8 Toxins to Avoid in Skin + Hair Products

If you want to clean up your shower + beauty routine, these 8 common toxins are a great place to start. Many of the chemicals to avoid in skin + hair products are the same as those found in other skincare. These are toxins that are bad in a number of ways, from disrupting hormones to causing cancer. They are also easy to avoid, and you can refer to my list of toxin-free products if you need to restock your bathroom (many of these are inexpensive, this is not Goop).

Triclosan [FDA now recommends not using antibacterial soaps with triclosan; it’s similar to the pesticide Agent Orange and can cause decreased fertility, birth defects, and damage to major body organs; endocrine disruptor and thyroid disruptor; when combined with chlorine in tap water it becomes carcinogenic]
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) [hair loss, irritation; linked to skin and eye irritation, organ toxicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicological, and biochemical or cellular changes, and possible mutations and cancer, as reported by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database]
Dioxane [although proven to cause cancer, and banned in California, it’s considered a ‘contaminant’ or ‘by-product’ of the ethoxylation process, rather than an ingredient, hence it is not listed on ingredient labels; however, it is in all synthetic ethoxylated ingredients, including those with myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other “eth,” PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol, in their names]
Parabens [hormone-disrupting; have been detected in human breast tumors. This is concerning because parabens have been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can encourage the growth of human breast tumors]
Propylene glycol, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) [yes, this is the main ingredient in anti-freeze; linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity]
Synthetic fragrance [aka, phthalates, which are endocrine disrupters that mimic hormones and may alter genital development]
Cocamidopropyl Betaine [Despite being made “from coconut”, it’s actually a chemical derivative, and contains traces of nitrosamines, a human carcinogen]
Diethanolamine (DEA) [recent FDA report showed that approximately 42% of all cosmetics were contaminated with NDEA; it’s linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity; really bad for pregnant ladies + kids]

It can be super overwhelming to have to look at labels and decipher what is toxic and what is just the scientific name for vitamin e. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) created a sweet database of cosmetics chemicals and ranked them, giving them a hazard score.

Laena McCarthy 6/7/17 Laena McCarthy 6/7/17

(clean-ish) Toxin-Free Beauty Brands [a list]

I promised to update my safe beauty shopping list, with links too. It’s in no way definitive, as no products are ever fully toxin-free. But if you’re trying to clean out the rubbish in your life, you do what you can. It’s about doing with less. Less is more; and less mess leaves more room for the good stuff in your life.

HAIR

Aubrey Organics
Jason Organics (i use the fragrance free one, and add my own essential oils)
Dr. Mercola’s Shampoo and Conditioner
John Masters Organic
California Baby (for kids, but great for adults too)
Pineapple Heads (only in NZ or Australia, but great)
Dr Hauschka
Weleda

MAKEUP

SKINCARE

My skincare line for Anarchy in a Jar, of course
Ursa Major (love this vermont company, plus it’s very gender neutral)
Kiss My Face (i love their aluminum and paraben-free spray deodorant)
Mountain Rose Herbs oils (rosehip seed, jojoba, castor, etc)
Dr. Bronner’s Soap (see my other post, where I use this as a base for so many cleaning products!)

Laena McCarthy 5/19/17 Laena McCarthy 5/19/17

A Tool for Makeup + Skincare Ingredient Research

EWG has developed a database and search tool for researching ingredients and toxins in makeup and skincare. It’s really helpful! Though I will note that not ALL products are in their database, so if the brand you are researching is small, or just hasn’t been entered, that should not invalidate that product. And remember, if a product has a small enough ingredient list, you can usually determine if it’s safe or not.

Laena McCarthy 5/11/17 Laena McCarthy 5/11/17

NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT FOR ADULTS [recipe]

My Homemade Bug Repellent smells amazing and keeps the bugs away, while also being good for your skin. Apple Cider Vinegar and Witch Hazel are natural astringents. ACV naturally balances the pH of your skin, while Witch Hazel helps ease skin abrasions and irritations such as acne, bruises, redness, eczema, oily skin, excess sweating, varicose veins, razor burn, and sun damage. My special mix of essential oils are all proven bug repellents.

Take an 8-oz spray bottle, add ½ cup witch hazel, ¼ cup organic apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup distilled water, 44 drops of essential oils: 12 drops lemongrass, 12 drops citronella,10 drops eucalyptus, 6 drops tea tree, 5 drops rosemary, 3 drops peppermint.

Avoid spraying in your eyes and mouth as the vinegar and oils can irritate.

½ cup witch hazel
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup distilled water
48 drops essential oils (lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, peppermint)
one 8 ounce glass spray bottle

Laena McCarthy 5/9/17 Laena McCarthy 5/9/17

CleanUP your makeUP :: Parabens

What the heck are parabens?

Chemicals like parabens are added to personal care products as a preservative to keep bacteria and mold from growing in the packaging (yes, there are many natural alternatives).

The issue is that over time, and with constant use in so many daily products, you have cumulative exposure, where these toxins build up in our bodies. Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells. Why is this bad? Cumulative exposure leads to hormone-related cancers and early onset of puberty in girls. “Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity,” reports the non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC).

How do you avoid these? Read labels carefully and if you can, choose products with a short list of all-natural ingredients.

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SAYS:

“First commercialized in the 1950s, parabens are a group of synthetic compounds commonly used as preservatives in a wide range of health, beauty and personal care products. If the product you are using contains methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben, it has parabens.

These ingredients are added to deodorants, toothpastes, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and makeups, among other products, to stop the growth of fungus, bacteria and other potentially damaging microbes. Researchers have also found that some 90 percent of typical grocery items contain measurable amounts of parabens, which is why even those who steer clear of potentially harmful personal care products also carry parabens around in their bloodstreams.”

The European Union banned parabens in 2012.