Toxic skin, hair and body products
In the 21st century, being a teen is not an easy task – there is so much to be concerned about, especially when it comes to your skin care needs.
Make it your responsibility to ensure that the products you are using on your skin, face and hair are non-toxic, even if this means your parents may have to spend a little more.
Teens are the most affected as they are encouraged to use synthetic chemical laden products to solve their perceived `socially embarrassing`, but yet perfectly natural, adolescent problems. However, the majority of these products are either poisoning their skins or having an adverse affect.
In September 2008, disturbing news emerged from the ongoing research published by the respected Environmental Working Group (EWG), confirming that teenagers use more `substances` on their skins than the average person. Meaning that during this vulnerable emotional and physical time you are exposed to a whole host of potentially harmful chemical components regularly used in the manufacture of body, skin and hair product in the majority of typical, off-the-shelf brands.
The EWG research has shown that toxic ingredients identified at elevated levels in blood and urine samples included:
Phthalates is used in the manufacture of plastic products and can be absorbed into products and then into the body via various means. It is known to cause cancer and disrupt natural hormones, affect fertility and normal gender development.
Parabens – this is a `family` of carcinogenic chemicals (e.g. methylparaben; propylparaben and others) and have disruptive effects on hormones. These were found in all of the 20 samples of teenage girls studied by the EWG.
Triclosan is used widely in toothpaste, liquid hand soaps, anti-bacterial creams and other body care products. It progressively increases in its toxic potential through accumulation and is very hard to get rid of once absorbed by the body. It is known to trigger allergic reactions, cause irritations and is potentially carcinogenic in humans. This is a chlorophenol and is registered as a `pesticide` by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Synthetic fragrances are frequently used in the cheaper brands of toiletries, perfumes and cosmetics. These fragrances can trigger allergies and sensitivities and have shown to cause cancers in mice.
These are just a few of the harmful chemicals that we expose ourselves to on a daily basis and if you consider that most of us use up to 15 products a day, it can be quite overwhelming. There are certain steps we can take to ensure that we are less exposed to them.
Go through all your products and decide which are absolutely necessary. Try purchasing products that have more than one use and that have a shorter list of ingredients. Don’t just buy products for the namesake, check the ingredients first.
Make a list of the top ingredients that you will not put on your skin and only buy the products that exclude them.
Mineral make-up is a great alternative to your regular make-up, as even the cheaper brands have fewer chemicals in them.
There are relatively very few skin, hair and body products on the market that can claim to be safer alternatives. So it’s best to do your own homework and find products that you feel safe using. You can get to know your toxins by going through the EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.