Why Do-It-Yourself Beauty?
Do you know whats in your face cream? Your lipstick? Your aftershave? I didn't either. After I stopped using chemically laden commercial home cleaners it occurred to me that my body and hair products could be as dangerous as what I had just worked so hard to get rid of under the sink. And, the more I read about the ingredients in my soaps and cosmetics the more I found this to be true. Did you know that the cosmetics industry, which also includes hair products and personal hygiene products, is only loosely regulated? Its true. What this means for us as consumers is that the ingredients in everything from our shampoo to deodorant to eyeliner can be dangerous to our health but we'd never know it. The ingredients in your foundation for example may or may not all be listed on the package as there are no regulations requiring companies to fully disclose ingredients. The amount of the ingredients in each product is also only loosely regulated. So, there may be more of something not-so-good for you in that bronzer you are wearing than would make you comfortable. If only you had that information available. According to the Environmental Working Group, a measly 11% of the over 10,500 ingredients in your cosmetics are actually tested for safety. Holy cow! And here we are rubbing these mystery chemicals directly into the biggest organ in our bodies; our skin!
Did you know that our skin absorbs whatever it comes in contact with? This is why our lotion works to rehydrate dry skin and why aloe soothes sun burns. It also explains skin allergies to certain foods and chemicals just by touching them. And because your skin is an organ anything it absorbs can work its way down to your blood stream. Additionally, just like your home cleaners, what ever you wash up with or wash off goes down the drain and into the water system. Plants and wildlife use the same water systems we do and are negatively effected in the same ways we are by dangerous ingredients. Knowing this, why would we want to use products that are full of dangerous chemicals, additives, and dyes that aren't closely regulated or even tested by any government agency? Now I'm not suggesting we all ditch our makeup, soap, deodorant, and aftershave to avoid the potential dangers lurking there but we can certainly make some easy changes. There are some great things you can make at home that work just as well if not better than store bought products for a lot cheaper. You can find a lot of great recipes on This.Herban.Life to replace some of the things you use on a daily basis. But, for those products you would still like to buy, here are some ingredients you can start to avoid when purchasing all those things that clean you up.
Yikes!
What to avoid like the plague
The non profit Environmental Working Group is a fabulous and ultra useful resource when learning about the ingredients in everything from toothpaste to conditioner. Their data base SkinDeep allows you to search any ingredient or product and learn about its safety, testing, and other ingredients. Use it. Love it. The EWG has identified a list of top 7 hazardous ingredients to most avoid that I list bellow. The first step to greening your beauty and hygiene routine is getting a little education about what you already have. If anything you have at home contains one of the following ingredients on this first list I might just chuck it. In upcoming weeks I will post additional lists of other ingredients to be wary of so look for those. The upcoming lists will have a few other ingredients that are also dangerous and should be avoided but you could probably use up what you have and avoid them in the future depending on your comfort level. Exposure to a harsh chemical once or twice is probably not going to cause any lasting effects but the things you use daily can so start with those.
A couple quick tips:
Be wary; when products claim to be "natural" it does NOT mean that they are. Also, just because a product line claims to be organic or has the word "organic" in the title it does NOT mean that it is. Read your labels. Organics will always be certified if indeed they are.
Avoid like the plague!
- Coal Tar: Coal Tar is most often found in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams. The coal tar based dyes FD&C Blue 1 (found in toothpastes) and FD&C Green 3 (found in mouthwash) should also be avoided. Coal Tar is a known carcinogen and rates at a 10 on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is the most dangerous on the EWG's website. The European Chemicals Agency has stated that Coal Tar is a carcinogenic and/or toxic "substance of very high concern."
- Fragrance: The word "fragrance" is used by cosmetic and soap companies to cover a myriad of ingredients including phthalates which are strongly suspected of a number of reproductive dangers including developmental disruption and endocrine damage.
- Hydroquinone: Hydroquinone is found in skin lighteners and face moisturizers and is highly suspected to be a strong neurotoxin. It can also cause allergic reactions.
- Aluminum: We have seen a lot about Aluminum in the news lately. It is found in deodorants and often an ingredient in eye shadows. There is strong suspicion that Aluminum is not only a neurotoxin but also carcinogenic which has brought it to the attention of the general public lately due to its potential connection to breast cancer.
- Triclosan: Triclosan is found in virtually all antibacterial products including soaps, cosmetics, and oral care. Triclosan often contains dioxins which not only weaken your immune system but can effect fertility and are highly carcinogenic.
- P-Phenylenediamine: This is the ingredient found in regular hair dye. This ingredient can cause severe allergic reactions, lung irritation, and can damage your nervous system.
- Lead and Mercury: Lead is a neurotoxin found in toothpaste as a natural contaminant of hydrated silica. Mercury is also a neurotoxin and skin irritant found in a preservative called thimerosol.
Now What?Don't worry, clean up!
So, now you want to inspect every last item in your cabinet or in the tub. And reading those ingredient lists can be a chore. Just think of all of that money you spent on all of those cosmetics and products that contain things you now want to avoid! And what about all those other ingredients you don't know about yet? Yikes! It can feel very overwhelming and frustrating. But here's the deal. You are now armed with a bit more knowledge and the ability to chose what to keep and use up and what to ditch. The list above has the biggest and baddest hazards on it. The lists to come in my follow up posts will have a few others to look out for but for now worry about the 7 listed above and get those out of your life in whichever way you chose. That makes the task a little easier. Now get excited about learning to make your body products yourself or find some great new natural ones. Just like any change you'll need to give yourself a little time and patience. Starting small is totally o.k. Nothing good happens overnight.
Good luck!
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