Have you ever wondered what is in your skin and hair care product? If you look at the label at the back of the product, you will see a long list of ingredients. So, what exactly is your product made up of? What is the effect of these ingredients? Are they beneficial for your body or not? These are so difficult questions but you cannot answer them by yourself. So, in this article, we make a list of chemicals you must avoid on your skin and hair.
Why Go for Product Labels?
It is important to see the label of your product. You have to know what you are using on your body. For, this you do not have to be a chemical expert. If any of your products have these harmful chemicals, then it may cause skin irritation, rashes. Also, this is not the only fact with skin products, but also a case with hair care products.
Chemicals You Must Avoid
It is important to nourish your body and hair not only externally but also internally. Ingredients added in face washes, lotions, sunscreens, and more have been linked to everything from allergic reactions to hormonal disruptions to cancer. Here is a list of very commonly used chemicals, you should look out for and avoid.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
Found in:– Shampoo, foundation, toothpaste, mouthwash, and body wash.
According to some sources, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate shows that it can cause skin irritation and cancer sores. Also, it is believed that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a major contributor to acne around the mouth and chin. To avoid the use of this chemical, you can go for herbal shampoo, or also you can make your body wash and toothpaste.
Homosalate
Found in:- Sunscreen, skin products with SPF.
Homosalate is an organic compound from the salicylate class. Salicylates are the chemicals that prevent direct skin exposure to harmful sun rays by absorbing Ultraviolet rays. Usually, Homosalate absorbs Ultraviolet rays, which may cause risk DNA damage and skin cancer. Homosalate broadly affects the body’s hormonal imbalance and particularly, the estrogen system.
Fragrance
Found in:– Soap, Body wash, Shampoo, Perfume
At some point in time, you might have used some of the products with fragrance. They are extremely common products you use in your daily life. However, not every fragranced product is harmful. If the product you are using contains Phenoxyethanol, 2-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Euxyl K, then it has fragrance. Although, if you are seeing some changes in your skin, then the reason for this might be the fragrance of the product. It is believed to cause damage to the brain cells and central nervous system if used in large quantities. Exposure to phenoxyethanol has also been linked to allergic reactions ranging from eczema to severe, inflammation in the lungs and eyes. Thus, instead of these products, you can go for natural fragrances.
Formaldehyde
Found in:- Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Scent.
Most of the agencies have termed Formaldehyde as “a human carcinogen”. Although do not get scared yet, a study says that it is scarier in its pure form. However, beauty products never use Formaldehyde in its pure form. If anyone comes in contact with it, then it can cause difficulty in breathing, watery eyes, and skin irritation. If you do jobs such as Nail Artist, Salon Stylist, etc, then make sure that your workspace has ventilation or windows. That you can reduce the exposure with it.
Denatured Alcohols
Found in:- Haircare products.
There are lots of good or bad alcohols that are present in products. Denatured alcohols are a category of cosmetic ingredients that can dry your scalp if applied too frequently at higher concentrations. So it is the best thing to avoid any hair products that have alcohol which is the list as one of the first ingredients. Through avoiding dry ingredients will help your hair and scalp stay healthy and hydrated for a long time.
Some of the most common denatured alcohols: Alcohol Denat, SD Alcohol 3-A, SD Alcohol 30, SD Alcohol 39-B, SD Alcohol 39-C, SD Alcohol 40-B, SD Alcohol 40-C. These chemicals can make your skin dry and even cause inflammation by damaging the skin’s barrier for protection.
Triclosan
Found in:- Anti-bacterial soaps and detergents, tooth whitening products, deodorants, shaving products.
Triclosan and Triclocarban are an antimicrobial agent that is widely used in various antimicrobial soaps. Triclocarban firstly came into use as an antimicrobial agent in 1957. The major health concerns which are affected by Triclocarban and Triclosan are Endocrine disruption, which impacts growth function. Some studies show that Triclosan and Triclocarban enhance the strength of estradiol and testosterone. Due to their bad effect, these chemicals are banned in cosmetics in Japan and Canada.
Oxybenzone
Found in:– Sunscreen
Oxybenzone is one of the most harmful chemicals mainly uses in Sunscreen. Research says that this chemical is harmful to the hormone system of a human being. Thus, to avoid these chemicals you can opt for sunscreens with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide. These chemicals are mineral-based, that do not cause any harm to your skin.
Conclusion
It is only up to you to choose whether to use the products with these chemicals or not. However, these chemicals can help the products to be safe from bacteria, but harmful to your skin. Thus, you should carefully read the label of the product. Also, always avoid products that have, ‘Mercury’, ‘Mercurio chloride’, or ‘lead‘ in their composition. Opt for DIY or natural products that have not any side effects.
Image sources:- pexels.com
Picture credit:- Karolina Grobowska, Pavil Danilyuk.
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