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What brand of shaving cream do you use? Make-up? If it’s on the shelf, it must be safe, right? Think again. According to the Environmental Working Group, “There are currently 10,500 FDA-documented ingredients used in personal care products. Only 11% (or 1,155) have been assessed for safety by the cosmetics industry.”
Those 1,155 tested ingredients? They have been evaluated “by the cosmetics industry”, not by the FDA, something like “the fox guarding the chicken coop”.
“Are there currently 10,500 ingredients documented by the FDA?” The FDA does not require manufacturers of personal care products to register with the FDA. Manufacturers do not have to list the ingredients of their products. They are not required to report any injuries that occur due to the use of their products.
The “FDA does not have a premarket approval system for cosmetic products or ingredients.” The FDA does not test cosmetics (the category in which all personal care products fall).
It’s really a bit crazy considering that we apply these chemicals to our bodies every day for a very long period of time – we’re introduced to the lotions as babies. The fact that we should not ingest cleaning products (although we often do) does not mean that they do not enter our body. Our skin is permeable, that is, it absorbs what is applied to it.
Dr. Epstein warns, in the book Toxic Beauty, that “What we put on our skin affects our health just as much, if not more, than what we put in our mouths.” Ingredients absorbed through the skin can result in body concentrations 10 times higher than oral doses. They don’t pass through your GI tract, so your liver doesn’t filter them out first. They are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
One worrying development is the addition of “nanoparticles” to personal care products. These “penetration enhancers” are meant to deliver ingredients even deeper into the skin. The Cancer Prevention Coalition lists “penetration enhancers” as one of the top categories of toxicants in personal care products.
Dyes, detergents, preservatives, and other common ingredients are known to be harmful. Fragrances, perfumes, and “scent enhancers” are particularly dangerous. Manufacturers are not required to list the individual ingredients that make up a fragrance, and “fragrance” on a label can mean the presence of up to 4,000 different compounds.
3 of the worst chemicals commonly found in many cosmetic products are parabens, propylene glycol, and sodium sulfates.
parabens
Parabens are preservatives used to increase the shelf life of shampoos, conditioners, makeup, lotions, deodorants, and toothpaste. They are a component in 90% of personal care products.
Common types of parabens are butyl, propyl, and ethyl parabens.
Methylparaben is often used in anti-aging skin products, yet a Japanese study linked the compound to excessive skin aging when combined with UV exposure.
Parabens have been found to cause skin reactions such as rashes, dermatitis, and eczema.
Recent studies have found that parabens mimic estrogen and can affect the male and female reproductive organs. Some research has found that low sperm count and low testosterone levels are directly related to paraben levels.
Increased estrogen levels are linked to a higher incidence of breast cancer. A UK study measured paraben levels in breast cancer tumors and found high levels in 18 out of 20.
Propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol
PG and PEG are organic alcohols used in personal care products such as makeup, deodorants, hair care products, aftershaves, and toothpaste to stabilize fragrance formulas and attract moisture.
Propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol are also used industrially (and in the same forms) in antifreeze, oven cleaner, brake/hydraulic fluid, and aircraft de-icers.
These organic alcohols are used to break down the structure of cells and proteins. They have been linked to dermatitis, kidney and liver problems, and decreased immunity. They inhibit the growth of skin cells and are potentially carcinogenic.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate
SLS and SLES are surfactants found in 90% of foaming products. Common in bubble baths, body wash, shampoo, toothpastes, makeup, and mouthwash, they are also used to degrease car engines, clean garage floors, and wash cars.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are especially dangerous due to their denaturing properties. When combined with other ingredients, they change the nature of proteins in unpredictable and frightening ways.
The American College of Toxicology reports that these chemicals cause eye malformations in children. Animal studies showed that SLS caused eye damage, depression, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. There have been many reports of skin irritation and breakouts due to the use of SLS and SLES.
Research has found that these compounds enter the heart, liver, lungs, and brain and can become a potent source of the carcinogen, nitrosamine. They also act as estrogen mimics and may be linked to PMS, menopause, male infertility, and breast cancer.