It is important that we are knowledgeable of the ingredients that we use on our bodies. Most of the body washes and sprays on the market have ingredients aimed to keep you fresh but are hormone disruptors. What are hormone disruptors, I asked the same question when I first heard about them? Hormone disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with your endocrine system according to the Environmental Working Group. These disruptors can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders.
Parabens, fragrances, and sodium lauryl sulfate are a few of the disruptors. Parabens can imitate estrogen in the body causing problems with hormonal balance. Parabens have been linked to breast cancer and lead to reproductive and fertility issues. I was surprised to find out that fragrances are not as harmless as they seem. Fragrances made the list of hormone disruptors also. Companies are not required to list the ingredients in their fragrance and they are allowed to use up to 300 unknown chemicals in their blend. These chemicals are linked to allergies and reproductive issues, including fertility. Sodium lauryl sulfate gives you that squeaky clean feeling, after all, it was designed to strip wax off floors. It causes skin irritation and allergies. See the list below for all twelve.
Reading the ingredients listed on your beauty and personal care product is essential. Just because your body washes and floral sprays claim to be all-natural or organic, doesn't mean they are free from toxic ingredients. I challenge you this week to go through your beauty and skincare products and check the ingredients in your cosmetics. After you have read the ingredients leave a comment and tell us if you have identified one of the twelve ingredients listed below. Together we will reduce our chemical footprint and have pure beauty.
Click the link below to find an easy DIY that you can make in less than 10 minutes, that will not disrupt your endocrine system.
List of 12 Toxic Chemicals
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Ingredients |
Purpose |
Found In |
Concerns |
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Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) |
Antioxidant, preservative, stabilizer, fragrance ingredient |
Lipstick, eye shadow, some petroleum products |
Commonly linked to
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Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) |
Antioxidant, preservative, stabilizer, fragrance ingredient |
Lipstick, eye shadow, some petroleum products |
See (BHA) Health Concerns |
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Diethanolamine (DEA) |
PH adjuster, foaming agent |
Variety of face makeup and hair products |
Skin irritation, possible organ system toxicity, contamination concerns |
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Phthalates dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) |
Plasticizer, solvent, fragrance ingredient |
Nail polish, hair sprays, perfumes, lotions, soaps, shampoos |
Male reproductive system damage |
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Formaldehyde (formaldehyde releasers: bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, Diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15) |
Preservative |
Nail products, eyelash glue, hair gel, hair-smoothing products, baby shampoo, body soap, color cosmetics |
Carcinogenic impurity, skin irritations, high rates of skin allergy reactions, rashes |
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Fragrance (perfume, parfum, essential oil blend, and aroma) |
The possible chemical combination of up to 3,000 ingredients that companies do not have to list. |
Most personal skincare products |
Skin irritation, migraine headaches, allergic reactions, cancer or reproductive toxicity with long-term exposure |
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Polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds |
Conditioning and cleaning agents |
Variety of personal care and makeup products |
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Parabens (specifically propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-, and isobutyl- parabens) |
Preservative |
Makeup, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial and shower cleansers, shaving products, and scrubs |
Hormone disrupters can have detrimental effects on the reproductive system |
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Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate |
Cleansing and emulsifying agent |
Toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and hand soap |
See (PEG) Health Concerns. |
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Synthetic colors |
Colorants |
All product types |
Linked to allergies, and ADHD in children. Some colors can be carcinogenic. |
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Siloxane (ingredients ending in -siloxane or -methicone) |
Softening, smoothing, moisturizing |
Hair products, deodorants |
Classified as a possible endocrine disruptor which could affect your reproductive system and cause human infertility. |
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Triclosan |
Antimicrobial agent |
Oral products, shaving products, creams, and color cosmetics |
Research has shown that Triclosan may disrupt thyroid and reproductive hormones. |