Ingredients to Avoid in Personal Care Products

There are many different types of personal care products available, but it can be difficult to determine which products are best for your skin. Manufacturers commonly add unnatural ingredients that may actually cause you harm, and the packaging can be deceptive or misleading. Taking a few moments to read the ingredient list can help you to be assured that you are only using high quality personal care products.

Business Profits vs. Quality Ingredients in Personal Care Products

The cosmetics industry is minimally regulated by the government, which means that the manufacturers can add ingredients that are untested or known to be unsafe. Many of these companies are interested in using the cheapest products possible in order to boost their profits. So, it is necessary for the consumer to take a proactive approach when purchasing personal care products in order to be sure that they are safe to use.

It is essential to be cautious about the ingredients that you are using on your skin, because the body will absorb the ingredients in the personal care product. When toxic ingredients are used topically over a period of time, they can actually cause internal health problems as the body is working to overcome the toxicity.

Ingredients to Avoid in Personal Care Products

• Propylene Glycol: Also known as “MSDS,” and it is commonly used in cosmetics. Continued contact with the skin can result in kidney damage and liver problems.
• Diazolidinyl Urea: Sometimes used in cosmetics as an antiseptic. The reason you should avoid this ingredient is because it releases formaldehyde, which is a toxic compound.
• Diethanolamine: Also known as “DEA,” which is a carcinogen, and has been found to cause cancer in testing animals.
• Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate: These ingredients break down the cell membranes and may lead to cancer. They are often used to create the foaming action in products such as shampoo, bubble bath, soap and toothpaste.
• Petroleum Jelly: Also known as petrolatum or mineral oil. Many products use this ingredient to moisturize and smooth the skin, but it is suffocating to the skin because it doesn’t allow moisture evaporation.
• Triethanolamine: Which is also called “TEA.” This ingredient is toxic, and some studies suggest that prolonged use can lead to cancer.
• Talc: Another carcinogenic ingredient, used mainly in powdery products such as makeup, baby powder, eye shadow, and blush.
• Parabens: Other ingredients that fall within this category include Parahydrozybenzoate, Ethyl, Methyl, and Propyl. These substances are used as preservatives, and they are actually a very common ingredient found in many skin care products.

When you are selecting a brand of personal care products to use, it is best to avoid these unnatural and chemical based ingredients. Instead, look for natural brands of personal care products that contain non-toxic substances. Be careful, because the labels can be deceiving… even “organic” products may contain some of these toxic chemicals. Many health food stores have a section for high quality personal care products, or you can also find these items online.