Lotions and oils are very enticing to us because we always want our skin to be smooth and soft to the touch. But what are we really putting on our skin? Is it good for us?
While inspecting the ingredient lists on the products you use, here are a few of the ones you will want to try and avoid:
Coloring agents — D&C Orange 17, D&C Red 9, D&C Red 19, D&C Red 33, FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Green 3, FD&C Red 4, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6
Phthalates — a class of chemicals commonly used in fragranced products
Aluminum chloride — irritant
Parabens — a classification of preservatives that have been found in tissue samples from human breast tumors, according to a study published in the Jan/Feb 2004 Journal of Applied Toxicology. Listed on labels as benzyl-, methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl- parabens
Formaldehyde — a suspected carcinogen, can be present in the preservatives DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium-15
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) — can react with nitrates in products to create carcinogengic nitrosomes
Polyethylene — PEG compounds (containing polyethylene glycol) and polysorbates can become contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a suspected carcinogen
Bronopol — can contribute to the production of formaldehyde
Sodium lauryl sulfate — irritant
Amyl, butyl, ethyl acetate — these common solvents are neurotoxins
Glycol Ethers — certain forms are hazardous to male and female reproductive systems. Avoid EGPE, EGME, EGEE, DEGBE, PGME, DPGME and Ethylene Glycol Ethers
Toluene — a neurotoxin and possiblecarcinogen