Beauty

Do you know that manufacturers can put practically any chemical they want into skin care and hair care products, even if it is a hazardous chemical listed in the RTECS database of toxicity and even if it is considered a toxic waste chemical by the EPA? 90% of the ingredients in these products have not been assessed for safety by the government or even by the cosmetics industry’s own safety panel. The FDA allows all sorts of chemicals to be used in these products, including chemicals that are known carcinogens and that are linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, nervous system disorders, allergies/immunotoxicity, liver failure, etc.
Think twice about what you’re rubbing into your skin or scalp if your products include any of the following ingredients:
1. Cocoamide DEA (diethylalomine) TEA, MEA,– detergent in most shampoos, moisturizers and more Studies also show that DEAs (including cocamide DEA) directly inhibits fetal brain development in laboratory studies by blocking the absorption of choline, a nutrient required for brain development and maintenance.
2. Propilene Glycol - industrial antifreeze – in deodorant, shampoos, shaving gels, and moisturizers.
3. Sodium lauryl sulfate and flouride garage floor cleansers, detergents – in shampoos and toothpastes.
4. Benzaldehyde (in perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, Vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent).

• Narcotic
• Sensitizer
• Local anesthetic
• CNS depressant
• Irritates the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs and GI tract
• Causes nausea and abdominal pain
• May cause kidney damage

5. Benzyl acetate (in perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants)

• Carcinogenic
• Linked to pancreatic cancer
• Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects

6. Benzyl alcohol (in perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, Vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener)

• Irritates the upper respiratory tract
• Causes headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and drop in blood pressure
• CNS depressant
• Death in severe cases from respiratory failure

7. Ethanol (in perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover)

• Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
• Irritates the eyes and upper respiratory tract
• Causes initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision and ataxia
• Causes central nervous system disorder

8. Ethyl acetate (in after shave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid)

• Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste List
• Narcotic
• Irritates the eyes and respiratory tract
• May cause headache and narcosis
• May cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys

9. Linalool (in perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant)

• Narcotic
• Causes respiratory disturbances in some cases leading to death
• Causes central nervous system disorder

10. Methylene Chloride (in shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover)

• Banned by the FDA in 1988
• Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
• Carcinogenic
• Causes headaches, irritability, fatigue and tingling in the limbs
• Causes central nervous system disorder

Are you sure that organic cosmetics is safer than the conventional varieties? Not necessarily. When shopping for organic cosmetics there are specific ingredients that should not be on the label. These are:
11. Grapefruit Seed Extract. It derives its antimicrobial properties not from grapefruit seed, but from toxic chemicals, primarily benzethonium chloride, and to a lesser extent from triclosan and parabens.
12. Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is toxic to the immune system and can cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions.
13. Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein. Anytime you see something that is hydrolyzed there is a hidden source of MSG that is absorbed into your bloodstream when it comes in contact with your skin.
14. PEG – Studies have shown that any ingredient that contains PEG in its name can be contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane.
Unfortunately, these hazardous chemicals are going to remain quite legal in the use of personal care products for many years to come, as manufactures care about their convenience and profit, not about your health. But you do not have to expose yourself to toxic chemicals! Protect yourself by learning the truth about the products that you use (you can find a lot of useful info at Cosmeticsdatabase), and switch to products made with safer ingredients.