Don't get me wrong. I'm just as likely as the next woman to buy the latest makeup formulation or hot new perfume. I love anything that promises better, lighter coverage or more youthful results. Having studied natural health, though, I'm always concerned about what is in these products and what they might do to my body.
When I downloaded the "Skin Deep App" onto my smartphone, I was shocked by the ratings they placed on my favourite cosmetics. Some I had been using for years. The really shocking discovery was finding that one of the most prominent producers of makeup had the worst ratings given. This company not only produces their own cosmetics, but other companies' as well. I wished I'd paid attention to the ingredients in makeup sooner but, like most people of my generation, I didn't think about it back then. I trusted the credibility of successful makeup brands. It never occurred to me that harmful ingredients might be lurking in my favourite department store products.
Thanks to great pioneers like David Suzuki, this information is now readily available to everyone. And the "Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep App" is an invaluable tool to have on your smartphone to easily access when shopping for makeup, shampoo's and conditioners, nail polish and perfume. You can get lists of the most common toxic ingredients from the Internet too. I have listed some of them for you below:
Dibutyl phthalate: used as a plasticizer in some nail care products, the concern is that it may be an endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant.
Parabens: these are very common in cosmetics and moisturizers and are also a concern as endocrine disrupters and male reproductive inhibitors.
PEG's (polyethylene glycols): these may be contaminated with measurable (noticeable) amounts of ethylene oxide which is a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent).
Siloxanes and Methicones: used in cosmetics to soften and moisten. These are suspected to be endocrine disrupters and reproductive toxicants.
Sodium laureth sulfate: used as foaming agents in cosmetics, shampoos, cleansers and bubble baths. These can become contaminated by 1.4-dioxane, which is believed to cause cancer.
Triclosan: used in antibacterial products such as toothpaste, cleansers, and antiperspirants and are suspected to be endocrine disrupters and cause antibiotic resistance to bacteria.
Parfum (Fragrance): A lot of perfume contains ingredients that are linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. It's best to refrain from purchasing cosmetics that contain large amounts of perfume. Make sure it is listed at the end of the list of ingredients as this indicates the amount is minimal.
I have now switched to more natural hair and makeup products and my local health store is my new "BSF" (best store forever). I frequent salons and spas that use natural hair colour products and USDA Certified organic moisturizers and toners for facials and wraps.
I'm a non-toxic woman now and you can be too if you take a few extra minutes to check those ingredients and buy natural and organic makeup and shampoo!
