Think about the products you use on your face on an average day. Do you wash your face with soap and water before bed? If you wear makeup, do you take it off at night? Do you put moisturizer on before bed? How about some hairspray to keep it all in place? Or even some lip balm to keep your lips from getting chapped? Whatever product you use, make sure you’re doing so safely. You don’t want harmful chemicals being absorbed into your body, where they can cause potentially dangerous side effects and illnesses later on down the line.
Learn about toxic ingredients
Phthalates and Triclosan are two toxic ingredients to watch out for. Phthalates are often found in synthetic fragrances, cosmetics, hair products and nail polish. Phthalates can be found in plastics, vinyl flooring, vinyl wall coverings and other building materials. Triclosan is often found in antibacterial soaps and toothpaste. It's also been used as a pesticide on fruits and vegetables in some countries. It's best to avoid this ingredient if possible. Parabens are another chemical to look out for because it has been shown that they may cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. They are used in products including soap, shampoo, deodorant and baby lotion. Research shows that parabens could lead to endocrine disruption or allergic reactions in some people and their use should be avoided when possible. The third harmful chemical is Methylisothiazolinone which is often used in shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap. Some research suggests it can cause skin irritation.
What ingredients should I avoid?
Many skin care products, such as sunscreens and anti-aging creams, contain chemicals that could be harmful. Some of these chemicals can cause cancer, disrupt hormones and damage the immune system. Be sure to avoid chemical ingredients like oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate, octinoxate and PABA. These are all chemicals that are linked with increased risk of cancer, hormone disruption and more.
Oxybenzone is a common chemical in sunscreen which has been shown to cause hormone disruption and an increased risk of some cancers. Retinyl palmitate is a form of vitamin A found in many anti-aging products which has been shown to speed up skin aging when applied topically on humans for two months or longer. Octinoxate, another ingredient commonly found in sunscreen, may increase your risk of developing endometrial cancer. PABA stands for para-aminobenzoic acid which is banned by the FDA because it causes dermatitis and photosensitivity reactions.
The different types of skincare products
Skin products come in many different forms. There are facial creams, masks, lotions, and cleansers. There are also hair products like shampoo and conditioner. And then there are sunscreens and self-tanners. Sunscreen is used to protect the skin from UV rays which cause skin cancer and other conditions. Self-tanner is a product that creates a fake tan. What's the difference between these two types of skincare products? Self tanners use chemicals to stain the skin brown and create a tan effect. Sunscreens usually contain Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide which reflect harmful UV rays away from the body rather than using chemicals that can penetrate into the skin. Self-tanners use ingredients such as Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose to make the skin look darker by reacting with amino acids on the surface of the skin. The health risks depend on how often you're using it and what type of ingredients are in it. Lastly, be careful when choosing your moisturizer. Some contain Parabens which has been shown to disrupt hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
Look for natural ingredients, how do you identify those ingredients?
Many people think that natural ingredients are more expensive and don’t work as well as synthetic ones. In reality, natural products often have better benefits for your skin, like soothing dryness, reducing wrinkles and improving skin texture. The only way to find out if a product contains natural ingredients is to read the label. If the label doesn’t list the ingredients, it is probably not a good idea to use it. Make sure you take the time to do research on what those ingredients do before using them on your body. Consider these three questions: What is the purpose of this ingredient? How will this ingredient affect my health over time? What kind of effects can I expect from this ingredient after I put it on my body? Is it something that my skin needs or does this ingredient serve any other purpose? Does this ingredient cause an allergic reaction or trigger any serious side-effects? Once you know the answers to these three questions, make an informed decision about whether or not to use a particular product.
Questions to ask yourself when looking at a product
1. What ingredients are in the product?
2. Is the company reputable and do they have a good reputation?
3. Who is the company trying to reach with this product- men, women, kids, teens, etc.?
4. Is this product organic and natural or does it contain chemicals that are harsh on your skin and health?
Where can I find skincare that is free from harmful chemicals and still works well?
Finding good skincare that is free from harmful chemicals and still works well can be difficult. That's why Naturally Flow has some of the best skincare products on the market.
Useful resources
The Environmental Working Group created a list of ingredients that are most often in products that are absorbed through the skin. Check out this list and start reading labels to ensure you know what chemicals you're putting on your body at https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/. When choosing what to put on your body, it's important to consider how it will affect both you and those around you. When using products with harmful chemicals, take extra care not only for yourself but also for those around you by following these tips: Limit the use of fragranced items, especially air fresheners or candles. Avoid using personal care products containing hormone-altering substances like parabens or phthalates. Keep products out of reach of children as they may be more sensitive to harmful chemicals and should not be exposed to them. Read all labels before purchasing any product as many companies do not share every ingredient on their label with consumers.
