and headaches and are also a known carcinogen. So if it looks colourful or smells artificial – avoid it!
Plant Additives
Lavender is considered one of the mildest known plant essential oils however there is not a lot of scientific evidence to support this. Studies have demonstrated that lavender is cytotoxic (basicly meaning cell toxic or toxic to cells) to human skin cells. It has been suggested by one American study that lavender was the cause for prepubescent breast enlargement of otherwise healthy boys.
The case raises concerns that Lavender oil’s ‘estrongenic activities’ may cause a hormonal imbalance in the body, causing an enlargement of the breast. Additionally, the allergens in lavender are known to cause allergic contact dermatitis. The current recommendation is that there is not enough medical research to safely recommend lavender for children, babies or pregnant women.
Shea Butter contains natural latex and it is essential that persons suffering from latex allergies should not use shea butter products. There are also links between latex allergy and other foods, called Latex-Food allergy/syndrome.
Animal Addtives
Lanolin is a natural greasy substance acquired from the sebaceous gland of sheep. Lanolin consists of three parts, wool alcohols, fatty alcohols and fatty acids. The main cause of contact allergy is the wool alcohol.
Lanolin is found in many baby cosmetic items including moisturisers, barrier creams and some baby oils. Typical reactions to wool alcohols include a characteristic rash of the face, hands and arms. The rash may appear within a few hours of application or may take up to a few days to appear.
Parabens
Parabens / Methylparaben / Propylparaben / Ethylparaben / Butylparaben / Hydroxybenzoic acid
Parabens are synthetic preservatives that are widely used in baby wipes, baby lotions, shampoos and bath gels but also found in shoe polish and glues. They are highly hazardous known to be carcinogenic (cancer causing), toxic and mutagenic as they mimic the hormone oestrogen. In a recent study, traces of five different parabens were found in the breast cancer tumors of 19 of 20 women examined and are currently banned in Sweden and Japan. Not only are they bad for humans but also the environment as they are derived from fossil-fuels, therefore not renewable.
There are 5 different paraben esters; methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acids. Their use in cosmetics is particularly troubling because their absorption into the bloodstream bypasses the gastrointestinal tract where they might be broken. Parabens are easily absorbed through the skin. They have lipophilic properties, which means they can accumulate in fatty tissue such as that found in the breast.
Scientists have known about the oestrogen-mimicking action of parabens since introduction in 1938 but it was believed that they were unable to penetrate the skin, an assumption now known to be incorrect.
Petrochemicals
Petrochemicals/ Vaseline / Mineral Oil / Baby Oil / Liquid Paraffin
Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of petroleum. Petroleum Jelly has been banned in the European Union for it's use in cosmetics since 2005 due to it's carcinogenic properties. Baby Oil is 100% petroleum derived, it is in fact a cheap and nasty petroleum by-product and coats the skin like a piece of plastic literally suffocating the skin. Its used in skin care products because it is an inexpensive oil that lubricates the skin; ideally to moisturize, soften and protect the skin from harsh weather.
Its inexpensive with an unlimited shelf life so its appealing for cosmetic, hair and skin care manufacturers. Mineral oil is liquid petroleum which is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline.
Phthalates
Phthalates are man-made chemicals used in personal care products. Recent studies suggest phthalates can alter human male reproductive development. This evidence is shown to be strongest in young infants, who are uniquely vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalates given their immature metabolic, nevous and reproductive systems.
EU banned phthalates in 2006 from infants toys due to strong toy to mouth age group. President Bush signed bill to ban Phthalates in 2008 a harmful chemical that has been linked to breast cancer decreased sperm counts, birth defects and other health problems.
PEG
Propylene Glycol (PG) and Polyethylene Glycol PEG
This is an industrial antifreeze and the major ingredient in brake fluid. It dissolves grease and oil and is used as a thickener. You should avoid pre fixes such as, PEG and Polyethylene.
Used as a humectant in cosmetics. Carcinogenic, mutagenic, causes liver and kidney damage. Ethylene Glycol is a suspected bladder carcinogen it has been linked to birth defects and reduced sperm count.
SLS/SLES
SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/ Sodium Dodecyl
A very harsh industrial degreasing agent found in 98% of personal care products. It is a harsh chemical which will cause a product to foam while also stripping the body of its natural oils. SLS is routinely used in clinical trials as an irritant for the skin. It is a chemical that will stay in the tissues of the skin for days and if exposed to the eyes can impair eye development prematurely.
SLES - Sodium Laureth Sulfate / Ammonium Laureth Sulphate
This is commonly used as the foaming agent in toothpastes, bath gels and bubble baths. SLES and ALES can stay in the tissues for up to five days and can form nitrates and nitrosamines, which are carcinogens (ie cancer causing). This means that the body is more likely to develop cancer.
Soap
Our skin has an acid mantel with an average pH of 5.5. Ordinary alkaline soap cleansers will neutralise this acid mantel leaving the skin susceptible to all sorts of environmental insults ranging from dry, irritated skin all the way through to bacterial infections which result from the change in the balance of good versus bad bacteria on the skin surface.
Anti-bacterial cleansers by also destroying the ‘good’ harmless bacteria on the skin leave it vulnerable to infection by the ‘bad’ bacteria such as staphylococcus or streptococcus that can now grow unchecked.
Talcum Powder
A naturally occurring mineral that is crushed into powder for cosmetic grade talcum powder. It sometimes contains boric acid which can irritate the lungs, skin and eyes and affect the gastrointestinal tract. Talc can occur naturally with, and therefore be contaminated with asbestos fibers, a known human carcinogen. Talc can be acutely dangerous to an infant when the container tips over the childs face.
The powder can suffocate the child and may result in death. The same can be true of other baby powders. This chemical is considered unclassifiable by the WHO (world health organization). Long term application of Talc to the genital area may increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women. Talc enters the female reproductive tract and collects in the ovaries when applied to the groin area or abdomen.
Studies have also shown women who use Talc Powder around their genital area are approximately 5 times more likely to develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime.