Say No To These Toxic Ingredients: Skincare Edition
Have you ever wondered what sort of ingredients go into your skincare products? Sometimes they contain one or two of the toxic skincare ingredients that may do more damage to your skin than good.
It is best to stay away from such skin enemies to protect our natural skin barrier. Your moisturizer or sunscreen may be loaded with these bad guys, which though not banned, can prove very harmful for the skin.
Check your skincare products ASAP to see if they are really safe as they claim. All you have to do is turn the containers around and study the ingredients list.
If you see any of the ingredients that we are going to talk about in this blog in your product, throw it away (quite literally)!
These ingredients are added to preserve the product and make it last long. They can be very dangerous for our skin in the long term. That is why it is important to get an idea of what ingredients to avoid.
CONTENT INDEX
- What are toxic ingredients?
- List of toxic ingredients to avoid
- Intelligent® recommendations from UnbottleCo
First, let us see what are the toxic ingredients that we are referring to.
The Umbrella Of Toxic Ingredients
A toxic substance is a substance that can be poisonous or cause health effects. Generally chemicals present in skincare products can cause damage to the skin if exposed to them for a prolonged period.
Some chemicals harm the skin only if used in large quantities. These are non-toxic chemicals. On the other hand, a few of them, even if used in small amounts, could damage the skin. These are toxic chemicals.
These dangerous skincare ingredients must be strictly avoided. Next time you buy a skincare product, check for these ingredients on the list you see on the container, so that you can make the decision to buy the product or not.
Recommended Product
Bye Dry Skin Face Cleanser Proven To Fight Dry Skin With Lactic Acid & Alpha Arbutin 100ml
Back Off If You See These Ingredients!
Parabens
Parabens are the most commonly used toxic skincare ingredients. They are a strict ‘no’ for our skin. A family of chemical preservatives invented in the 1950's, parabens have been used as preservatives in cosmetics, and have been linked to skin irritations, and disruptions to the endocrine and reproductive systems.
Parabens are added to increase the shelf-life of the products and prevent bacteria or mold from growing in them. Studies show that they can even cause cancer and other chronic skin conditions. It starts with allergic reactions and allergies, which can be a warning sign to stop using the product.
Parabens are listed as:
- methylparaben
- propylparaben
- butylparaben
- thylparaben
Phthalates
Phthalate is another harmful ingredient in skincare that you should avoid. They are colorless and odorless chemicals (oily substances) that are usually added to plastic to stop it from turning brittle.
They are added in skincare products as gelling agents to hold the other ingredients together, which usually do not mix. In shampoos and other skincare supplies, they let the product stick on your skin. Birth defects and hormonal disruptions have been linked to these chemicals.
Phthalates can be:
- diethyl phthalate
- Monoethyl phthalate
Fragrances
It is a broad term that refers to an umbrella of allergens, carcinogens, or irritants. They may seem harmless but are the real culprits behind all those allergic reactions and redness we experience when using certain products. Fragrances or perfumes may contain ingredients like alcohol that don’t go well with the skin.
Switch to non-fragrant and natural products that soothe the skin.
Mineral oil
Mineral oil is a transparent, colorless and odorless liquid that has been added to beauty and skin care products for ages now. Being cheap and odorless, it is used in many grooming items to increase their shelf life.
Exposure to mineral oils is strongly associated with an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, particularly of the scrotum.
Mineral oil is listed as:
- paraffinum liquidum
- petrolatum
- cera microcristallina
- microcrystalline wax
- ozokerite
Aluminum
Aluminum compounds are generally used for reducing perspiration and bad odor caused in your underarm sweat ducts. They are thus found commonly in antiperspirants. Studies show that they are not safe to use in the long run, as they can increase the risk of Alzeimer’s disease.
Aluminum is listed as:
- aluminum
- aluminum zirconium
- aluminum chlorohydrate
Coal tar dyes
Coal tar dyes are used in hair dyes and some other hair care products. They are a mix of various chemicals that originate from petroleum. It treats dandruff, seborrhoea, and psoriasis.
It contains small quantities of chemicals such as heavy metal additives that are harmful for the brain.
Siloxanes
Siloxanes make hair and skin products dry quickly and they facilitate smooth application of creams on your skin. Siloxanes are known for affecting our hormonal balance. They can be listed as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Triclosan
Triclosan is commonly found in soaps, shower gels, and deodorants. They are used as preservatives to stop the growth of bacteria in the product. However, it weakens our immune system, causes reproductive problems and cancer.
Formaldehyde
Did you know formaldehyde is used for preserving corpses? It is the same ingredient used in a range of skincare products to keep them fresh.
Asthma, neurotoxicity, cancer, and developmental toxicity are some of the problems that exposure to formaldehyde can cause.
Formaldehyde is listed as:
- formic aldehyde
- methanethiol
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
BHT is a dangerous skincare ingredient that is used in moisturizers, antiperspirants, and exfoliators. Researchers say that BHT can be a reason for allergic reactions, hormone disruption and other health problems — it is a synthetic preservative at the end of the day.
Long term exposure can even cause liver issues, thyroid and mice.
To avoid these harmful skin care ingredients, make it a habit to read the labels of these products. If you find any of them on the list, well, you know what to do :p
If you want a Intelligent® option and not worry about checking the ingredients, I would recommend UnbottleCo. It is a skincare brand that practices natural skincare treatment for our modern skin problems. Some of their popular products are:
Deep Hydrating Face Cleanser Proven to Fight Dry Skin With Lactic Acid & Alpha Arbutin
Hi! I’m Tuco Intelligent®'s Deep Hydrating Face Cleanser. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.
To treat:
- Lactic acid is a natural AHA which helps skin elasticity and lightens dark spots
- Sodium hyaluronate has the magical duality to moisturize skin and reduce inflammation
To prevent recurrence:
- Arginine PCA captures skin moisture and keeps it hydrated all day long
- Alpha-arbutin brightens skin tone and heals skin damage