Dangerous Cosmetics – What To Avoid (And Use)

Cosmetics Contain Some Real Nasties. Here’s What To Look Out For – And How To Avoid Them

Want a new lipstick? You might get more than you bargained for. Sadly, many cosmetics have dangerous ingredients that can cause serious health problems.

But you use cosmetics on the outside of your body, so surely they aren’t too big of a concern? Well, that’s not the case – you ingest lipstick and lip liner in normal wear, plus your skin actually absorbs a lot of chemicals that will end up directly in your bloodstream.

That means that what you put on the outside of your body is just as important as what you put in it. Find out what to avoid in this useful article.

Preservatives Like Parabens

Cosmetics are made to be able to sit on shelves for a long time. The only way that’s possible is by adding preservatives, many of which are dangerous.

DMDM hyantoin and dizolidinyl urea release formaldehyde as they break down.  Formaldehyde is a known cause of cancer.

Parabens are common preservatives in cosmetics, foundations, mascaras and shampoos. They mimic estrogen / oestrogen, and too much estrogen can lead to fertility issues and even cancer.

Read the labels, try to find paraben-free cosmetics. (Parabens have different names such as methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben).

Formaldehyde in Your Cosmetics

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, but it’s found in nail polish, nail hardeners, glues for eyelashes, soap, shampoo, deodorant, hair straighteners and hair gel.  Another form of formaldehyde is formalin. Check the labels – but you won’t always find it listed.

Lead and Cadmium in your Lipstick

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that is banned in many products – but not in lipsticks, where it’s used to colour the product. When you wear lipstick, you may be ingesting not just lead but also cadmium, another heavy metal that is a known carcinogen (it can cause cancer).

Phthalates in Your Fragrances

Phthalates are common industrial chemicals used in plastics, and also in fragrances for air fresheners, cleaning products, and even your cosmetics, soaps, hair care products and lotions that are scented.  You can also find them in fragrances, but the dangerous thing is that perfumes and colognes aren’t required to label them.

They are so common that it’s almost impossible to avoid them completely – but you certainly don’t want to be adding them to your body directly if you can avoid it. They cause hormonal imbalances and may also cause cancer.

Look for fragrance-free products. If you prefer a nice aroma, add a few drops of pure essential oils.

Triclosan in Your Toothpaste

Triclosan is a preservative used to fight bacteria.  It is often found in antibacterial products such as toothpaste, deodorant, soaps and other cosmetics.  Triclosan leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which means the bacteria are harder to treat should you be infected by them.  In addition, triclosan can cause hormonal problems, and environmental problems when it ends up in the water supply, disrupting entire ecosystems..

Avoid anti-bacterial soaps and household cleaners. Check the labels and avoid those containing triclosan.

Hidden Dangers from 1,4-Dioxane

A chemical known as 1,4-dioxane is a product that doesn’t have to be labelled on cosmetic products.  That’s because it’s produced during manufacturing rather than being added to a cosmetic product.

This toxic chemical is known to cause cancer and sadly it’s very common, found in shampoo, body wash and children’s bubble bath.  You’ll find it in products that create a lather from sodium laureth sulfate.

While it seems impossible to avoid this chemical, there are alternatives to it.  This is especially true if you look for products that are Certified Organic, though there are also organic products that aren’t certified and still are free from this chemical.

Nitrosamines in Your US Cosmetics

Nitrosamines are chemicals commonly found in mascara, conditioner, concealer, and sunless tanning products. These are known cancer-causing chemicals that have been banned in Canada and the European Union.  However, they haven’t been banned in the United States, although the FDA encouraged cosmetic companies to voluntary remove nitrosamines. It can still be found in about 10 percent of products on the shelves.  And after a product is opened, the nitrosamine concentration can actually increase over time.

Hydroquinone in Colours and Lighteners

Hydroquinone is a harmful chemical found in hair relaxers, hair extension glues, and hair coloring products, as well as in facial cleansers and moisturizers and hair conditioners.  It is thought to increase your risk of skin cancer, and it’s banned in the European Union, but is still allowed in the United States, even though it’s also considered a neurotoxin that can negatively affect the brain.

This is considered one of the most dangerous chemicals found in cosmetics and should be avoided at all costs.  Make sure to check your product labels for it and do your homework to find out if it’s in any of your skincare products.

So, What Products Are Safe to Use?

After reading about all of these harmful chemicals, you may wonder if there’s anything you can use safely.

Don’t be fooled by a product labelled “natural”. The word isn’t regulated, so it means nothing. (Arsenic is “natural”).

An excellent resource is EWG’s Skin Deep database, which lists the toxins in many products.

Alternatively, look for companies that have clearly represented the chemicals in their products and promised to eliminate known toxins.

Some more tips:

1. Always look at the label for ingredients. (Not all components are required to be labelled, but some are).
2. Look for certified organic products (but still check the ingredients before you buy).
3. When you see ingredients you can’t pronounce or that sound like chemical names, either avoid them, or look them up online to see if they’re safe.
4. Avoid scented products, particularly in personal care items such as sanitary liners.
5. Don’t buy anti-bacterial products
6. Buy fragrance-free products, and add essential oils if you want a pleasant aroma.
7. Make your own cosmetics – you’ll know exactly what goes into them. They’re not only safer, you’ll often save money too.

• Make your own eco-friendly eye shadow
• Make your own blusher
• How to start creating your own make up (and why it’s better)
• Make your own lipstick and lip balm
• DIY make-up remover

Look through the cosmetics you have now. Even if you can’t afford to throw everything out, you can start to research alternatives so that when it’s time to buy your next bottle of moisturizer or tube of lipstick, you’re ready with a safer alternative.

It may be impossible to completely avoid chemicals in cosmetics, but you can do a lot to reduce the amount that come into contact with your body.  By carefully reading labels and doing a little bit of online research, you can eliminate most of the harmful ingredients from your cosmetics.

If you don’t want to eat the chemicals in your cosmetics, don’t put them on your body.

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How do you avoid toxins in the cosmetics and personal care products you use? Let me know in the comments below.

Warm regards,

This was originally published in 2018 and has been updated with new information

Related:

• Make your own eco-friendly cosmetics!
• Get rid of all the toxic products in your life (you’ll be shocked at where they hide!). It’s easy – see how here!