Harmful Ingredient To Avoid In Body Care Products
Whatever your skin type, normal or dry skin, I'm pretty certain you apply body lotion daily. In addition, you likely apply it twice daily, at the beginning of your day and in the evening. In all of this, I'm not trying to suggest that this is a bad practice (it isn't because it helps keep your skin flexible and hydrated), But are you certain that the lotion you love is safe to use? Products for body care are used the most. Because the skin absorbs about 60% of the things we apply to, it is a huge mistake to simply apply lotion on our bodies without even examining the ingredient list. Many of us continue to do this.
There are many chemicals for personal products, and you'll be able to guess the amount of chemicals that enter our bodies. Although this might be a bit scary, there's an easy way to be sure you're not putting your health at risk by reading the labels and making educated choices. Today, we'd like to guide you through five commonly employed ingredients used in cosmetics and body creams that are an absolute no-no for those who don't wish to compromise your health in pursuit of looking good. Aware of your skin read the most important blog lotion advantages and disadvantages.
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil, also referred to by the name of Petrolatum (also known as Petrolatum) or Petroleum Jelly, is the most commonly utilized ingredient in the cosmetics industry and is the second most used ingredient after water. It's very affordable and easy to find. This is why it's in every list of ingredients, from cosmetic lotions to hair creams, shampoos, and body lotions. Mineral oil is the product of the distillation of petroleum, which has no color, no smell, and an extremely long shelf life. Manufacturers love it due to its low price because it is believed
to be an excellent moisturizing agent (which isn't entirely true; however, that's another topic, and we'll discuss it later).
Although mineral oils are GRAS (generally accepted to be safe) by FDA, If it is not cleaned thoroughly, they may contain some PAHs (most typically benzene) known to be carcinogenic and extremely harmful to the health of humans.
Some scientists categorize mineral oil as a xenohormone (meaning "foreign") and say it may affect the normal functioning of your endocrine system, adversely affecting your immune system.
Also, when it comes to good moisturizing agents - I believe many herbal or natural moisturizers are superior to mineral oils - but they don't pose any risk to your health and do their work quite well.
PEGs
PEGs (polyethylene glycols) are a group of petroleum-derived ingredients favored by manufacturers because of their versatility in use. They function as emollients (help soften and lubricate the skin) and Emulsifiers (allow oils and water-based components to blend properly) as well as vehicles that aid in absorbing active components.
Although PEGs are indeed very safe, their use in products for self-care is not recommended due to the risk of contamination by ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, human carcinogens which easily penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. In addition, ethylene oxide can hinder the normal development of humans and can cause neurotoxicity in the brain.
For a quick notion of the possibility of spotting products that have been contaminated to help you determine the likelihood of contamination, we'll present an example: In a study of products for personal care that are advertised by the names of "natural" and "bio" (not approved by any certification agency), U.S. researchers discovered 1,4-dioxane, a contaminant, in 46 out of 100 products tested!
Phenoxyethanol
In the last few years, there has been written and spoken about the use and dangers of parabens in products for personal care principally due to their uncertain safety. Because of this, many firms began labeling their products "Paraben-Free," tricking customers into believing that the product is safe. Unfortunately, many paraben-free items contain Phenoxyethanol.
Phenoxyethanol is a fairly inexpensive preservative that can inhibit bacteria growth and is commonly used as a substitute for parabens or in conjunction with parabens.
The most significant issue with Phenoxyethanol is that it can be extremely irritating. Not only does it trigger serious allergic reactions, but it's also suspected of triggering the development of eczema in those who are susceptible, i.e., those genetically predisposed to develop eczema at some time in their lives. It's worse; according to some sources, parabens may increase the negative impact that Phenoxyethanol causes. If you are looking for a
paraben-free item, check whether the product's label contains Phenoxyethanol before spending your money on something that's not as effective as you thought.
Artificial Fragrances
What percentage of the products in your bathroom include "Perfume" or "Fragrance" that are listed somewhere in the list of ingredients? There is a lot, I'm guessing.
Due to the absence of regulations in the cosmetics industry, In many cases, manufacturers aren't obliged to state the specific ingredient they are using and instead can generalize. Unfortunately, this is the case for scents.
The scent is the name invented to protect a business's "secret formula," i.e., their own mix of smells. Today, fragrances are used to refer to over 3,300 compounds, a majority of which are identified as allergies and xenohormones. Some are thought to cause adverse effects on the respiratory and reproductive systems. There is no method to know the specific type of scent the company uses. Unfortunately, no!
If you aren't comfortable risking your health, choose fragrance-free body lotions or products with essential oils. Aromatic body lotions with a pleasant scent are refreshing to apply; however, they're not appropriate for all. Be aware of that.
Methylisothiazolinone
Often used in combo with its "relatives" methylchloroisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is another powerful and widely used preservative, loved by the skin care industry, primarily because of its low cost.
Even though methylisothiazolinone is indeed a very potent biocide (a chemical substance capable of killing/suppressing the growth of bacteria and fungi), it is also "famous" for being a strong irritant and sensitizer. Methylisothiazolinone can cause allergic reactions, contact dermatitis, and even nerve damage.
In the last couple of years, there have been many debates about the safety of MIT. Following several studies, it has been proven that MIT can cause harm to neurons in development, even in minimal amounts. This has led to changes to the regulations of European manufacturers regarding the limits for the concentrations allowed in products that leave on (like lotions for hands and body creams). Do companies adhere to these standards? We're not sure.
Although the neurotoxic effects that can last for a long time of exposure to low concentrations and chronically high levels aren't fully researched, we'd rather avoid the chance. Better safe than sorry.