How to know if your skin-care products are toxic

Just because something comes in a container, plastic bag, bottle or any other packaging and is sold in a pharmacy or a supermarket, it doesn’t mean it is safe. 

As a matter of fact, it’s often quite on the contrary. Companies in many industries are exclusively profit driven and have a large lobbying power over regulatory institutions to make sure they continue earnings their dollars. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong making a profit by providing a product or a service with value added, harming people along the way is. Knowingly continuing production of baby powder that contained traces of asbestos  like Johnson & Johnson has done for decades, is a tragic example of outrageous corporate negligence.

The rise of the chemical industry during the 19^th and 20^th centuries led to replacement of natural materials with synthetic compounds. The enthusiasm of the cosmetics industry to exploit variety of applications of chemicals in cosmetic products seems to have outweighed any concerns about potential adverse health effects. Today chances are high that personal care products and cosmetics you see contain chemical toxins and/or have undergone harsh manufacturing processes. 

Application of toxic materials to any part of the body is hazardous to health due to the skin’s permeability. Some say it takes minutes, some seconds, but the fact is whatever you apply on your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream. The good. The bad. The ugly. 

Applying chemicals on the face possess even greater hazards to health due to the close proximity of the brain and other vital organs in the head and neck. 

What if the added chemicals are “within the safe range“?

To save their reputation, many companies will claim that the added chemicals have undergone “rigorous testing” and are “within the safe range”. If there’s a “safe range”, it means there must also be an “unsafe range”. In other words, these chemicals are not “absolutely safe”. The idea that there can be a “safe” dose of an otherwise toxic chemical ignores the cumulative effect that their users are exposed to.

I have compiled a list of some of the most common chemical ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products are below.

1. Preservatives

Used for their “antimicrobial” properties to extend shelf-life. Think parabens, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, benzalkonium bhloride, methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, butylatedhydroxy anisole, butylated hydroxytoluene etc

2. Phtalates

Plasticizing chemicals used to make products more pliable or to make fragrances stick to skin. E.g  endocrine disruptors diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). 

3. Synthetic fragrances 

Derived from petrochemicals or through chemical modification of isolates from natural sources). If the scent doesn’t come not from organic essential oils, it’s most likely synthetic even if the label says “natural”.

4. Triclosan

Antimicrobial pesticide mostly found in soaps and shampoos. Toxic to the aquatic environment and may also impact human reproductive systems.  

5. Emulsifiers, foaming agents and moisture carriers

E.g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)

6. Quasi-natural ingredients 

Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate) and Cocomide DEA are a few examples. The latter is derived from coconut oil but this natural substance is subjected to chemical processes that substantially alter its nature. Retinyl palmitate is common in sunscreens. It can result in lesions and photosensitization when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight.

7. Surfactants

Such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES). Penetration enhancers. 

8. Heavy metals

Lead, mercury, antimony, ETC

Some of these additives result in irritation of the skin, some are endocrine disruptors, others are right out carcinogenic. Thousands upon thousands of them have not been tested for their safety at all. 

So what to choose?

If you are uncertain how safe the different ingredients in your skin care products are, the Skin Deep database by EWG or the Never list are good places to start. They are by no means perfect, but are helpful when you need a quick answer. 

For years, my #1 choice for skin care has been organic oils: jojoba, rosehip, avocado, almond, coconut, calendula etc. Since they don’t contain water, there’s no need to preserve them and organic production makes sure that there are no nasties. This collagen booster by Anima Mundi contains all of my favorites and more 

I’m very excited to have discovered Cura Sana that offers organic face creams and lotions handmade in Tamarindo. At the request of yours truly, they have been preserved with nothing else but rosemary extract. No chemicals – just organic goodness that your skin will love. To read more about these intentionally made creams, please click here 

Thank you for reading and exploring less toxic options with me!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me through any of the chanels here

Con Amor,

Milda