Baubles, Rouge & Tulle: Our Chemical Romance, Take 2 – Decoding Your Cosmetics

By Nicolle

When I first discovered my favorite hairspray, foundation and body lotion could actually be CAUSING my 20-something acne, inexplicable rashes and flaky skin, I had a minor mental breakdown. If you read part one last week, you might have too. Good news: Cleaning up your beauty act can be easy if you know what to avoid and why. Let’s start with a few nasty chemicals that are good for neither the environment, nor your face:

1. Parabens: You’ve probably heard of these estrogen mimicking ingredients. They’re a low-cost preservative so they appear in practically everything – and right now, it’s pretty trendy to tout that your beauty product is free of them. While the evidence is still inconclusive, parabens have been found in the tissue of breast tumors, can cause allergic reactions and are considered carcinogenic in high doses. Look on cosmetic bottle labels for ingredients with “paraben” as a suffix – and then put that bottle back.
2. Formaldehyde and its buddies: Yes, it seems obvious to avoid a substance that is used to preserve dead animals and create explosives, but sometimes we don’t even know it’s there. Even when it’s not added intentionally, formaldehyde appears in other preservatives (and, as recently discovered, is present in the popular hair care treatment, the Brazilian blowout). It causes nose cancer in rats and gives you a rash, so avoid products with quaternium-15, DMDM-hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea or diazolidinyl urea on their labels.
3. 3. Petroleum and other petrochemicals: While not totally horrific for you, these ingredients are REALLY bad for the environment. Petroleum distillates, which are found in your mascara and hairspray, are toxic solvents that can mess with how much you sweat – which can, in turn, cause clogged pores, rashes and acne. Look out for mineral oil and paraffin too.
4. 4. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES): You’ve probably heard of these puppies too – they’re in most shampoos and are another trendy ingredient to advertise that your product is free of. Evidence shows that they strip hair and skin of their natural oils and protective barriers, force you to use more products and are sometimes contaminated with a carcinogen called 1,4-dioxane. Sulfates are also known irritants.
5. Triclosan: A super intense antimicrobial, Triclosan can be found in everything from hand wash and face wash to acne treatments. It’s a scary ingredient because it stays in our bodies – and may be creating more resistant strains of bacteria, as well as hermaphroditic marine life. It’s can also mess with your thyroid. Skip it.

As a self-proclaimed skeptic, I can imagine you might be thinking that these things can’t be THAT dangerous, especially since, most of the time, you only use a quarter-sized drop of shampoo. And, you’re right – that one, quarter-sized drop of shampoo won’t kill you. But a daily, quarter-sized drop of shampoo, body lotion, foundation, mascara, eye shadow, face wash, acne treatment, hair volumizer, hairspray, nail polish, perfume, eyeliner, conditioner and face lotion might, especially over the course of say, 75 years.

Not a chemist/hate trying to read the microscopic text on the back of bottles at the drugstore? Check back next week for clean product recommendations and DIY tricks that will improve your looks – and not cause a life-threatening illness.

Your turn, readers: Any other chemicals to avoid? Will you switch your beauty habits, or shrug off the risks? Make your thoughts known in the comments, or email us at [email protected]