BE AN INGREDIENT

DETECTIVEHow to dissect product labels

DO YOU KNOW WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE

GETTING INTO YOUR BODY? When you get up in the morning just think about how many personal

care products you use.

Shampoo & conditioner

Soap/ body wash

Toothpaste

Shaving cream

Lotion

Hair styling products

Perfume

Makeup

Deodorant

HOW MANY DO YOU USE?

DID YOU KNOW….

“… the harmful chemicals that you apply to

your skin are much more toxic and pose

greater cancer and other risks than if you eat

them.” –Dr. Samuel Epstein, Toxic Beauty,

Former Chair of Cancer Prevention Coalition

ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL

WORKING GROUP (EWG)

Average woman uses 12 personal care products per day

Average man uses 6

We expose our bodies to126 different chemical ingredients every day from personal care products ALONE. This does NOT take into account re-applications of products throughout the day.

We brush our teeth several times a day, we wash our hands 6-12 times a day, we re-apply sunscreen every few hours that we are in the sun, and we may shower more than once per day!

There are approximately 10,500 ingredients used in cosmetics in our country, and in its 30-YEAR history, only eleven percent of those ingredients have been screened. This means that nearly ninety percent of cosmetics ingredients are left un-reviewed and un-tested for safety!

WHAT WE PUT ON OUR SKIN… GETS

INTO OUR BODIES!!!

Think Nicotine patches

EITHER….

Most of the chemicals in standard personal care products have never been tested for safety

OR they have been shown to have negative health effects

CHEMICALS IN PERSONAL CARE

PRODUCTS

CARCINOGENS- linked to all types of cancers

NEUROTOXINS- affect the brain, its chemistry and/or its

functions

REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS- linked to reproductive issues in

adults that affect babies in utero.

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS - lead to weight gain & other

hormone-related health problems while increasing the risk of

breast and prostate cancer

MUTAGENS- actually mutate the cells in the body

WHAT’S WORSE……..

Chemicals are added to personal care products with the

SPECIFIC purpose of increasing their absorption into the skin.

Chemicals that we may ingest with products like lipstick, lip gloss,

toothpastes and mouthwash AND those that we inhale when

perfumes or hairsprays are sprayed into the air, end up in the

bloodstream.

Once the chemicals are in the bloodstream, they are carried to

various organs, including the brain, liver, kidneys and others,

where they have immediate or long-term effects.

THE ARGUMENT…

It’s only a little bit of “that” toxic chemical

Different comfort zones – bodies react differently

And…because the FDA doesn’t regulate the health claims or labeling

for personal-care items, the words “herbal,” “natural,” “hypoallergenic”

and “nontoxic” used on these products have no legal meaning.

SO, YOU NEED SOME RESOURCES!

BHA: causes skin depigmentation & is a known carcinogen. In animals, it produces liver damage & causes stomach cancers. The European Union has banned it. Found in FOOD, food packaging & personal care products in the US.

Boric Acid & Sodium Borate: hormone disruptors, especially in men. Linked to lower sperm count and in animals, caused testicular damage. Both Canada & Europe restrict these ingredients.

Coal tar: a byproduct of coal processing, a known carcinogen. In most hair dyes

AND THEN…….

Formaldehyde- human carcinogen, asthmagen, neurotoxicant,

developmental toxicant. Found in hair straighteners & nail polish

DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15 – cosmetic

preservatives to kill bacteria. Known carcinogens that can trigger

allergic skin reactions.

Fragrance- Actual ingredients are not listed. There is an average of 14

chemicals in 17 brand name fragrance products, none of them listed on

the label. Fragrance contain hormone disruptors and among the top 5

allergens in the world.

Hydroquinone- skin bleaching chemical that causes a skin disease.

Causes tumor development

NEXT UP…..

Methylisothiazolinone- preservatives that are among the most common

irritants, sensitizers and causes of contact allergy. Lab studies on brain

cells suggest they are neurotoxic.

Nanoparticles- zinc oxide & titanium dioxide are the safer options in

sunscreens, but avoid sprays because they can penetrate your lungs, the

skin and contaminate the body.

Parabens- estrogen mimicking preservatives, endocrine disrupters and

cause reproductive and developmental disorders.

PEGs/CETEARETH/Polyethylene compounds- cleaning agens that are

synthetic and contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which is a carcinogen.

AND….

Petroleum- can cause dermatitis and contaminated with cancer-causing

impurities. Produced n oil refineries with auto fuel, heating oil and

chemical feedstocks

Pthalates- damages the male reproductive system. Many nail polishes

contain dibutyl pthalate

Resorcinol- in hair bleaching products, a skin irritant, toxic to the

immune system and an allergen. Disrupts normal thyroid function.

Toluene- found in nail polish, it is a solvent and paint thinner. Potent

neurotoxin, irritant, impairs breathing & causes nausea. A pregnant

woman exposed to the vapors may impair fetal development. Toxic to

the immune system, linked to malignant lymphoma.

MORE TO ADD…

Triclosan & Triclocarban- antibacterial and antimicrobial pesticides in

liquid soap as well as toothpaste. Very toxic to the aquatic environment.

Disrupts thyroid function and reproductive hormones. Overuse may

promote bacterial resistance

Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate, retinol) not safe for use on skin. When

applied to sun-exposed skin, can increase sun sensitivity. Sunlight breaks

down vitamin A to produce toxic free radicals that damages DNA and

hastens skin lesions & tumors in lab animals. Widely used in sunscreens

DEA, TEA, MEA- Hormone disruptors; possible carcinogens, may react &

form cancer-causing nitrosamines; easily absorbed through skin to

accumulate in body

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST…

Sulfates- Eye and skin irritant, can combine with other ingredients to form carcinogenic nitrosamines

Aluminum- All Antiperspirants contain aluminum, not only linked to Alzheimer's but breast cancer

Sunscreen chemicals: Para amino benzoic acid, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Phenylbenzimidazole, 4-MBC, OXYBENZONE, Homosalate

Propylene Glycol- used to de-ice planes, petroleum plastic so toxic requires gloves- leads to brain, liver & kidney abnormalities

Benzyl Peroxide- an acne chemical, has mutagenic properties

Dioxin- used with triclosan, often unlabeled, causes cancer, reduced immunity & nervous system disorders, miscarriage

ARMED & SAFE…..

Since these chemicals are out there, we need to be armed with the

knowledge about which toxic ingredients to watch out for to protect

ourselves and our families.

CHECK OUT: Be an Ingredient Detective: Ingredients to Avoid

in Personal Care Products. L

Lists some of the most commonly found toxic chemicals in personal care products that have

been linked to a number of health problems.

There are others

Cosmetics manufacturers are not required to use the FDA’s ingredient name

convention guidelines, one ingredient can be spelled and labeled many different ways

in different products.

ALWAYS READ THE LABELS……

Regardless of what the label says!!

Labels are tricky, be trickier!

Avoid any product that doesn’t seem right

Buy ORGANIC

Make your own!

WITH THESE TOOLS…..YOU CAN