Toxins to Watch Out For

What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on your body. Your skin is the largest organ on your body. It accounts or 16% of your body weight. You would never intentionally put toxins in your body, so why would you put them on your body. Below is a list of toxins that are in a lot of our everyday products to avoid.

• Formaldehyde - used as a preservative and disinfectant, it is a suspected carcinogen often found in shampoos, nail polish, nail hardeners, and hair growth products. Look for wording like hydantoins and surfactants (such as sodium lauryl sulfate), which may contain formaldehyde even when it's not listed on the label. Other names: Formalin, MDM.
• Coal tar colors - listed as FD&C and D&C colors, coal tar is a common ingredient in cosmetics, hair dyes and dandruff shampoos. They have been found to cause cancer as well as other health problems from asthma attacks to headaches.
• Lead - found in some hair dyes, especially those that work gradually. Lead is a known carcinogen and hormone disruptor that can be readily absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in the bones. A study by Xavier University of Louisiana found a number of brands of hair dyes that contain up to ten times the amount of lead allowed in household paint.
• Parabens - Are preservatives used to extend the shelf life and a possible carcinogen
• Petroleum and Mineral Oil - By locking moisture against the skin, petroleum and mineral oil sit on the skin’s surface and can potentially block pores. This may cause the appearance of pimples because the skin cannot properly breathe.
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES), is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products. It is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent. It can cause a skin irritation for people with extremely sensitive skin.

Please visit www.safecosmetics.org for an extensive list of ingredients to avoid.