Welcome to Face-to-Face with Toxic Ingredients Part 2. As promised, today we're bringing you 4 more harmful ingredients to run away from whenever you see them listed on your ingredient labels. Be on the lookout for these villains!
#1 Triclosan
Triclosan, is a chemical that reduces bacterial contamination and was banned from antibacterial soap in 2016 by the FDA. So if it’s banned in soaps, why hasn’t Triclosan been banned in other products? Take a guess what other product you can find this in. If you guessed the ever popular product we’re all using on our hands trying to kill off germs, you guessed right! Triclosan is often found in Hand Sanitizers. It is an ingredient of concern to many environmental, academic and regulatory groups. Animal studies have shown that Triclosan alters the way some hormones work in the body and raises potential concerns and poses serious risks for the effects of use in humans. Be aware that Triclosan is also widely used in products like moisturizing creams, face wash, shaving gel and deodorant. Check your labels!
#2 DEA, MEA, TEA, short for Diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine(MEA), Triethanolamine (TEA). These ingredients are part of a family of ammonia compounds called ethanolamines. They are added to beauty products as foaming agents or emulsifiers to prevent the separation of ingredients like oil and water. Studies suggest that ethanolamines may cause cancer, damage to skin and toxicity. Europe was smart and banned them all. In the US, you’re likely to find these agents in make-up and hair dyes.
#3 Heavy Metals (Metalloestrogens)
Ever think that arsenic, mercury, chromium, iron and lead could be ingredients in your personal care products? These are all heavy metals in the metalloestrogen family. One getting particular attention in recent years is aluminum. It’s used as a common ingredient in deodorant because of its ability to block sweat. Heavy metals have also been shown to lighten skin. You can expect to see heavy metals in products like moisturizers, concealers, sunscreen, lip gloss, eye shadow and nail polish.
Using heavy metals on the outside of your body is plenty dangerous but inside, they can do far more damage as toxins like aluminum build up and even accumulate in your brain. Do you realize what you put on the outside gets absorbed through your skin to the inside? It’s terrifying to think your blood carries these dangerous ingredients throughout your entire body! For you this means increased risk of diseases like cancer, possibly autoimmune disease and reproductive problems. In the US, these heavy metals are regulated by “limiting” their use in cosmetics rather than “eliminating” them as other nations have.
#4 1.4 Dioxane.
If you spot this one, run away fast! Dioxane is a processed petroleum-based toxic ingredient known as a carcinogen! Wait! There’s more! Dioxane is toxic to the heart, blood, kidneys, immune system, nervous system and digestive system. This ingredient is found in many commercial products like shampoo, face washes and the scariest, baby products. Because dioxane is often a bi-product of other chemicals, it is not even required that this toxin be listed as an ingredient in such cases.
WE CARE ABOUT YOU! We want to help keep you safe inside and out. Are you using questionable products? If so, you are risking your health. Is a cancer diagnosis worth it? I’ll answer that one with a resounding “NO!!!!” I know firsthand. Now is the time to clean up your act. The choice is yours. The future of your health is literally in your hands.
Our Face-to-Face articles are posted each Friday. To have them sent directly to your inbox, sign-up with your email or each Friday you can access it on our website. See you next Friday for Coming Face-to-Face with Toxic Ingredients Part 3, our final in this series.
Written by Rebecca Adams, CEO and Co-founder of My Alchemy Skin Care, Cancer Survivor