Many of us dream of having beautiful skin. We try to buy all sorts of products in order to remedy skin issues and prevent aging. With our skin being the largest organ of our body, what we put on it can impact what's going on inside our body, which essentially ends up impacting our skin again. There are a variety of chemicals in skincare nowadays (some that are crazy to pronounce), where some are beneficial while others cause all sorts of issues. Below are 6 common skincare/body care ingredients you should avoid at all costs:
Parabens
Parabens are a preservative found in a variety of skincare products in order to prevent bacteria and mold growth. These chemicals have been known to mimic estrogen, which can cause significant issues within the body. Since our skin absorbs whatever we apply on it, parabens can easily enter our endocrine system and cause problems over time.
Phthalates
Phthalates are used as a softener in cosmetics and skincare products. This chemical is similar to parabens since it can causes issues since it is known to interfere with hormones. Unfortunately, phthalates are sometimes hidden in fragrances so it can be difficult to know if a product does not contain phthalates unless it specifically says "Phthalate-Free."
Mineral Oil
This ingredient is a by-product of petroleum (uhm, which is pretty much gasoline). Mineral oil is known to clog pores, which causes your skin difficulty in eliminating toxins which also can lead to acne.
Triclosan
A synthetic antibacterial, Triclosan has the potential to disrupt thyroid function. Our thyroid is an important hormone regulator, which impacts our metabolism and a host of other functions.
Synthetic Fragrance
These types of fragrances typically are made of a huge list of ingredients that many manufacturers do not include on the label; they just list it as "artificial/synthetic fragrances." This is an issue since you will not be able to decipher exactly what your body is being exposed to.
Alcohol
Alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol, and propanol are denatured alcohols and often tend to be very harsh. These alcohols can impact your skin's natural pH and can make it difficult for your skin to retain moisture.
However, research shows that fatty alcohols such as stearyl, cetearyl and cetyl are less irritating and can be beneficial to the skin! So, not all alcohols are created equal; be sure to read the label to see which type of alcohol your skincare product contains.
I implore you to check the labels on some of your skincare and cosmetics! You'd be shocked to see how many ingredients are stuffed into something as simple as a powder or a blush, or a cleanser. Do your hormones a favor and try to ditch products that contain any of the ingredients listed above.
1 comment
I appreciate your blog posts!! All these things I didn’t know about skincare, yikes! Thyroid issues run in my family so knowing that triclosan can disrupt thyroid function is very important to me!