What ingredients are lurking in your beauty products?

Recently, on the blog, the spotlight was on carrageenan, a potentially harmful additive that features in many plant-based foods. Unsurprisingly, it’s also a common ingredient in many of your favorite beauty products – everything from shampoo and conditioner to moisturizer and toothpaste.

While food labels are becoming cleaner and better controlled, beauty products are trickier, not only because you’re likely to be less familiar with many of the toxic terms used, but also due to the fact that cosmetic industry regulations are almost non-existent.

This means that beauty products do not have to adhere to labelling standards, like food. Don’t worry, though! There are some ways you can clean up your routine. But first, let’s take a roll call on some of the toxins lurking in your bathroom.

PHTHALATES

Commonly found in perfumes but also a common ingredient in food packaging, toys, and raincoats, since they help increase the durability and flexibility of plastic. Evidence suggests they may be linked to reproduction and development issues.

PARABENS

Parabens act as a preservative, preventing the growth of mold and bacteria in your products.

While that may sound like a good thing, parabens may play a role in hormone disruption by mimicking estrogen. As a result, parabens have also been found in breast cancer tissue. Other preservatives include butylated compounds (bht and bha).

LEAD

Everyone knows lead isn’t good for you, so why is it in your make up? Remember the unregulated cosmetic industry?

Contamination is common and there are simply no protocols in place to know exactly what’s going into your products. The most common sources of contamination come from the color additives in lipsticks and cream-based blushers.

FORMALDEHYDE

When some chemicals breakdown, they release formaldehyde which, when inhaled, is incredibly toxic. In the EU, anything that releases formaldehyde needs to be labeled as such, but other countries still have some work to do.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many more that are not listed, all with similar rap sheets – hormones disruptors, cancer causing chemicals, repeat.

Unlike your food, it’s not as simple as looking at labels since manufacturers often simply replace the terms you do recognize with another preservative or chemical.

Remember, there’s always an opportunity to use any information you’re given in a positive way. By going back to basics and simplifying your regimen a little, you can take back control. Which, let’s be honest, you’ve been meaning to do that anyways, right?

HOW TO CLEAN UP YOUR BEAUTY REGIMEN

STOP FOCUSING ON YOUR FLAWS

It’s 2020, and no one has time for that. First and foremost, focus on the health of your skin. Challenge yourself to a few make-up free days, and once you’re comfortable, a few more.

Sunshine cannot easily penetrate layers of make-up, so make an intention to let your skin absorb some vitamin D the old-fashioned way.

MAKE YOUR PRODUCTS MULTI-PURPOSE

Fewer products mean fewer toxins. You can easily repurpose your favorite lip color as a subtle cheek blush or experiment with using your bronzer as an eye shadow.

DECLUTTER YOUR MAKE-UP BAG

Do you really need four different types of highlighter? Make a promise to yourself to not rush to the department store next time you realize you’re almost out.

Take the time to research ethically and socially responsible products, then begin slowly adding them into your beauty rotation.

SHOP SMALL AND LOCAL

When make-up and cosmetic products are produced in small batches, the risk of contamination decreases dramatically. A small business owner is also going to be much more conscious about what they put into their products.

Just like you try to get to know your farmer and fisherman, you can get to know your cosmetologist, too.

CONCLUSION

Like most things in life, it’s not about perfectionism but instead simply taking the steps to begin. You don’t have to overhaul everything in a day. And equally as important, if there’s one product you just must hang on to (despite it’s less than desirable ingredients) that’s quite okay, too.

Have you started to detoxify your beauty regimen? What steps have you taken so far? Let us know!

Looking for more ways to clean up your beauty regimen? Head here 5 Natural Ingredients That Guarantee Glowing Skin!