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In this article by Teagan McNamara, we will see the many harmful chemicals and ingredients in everyday toiletry products.
Harmful Toiletry Products
Harmful Toiletry Products
By Teagan McNamara
By Teagan McNamara
Many of the everyday toiletry products we use contain harmful ingredients. Being aware of them and their effects is important. There is not enough awareness within the U.S, and the issue needs to be brought to attention. From Vaseline to harmful shampoo/conditioner brands and makeup products to animal testing, harmful chemicals and ingredients are in many everyday toiletries we use.
In the U.S, only 11 chemicals have been banned, according to the FDA. In comparison, the European Union has banned over 1,300, showing that there is not enough awareness within the U.S. A list of harmful ingredients and chemicals identified in the United States includes: Fluoride, Aluminum, Synthetic Fragrances, Talc, Mineral Oil, Triclosan, Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Silicon, Propylene Glycol, Phthalates, Coal Tar Dye, DEA, TEA, MEA, Formaldehyde and sulfates. This is just a list of some more common harmful ingredients. According to nutritionist Meghan Telpner, these ingredients can cause skin rashes and irritation, growth in cancer cells, liver damage, hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and could harm fertility. Other risks are asthma, headaches, fatigue, clogged pores, acne, and damage to vital organs. Coal tar dye can even affect nervousness and lack of concentration! Beware and look at the ingredients section of products before buying. Allergic reactions and skin irritation usually vary, depending upon a person's allergies or whether or not they have sensitive skin. While these ingredients and chemicals do not guarantee these effects, it is possible that they may occur. Hopefully, the US will ban more of these harmful chemicals and ingredients so that products will be safer to use.
Image Source: Into The Gloss
Byrdie.com
Wearing makeup for hours on end can cause breakouts, especially if the products in the makeup contain bad ingredients. As makeup products are notorious for skin breakouts and often criticized for animal testing, being careful of makeup choice is important. Brands to avoid are Loreal, Maybelline, Cover Girl, E.L.F, Benefit, Essence, Wet N Wild, Chanel, Revlon, Neutrogena, and Urban Decay, as commented on Her Agenda, a website for the achievement of millennial women. This is because these products have ingredients like BHA, BHTs, Parfum, Coal Tar Dyes, sulfates, alcohol, parabens, Siloxanes, Talc, DEA, Petroleum, PEGs, Triclosan, Formaldehyde, and preservatives. The ingredients in these products create acne, clog pores, cause dry skin and even promote cancer growth. Many of the ingredients are not so natural and use preservatives and plastics. According to Eco-Friendly Habits website writers, some healthier brands to use include: Ilia, RMS beauty, Burt's Bees, Bee You Organics, W3ll People, Lawless and more. Using these brands and staying away from dangerous chemicals and ingredients helps your skin stay healthy and fresh.
Another overlooked toiletry product is shampoos and conditioners. There are many shampoo and conditioner brands to stay away from and consider, such as Head and Shoulders, Pantene, TRESemme, Aussie, Dove, Suave, Garnier Fructis, and Herbal Essence. These are just a few brands and companies to try to avoid. These products contain ingredients like sulfates, which only cover hair with a waxy, plastic coat to make hair shiny and soft. According to WebMD writers, sulfates dry and irritate skin, taking away moisture. Additionally, they can irritate lungs if breathed in excessively. Silicone, another ingredient, a rubber substance used for products such as sealants and kitchen utensils, affects the appearance of hair, can dry hair and cause build-up. So instead of helping hair, these brands cause damage. One example is Head and Shoulders, which claims to help dandruff control, yet their products do the opposite because they contain sulfates, which only dry the skin for the wrong effect needed. This causes itching, rashes, allergic reactions, and excess dandruff. Trying medical dandruff shampoo can be effective, when compared with everyday brands. Also, most of these brands use animal testing or have not been approved by the FDA as cruelty free, according to PETA researchers. Brands to use instead include: Abba, Whole Food 365,Ulta Beauty, Trader Joe's, Sun Bum, Raw Sugar, Nature's Gate, Lulu’s Organics, Hempz, Dr.Teals, DevaCurl, and Be Kind Beauty– all cruelty-free and free of harmful ingredients. Using healthy hair products like these can help hair health and other aspects. There are many more brands and companies to use. Just look at the ingredients section because commercials can be pretending to be natural. Some products, like Aussie and Dove, are in the gray area of animal testing, yet contain some harmful ingredients.
Image Source: Made Safe
Vaseline, a popular commercial brand name for petroleum jelly, is a commonly-used skin care product for preventing moisture loss or for small wound treatment. Look in the medicine cabinet and a container might be there. The thick paste consists of glycerin, alcohol, mineral oil, bisabolol, lanolin, panthenol, and ceresin. According to Medical News Today writers, applying the product near the mouth or nose and breathing it in consistently can cause problems. In more rare cases, it causes pneumonia. Also, petroleum jelly is flammable, so be careful and keep it away from flames. Store it somewhere dry and cool for safety. Petroleum jelly may also cause breakouts from clogged pores. It is used to keep out dirt and such, so that is why it can clog your skin. People with sensitive skin should be cautious. According to the CDC, “Petrolatum, or petroleum jelly, derived from petroleum, is often used in personal care products as a moisturizing agent.” However, petroleum is often not fully refined in the US, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can damage reproductive organs. PAHs are chemicals that are naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. As stated by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, petroleum jelly can cause cancer: “The primary concern with petroleum is the potential contamination with PAHs.” Looking out for this chemical listed on petroleum jelly containers is important. Scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer discovered that women with high levels of PAH molecules had a 50 percent greater risk of breast cancer. PAH exposure is connected to cancer development. PAHs can be found in moisturizers and makeup, as well. There are unrefined or purified forms of petroleum jelly that are not potentially harmful. In addition to the many dangers of Vaseline, there are some benefits of petroleum jelly such as healing, helping eczema, other rashes, and acting as a skin barrier. Contrary to popular belief, Vaseline does not actually moisturize skin, but is instead used as a way to conceal moisture. One example of a good moisturizing and face wash brand is Simple. Consumers can always find different safe brands or substitutes for Vaseline petroleum jelly.
Another harmful part of toiletry products is animal testing. Animal testing has been a commonly-used experiment method for many years. The practice is used for assessing chemicals, drugs, and obtaining information to see if a product is effective. Animal testing not only hurts animals, but affects humans and the environment, as well. Mackenzie Denyer of Ethical Consumer writes, “Sadly, almost all of the ingredients that go into our cosmetics have been tested on animals at some point, even water! For decades, animals have been used to test the toxicity of products for humans and the impact that chemicals will have on the environment.” If chemicals and ingredients could be harmful, then why even think to put in a product? Spreading awareness for animal testing can help this issue. Common brands and companies such as Olay, L’Oreal, Aveeno, Victoria's Secret, Maybelline, and even Blue Buffalo, a dog food brand, use animal testing. Animal rights organization PETA states that “Each year, more than 100 million animals—including mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, fish, and birds—are killed in U.S. laboratories for biology lessons, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation, and chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing.” So many animals are hurt and killed every year. To prevent falling victim to companies that use poor practices, look for products with the cruelty-free bunny symbol on the label and be cautious of fake symbols and labels. Being aware of the harm of animals can help stop animal testing.
Knowing the products, chemicals and ingredients to stay away from can help prevent many harmful effects– from allergic reactions to cancer and animal testing. Learning more about harmful products can help society to spread awareness and start using more natural products.
Image Source: Retail Beauty
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