There can be dozens of horrifying ingredients in cosmetics! In fact, women can shave several years off their life with the prolonged use of many beauty products because of the ingredients within the products. Here’s a list of horrifying ingredients in cosmetics that you should avoid!
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1. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Parabens
Parabens are one of the horrifying ingredients in cosmetics that you should try to avoid! Parabens are usually used to preserve and extend the shelf life of your cosmetics. You can also find parabens in many fragrances. However, the reason parabens are so dangerous is because of their ability to penetrate the skin and affect hormone levels. In fact, parabens have been linked to breast cancer.
2. Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sulfates are known for their foaming action, therefore you can find this ingredient in shampoos, soaps and toothpaste. Even though foaming of cleaning products gives us a feeling of reassurance that there’s some serious cleaning action happening, don’t be fooled! Instead, sulfates can dry out and irritate the skin – that’s why your eyes become so easily irritated when you get soap or shampoo on your eyes.
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3. Dibutyl Phthalate
Dibutly phthalate (DBP) is mostly found in nail products, such as nail polishes, to prevent the product from becoming brittle – in other words, DBP is used as a “plasticizer.” Unfortunately, DBP can affect the reproductive system if there's a buildup of the ingredient within your body. In addition, phthalates can cause gene mutation.
4. BHA
Short for butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA is found in both food and cosmetics. In terms of cosmetics, BHA can be found in products such as moisturizers and lipsticks. BHA is used as a preservative in cosmetics but prolonged use of products that contain BHA can cause the skin to become sensitive and have allergic reactions to said products. For example, many seasoned models have sensitive and irritated skin which is prone to allergic reactions because of the extended use of cosmetics containing BHA.
5. Diethanolamine (DEA) & Triethanolamine (TEA)
DEA and TEA are used to make products creamier, thus these ingredients can be found in lotions, creams and moisturizers. However, these ingredients have been linked to liver cancer. In addition, DEA and TEA can also cause dangerous changes to your skin and thyroid.
6. Fragrances
One of the more common ingredients in cosmetics that we’re familiar with, fragrances are harmful because we directly inhale them. Whereas other ingredients take time to enter our system, fragrances are inhaled and spread throughout our body at a much faster rate. A buildup of fragrances in our bodies can lead to allergies and asthma.
7. Dyes
Also another common ingredient, dyes are not so much for the consumer’s benefit. Rather, dyes are used to make a product look more appealing. On the other hand, the side effects that dyes cause are not so appealing – dyes can increase the chance of toxins to affect the brain as well as cancer. Ironically, many dyes that are used in cosmetics are not approved to be used in foods, thus further proving the harm many dyes can do.
Research makeup alternatives to find the most organic cosmetics available to you. Although these products may come at a higher price, at least you will be saving yourself from the prolonged buildup of chemicals and preservatives from your beauty products. What are other nasty ingredients to avoid? In addition, which brands do you like to use that don’t use the above mentioned ingredients?
Comments
Kara: All this is exactly why I went vegetarian and so forth....it's sad that company's are so blinded by $$$ that they would actually put these harmful chemicals in our products. Ladies.....try Dr. Bronners soaps they are cruelty free, vegan and most definitely safe for you skin. Alittle on the pricey side but not if you can use it for just about anything!
Janie: OH.MY.GOD.
Stephanie: YES! Amazing article! Love other writers who know the true meaning of non-toxic! Well done!
Bemnia: petroleum is also a horrible ingredient found in most beauty products
Joki: Oil***
Joki: Yeah these things are sooo bad. After researching hardcore about hair products since my hair is super important to me and the fact I wear mircrobead extentions I have to have top of the line hair products. This includes a SULFATE FREE PARABEN FREE shampoo & conditioner. And btw ladies another important fact: all those oils u think are amazing for UR hair such as morracan oil, saryna key oil, argan oil are all bullshit too.. Look at those horrible ingredients .. They make your hair actually drier over time and make it seem UR hair is better but truly it's not.
Joki: So I use a 100% pure argan oil on face, body and hair. No other ingredients in it. Josie maran 100% argan pil
Laura: İ use the aloe vera line from the body shop, it s the least harmful one in their store and even way healthier than drugstore brands like dove or nivea
Lexi: Lol make sure you guys do your research ....that means on reliable websites a lot of these things on this list are in trifling amounts but yes if exposed to significantly high amounts of these it can/ will become cancerous .... It's like mercury in tuna you'll be okay :)
Wendy: IM SPEECHLESS!
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