There are approximately 82,0001 different
ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoo,
conditioner, body wash, deodorant, moisturizers, cosmetics, toothpaste, shaving
cream, sunscreen, etc. One in eight of these ingredients are toxic industrial
chemicals.1 The average adult uses 9 different products daily,
exposing themselves to 126 unique chemical ingredients.2
The Auditor General of Canada recently conducted a report on
the chemicals in household consumer products and cosmetics. It concluded that
Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program may not be protecting Canadians
from the dangers of chemicals found in these products. Yikes! You can read the
report here.
So, what can you do?
How to Stay Safe -
Toxic Ingredients to Avoid
So, if Health Canada’s program isn’t able to protect you,
how can you protect yourself? The key to avoiding these harmful chemicals and
toxins is to become educated and to know what to look for and avoid. You need
to read your labels and be able to identify the toxic ingredients. Trusting
label claims is not enough.
These chemicals cause various effects in the body and are
generally categorized as carcinogens (cancer-causing), endocrine disruptors
(affect hormone function causing adverse effects in the body), allergens,
irritants or reproductive toxins (affect fertility).
Here is a list of some of the more harmful chemicals you
want to avoid that are commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products:
BHA / BHT (butylated
hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene)
Coal Tar -
usually seen on labels as FD&C or D&C followed by a colour and a number
(i.e. FD&C Blue
No 1).
DEA (diethanolamine)
Formaldehyde
Oxybenzone
Parabens
(metyhlparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben)
Phthalates (DBP, DEP,
DEHP, DMP)
Polyethylene glycol
(PEG)
Parfum (fragrance) -
The ingredients that form this mixture do not have to be disclosed on labels.
Sodium Laureth
Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:
Triclosan
Many products also claim to reduce the signs of aging, yet
the chemicals and toxins found in these products may contribute to free radical
damage, a significant factor in the aging of the skin. So, is the product
helping or harming you?
Babies and children are also more vulnerable to the harmful
effects of industrial chemicals as their detoxification organs are still developing,
leaving them with a reduced ability to detoxify. Studies conducted by the Environmental Defence
and the Environmental working group found high levels of toxins in the
umbilical cords of babies, indicating prenatal exposure through the mother.3,4
We need to avoid these chemicals to reduce our toxic
exposure and minimize their harmful and potentially deadly effects. More and
more companies are realizing that consumers are aware of these harmful
chemicals, and are actively looking for products that use safer, more natural,
alternatives. As a result, you will notice that certain ingredients, such as
parabens and phthalates, are being removed from some products. Supporting
companies that use fewer chemicals will help move the entire industry toward
safer ingredients.
The Beneficial
Ingredients
Naturally based personal care products can be just as, if
not more, effective than their chemical counterparts, but also offer the
benefit of nourishment and reduced toxic exposure. Their ingredients are rich
in fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help nourish and
repair the skin and fight free radical damage. They are typically made with the
following ingredients:
Carrier Oils: Generally
used as a base in skincare, offering most of the moisturizing properties and
are restorative and soothing. Rich in fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants to
protect from free radical damage. Some oils also have a natural SPF factor.
Examples are avocado oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, rosehip oil and
sweet almond oil.
Butters: Used to
create a creamy and thick texture in balms, lotions, soaps and creams. Also
rich in fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and offer excellent conditioning for
the skin. Examples are cocoa butter, kokum butter, mango butter and shea
butter.
Herbs and Botanicals:
Herbs and flowers generally used in the dried form and added for their
healing and curative properties. Many are soothing to the skin and have
antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Examples are
yarrow, marshmallow root, burdock root, calendula, goldenseal and comfrey.
Waxes: Used to emulsify and
thicken skincare and offer protection for the skin. Examples are beeswax,
carnauba wax, candelilla wax and emulsifying wax.
Essential Oils: Concentrated extractions from various plants including
flowers, grasses, fruits, leaves, roots and trees. They are very aromatic and
can be used to add scents to skincare that can be uplifting, energizing or
calming, for example. Many are also anti-microbial, antiseptic and contain
healing properties. Examples are lavender, chamomile, clove, eucalyptus, sweet
orange, ginger and peppermint.
Natural
Preservatives: Used to extend the shelf life of products and prevent
rancidity. Examples are vitamin E, rosemary extract and grapefruit seed extract.
Other ingredients that may be found in natural skincare
include aloe, arrowroot powder, baking soda, clays, floral waters, honey, sea
salt, sugar, witch hazel and zinc oxide.
There are many products on the market today that are solely
based on these types of ingredients and don’t contain any synthetic or toxic
ingredients. The best way to determine which products are safe is to become
educated, read labels and avoid those toxic ingredients.
Makeababy.ca now carries Of Earth and Nature’s Belly Butter
and Nursing Balm, for pregnant and nursing women - although they also work well
as a diaper cream or lotion! Of Earth and Nature is a natural skincare company
based in Barrie, Ontario. Their products are made with natural ingredients,
such as avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter and locally sourced
beeswax. They are free from toxic ingredients. For more information on their
products, visit makeababy.ca or ofearthandnature.ca.
References:
1.
David Suzuki Foundation. ‘Dirty
Dozen’ cosmetic chemicals to avoid.
2.
Environmental Working Group. Exposures add up –
Survey results. Available online at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2004/06/15/exposures-add-up-survey-results/
3.
Environmental Defence. 2013. A
report on the toxic substances in the umbilical cord blood of Canadian
newborns.
4.
Environmental Working Group. 2005. Body Burden:
The Pollution in Newborns.
David Suzuki Foundation. 2010. Dirty
Dozen Backgrounder.
NIEHS. 2010. Endocrine Disruptors. National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences. Research Triangle Park, NC. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/endocrine_disruptors_508.pdf
Sathyanarayana S, Karr CJ, Lozano P, Brown E, Calafat AM, Liu
F, Swan SH. 2008. Baby care products: possible sources
of infant phthalate exposure. Pediatrics. Feb;121(2):e260-8.
Calafat AM, Valentin-Blasini L, Ye X. 2015. Trends in Exposure to Chemicals in
Personal Care and Consumer Products. Current Environmental Health Reports. Dec: 2(4):pp 348-355.
Other Resources:
http://www.environmentaldefence.ca
Danielle Senkerik is a Registered Holistic NutritionistTM
and the founder of Of Earth and Nature, a natural skincare company based in
Barrie, Ontario. Of Earth and Nature’s products are free of toxins such as
parabens, synthetic ingredients, artificial preservatives and petrochemicals.
Danielle leads a natural, holistic lifestyle, which includes natural skincare
and cleaning products. As a mother to two young children, and a Nutritionist,
she realizes the importance of reducing our toxic load to ensure health and
longevity.
You can find the following Of Earth and Nature products at Make-A-Baby Belly Butter Nursing Balm
For more Of Earth and Nature products check out the website http://ofearthandnature.ca