Have you put 500 Chemicals on Your Body Today?
A recent study published in the UK found that an average woman applies 500 or more chemicals to her face daily. This includes face creams, cleansers, makeup, lotions, etc. With an average use of 13 products, most of which contain between 20 - 30 ingredients each and ‘fragrances’ alone accounting for up to 400 ingredients, this adds up to a toxic coating of the skin that is absorbed throughout the day, deep into the cells of the body.
Many of these everyday ingredients are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors, less than 1% of which have been tested for safety.
The study also mentioned that about 90% of teenage girls are now using makeup. The cumulative effects over decades of use of these toxic chemicals can only be imagined today.
What do you want to put on - and in - your body?
Here is a list of just some of the toxic chemicals you will find in commercial body care products, even those sold as “Natural” and “Organic”:
DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) Hormone-disrupters easily absorbed by the skin. Linked to liver & kidney cancer, allergic reactions, eye irritation & skin/scalp dryness.
FD&C Color Most are made from coal tar & almost all are carcinogenic.
Fragrance Up to 4,000 different unlisted chemical ingredients. Can be cancer-causing & almost all are synthetic, most derived from petroleum.
Imidazolidinyl Urea & DMDM Hydantoin Formaldehyde-based preservatives linked to joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pain, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, loss of sleep, or can trigger asthma, the weakening of the immune system & cancer.
Quaternium-15 Preservative that breaks down into formaldehyde (see above).
Isopropyl Alcohol Petroleum derived (think antifreeze & shellac), can cause headaches, dizziness, depression, nausea & vomiting.
Mineral Oil Petroleum derived, coats skin like plastic, stands in the way of skin's natural function of releasing toxins, causing skin to age prematurely.
PEGs (Polyethylene Glycol) Dissolves grease, thickens products, strips skin of its natural moisture factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable. Used in spray-on oven cleaners and many hair and skin care products.
Propylene Glycol (Butylene Glycol) Active ingredient in antifreeze, breaks down protein & cellular structure. EPA requires workers to wear protective clothing & goggles around it. Direct contact can cause brain, liver & kidney abnormalities. Synthetic alcohols (containing the words benzyl –, butyl-, cetear-) can cause allergies & dermatitis.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate Detergents & surfactants used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioner, shampoo & other foaming products. Can cause eye damage, depression, diarrhea & many other ailments. Penetrate skin easily & have ability to live in tissues & organs (including the brain and liver) for a long period of time.
Triclosan Synthetic antibacterial EPA registered pesticide suspected of causing cancer. Hormone disrupter affecting sexual function, fertility & may foster birth defects. Can accumulate in the liver, kidneys & lungs, suppress immune system, cause brain hemorrhages & heart problems. Widely used in antibacterial cleansers, toothpaste & household products.
Petrolatum Petrochemical containing carcinogens Benzo-A-Pyrene & Benzo-B-Fluroanthene, forms a barrier on skin, preventing detoxification. Known as petroleum jelly, it interferes with natural moisturizing processes.
Parabens (Methyl-, Propyl-, Butyl-, Ethyl-) Preservatives that lengthen shelf life, they can lead to diseases like breast cancer.
Look at your body care products, research
the unknown ingredients and make your own choices.
