You may have already heard about detoxing to eliminate harmful ingredients from your body, but did you ever look around your home and bathroom and think you needed to do a detox in those spaces as well?
Did you know that the cosmetic industry is unregulated and that companies are essentially free to do whatever they want, with no government oversight? Which means that they are packing products that we use every day (like mascara, face wash, shampoo, deodorant...) with toxic ingredients linked to harmful health effects from hormone disruption, to cancer, to skin irritation?
Did you also know that companies can use whatever adjectives they want like natural, green or eco, when it comes to marketing their products which means that what is written on the front label does not needs to match what is listed on the ingredient label on the back?
Take example of Aveeno products.
"Our products feature exclusive ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients, carefully selected from nature and uniquely formulated to deliver effective skin and hair care benefits. These ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients undergo rigorous scientific testing to prove their safety and efficacy, so it’s no wonder our products are recommended by leading professionals."
Wow. Awesome...Well, not really. Take a look at their ingredients list:
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour (Oat), Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceteareth 6, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Hydrolyzed Oats, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, PEG 25 Soy Sterol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Benzalkonium Chloride Solution, Benzaldehyde, Butylene Glycol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Ethyl Alcohol, Isobutylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Stearyl Alcohol
Petrolatum? Cetearyl alcohol? Dimethicone (Silicone)? Ceteareth 6? Butylene glycol? Parabens? You get the picture...
Because the FDA does not approve or evaluate cosmetic ingredients for safety before they are sold, products like this can use misleading advertising words like natural and safe without triggering law suits. It's really up to you to know whether the ingredients in the product is safe, which means you need to do your own research.
U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks)
Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.
Since my daughter was born, I became more conscious and especially more concerned about the toxic products we used at home. With this awareness, I gradually began to remove some of these toxic products and had them replaced by safe products instead. I'm not going to lie, it's a transition that did not happen overnight but through which I learned and for which I carry great pride. I can proudly say that I no longer buy products unconsciously or under the influence of an advertising campaign. I now have peace of mind and I know that my family is no longer exposed to all these toxic products.
If you wish to detox your personal care products but do not know where and how to start, here are some tips and lists that will help you along the way. I also included some of my personal favourites personal care products.
'Dirty Dozen' cosmetic chemicals to avoid
Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colours listed as "CI" followed by five digits.1 The U.S. colour name may also be listed (e.g. "FD&C Blue No. 1" or "Blue 1"). Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain.
Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA.
Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer.
Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions.
7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)
Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as "unscented." Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife.
Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol).
Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
Look for ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other
ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).
Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
What to avoid by product types
Soap
Avoid: triclosan and triclocarban.
Skin moisturizer and lip products
Avoid: Retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinoic acid and retinol in daytime products
Hand sanitizers
Pick: ethanol or ethyl alcohol in at least 60% alcohol
Sunscreen
Just say no: SPF above 50, Retinyl palmitate, Aerosol spray and powder sunscreen, Oxybenzone, Added insect repellent
Say yes to: Hats and shade in mid-day sun, Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as active ingredients, otherwise Avobenzone (at 3%), SPF 15 to 50, depending on your own skin coloration, time outside, shade and cloud cover. Use a lot and reapply frequently
Say yes to: Hats and shade in mid-day sun, Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as active ingredients, otherwise Avobenzone (at 3%), SPF 15 to 50, depending on your own skin coloration, time outside, shade and cloud cover. Use a lot and reapply frequently
Hair Care
Avoid or limit: Dark permanent hair dyes, Chemical hair straighteners
Toothpaste
Avoid: triclosan
Nails
Avoid: Formaldehyde or formalin in polish, hardeners or other nail products. Toluene and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in polish.
Pregnant? Skip polish
Pregnant? Skip polish
Anti-aging products
Avoid: Alpha and beta hydroxy acids (lactic acid and glycolic acid) .FDA-sponsored studies find UV- caused skin damage doubles for users of products with alpha hydroxy acid. Regular sunscreen application is the best way to avoid sun-damaged skin.
What to avoid for babies
Baby wipes
Avoid: Bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, Fragrance
Diaper cream
Avoid: BHA, Boric acid, Fragrance
Toothpaste
Use a small amount of fluoride-free toothpaste until kids can reliably rinse and spit (none for kids under 2). Use child-strength toothpaste for children 6 and younger. Use only a pea sized amount and supervise child’s brushing and rinsing (to minimize swallowing)
Sunscreen
Infants under 6 months don’t belong in the sun and they shouldn’t wear sunscreen. For older babies and children, use protective clothing and sunscreen that provides good UVA and UVB protection. Use enough and reapply often.
Baby powder
Skip it! Just like auto exhaust or secondhand smoke, tiny airborne particles can damage baby’s delicate, developing lungs
My favourite personal care products
Face Moisturizer
Revitalizing Day Moisturizer by GOOP and BioOil at night
Body Lotion/Oil
Eye Care
Face Cleanser
Toothpaste
Hand Sanitizer
Deodorant
(Yes, I use men's deodorant!)
Shampoo and Conditioner
Sunscreen
Wipes
My Must-Have
It reduces age marks and stretch marks and clears the complexion. It can be used as a moisturizer, lip balm, cuticle cream, nail growth stimulator, defrizzer for your hair and for soothing irritated skin.
They can be used in personal care or for medicinal purposes in which the essential oils are applied topically to the body. They can also be used in medicine, cosmetics, perfumes, food, and aromatherapy. My favourite best essential oils for a beautiful skin are Jojoba Oil, Malaleuca Oil (Tea Tree), Frankincense Oil and Lavender Oil.
The first step in detoxing your personal care products is to take an assessment of what you already have. You can start by tossing a few of the toxic products today. Your best bet for determining what's really in the products is to study the ingredient list, always. Use the 'Dirty Dozen' cosmetic chemicals to avoid list above to help you. This will make a huge difference on your internal toxic load.
Don't forget that just because a personal care products contains organic, natural, or plant-based ingredients doesn't mean it's free of toxic chemicals, soy or gluten. Just remember that natural or organic ingredients do not imply the product is safe. Always verify the ingredients.
Remember, every change counts.
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