Many of the beauty and skincare products that we buy contain chemicals and toxic ingredients and we may be exposed to 200 chemicals before we even leave the house in the morning. Many of these ingredients are known to be skin irritants, hormone disruptors and carcinogens.
While it is hard to completely avoid toxins and chemicals in our daily lives, we need to be aware of what we apply to our skin because it is a highly absorbent organ.
Here are 5 ingredients that you won’t find in Scrubalicious products.
Parabens
Parabens are used in skincare and cosmetic products because they act as preservatives and prevent bacteria and fungi from growing. However, they have been found to have estrogen-mimicking properties which disrupt the endocrine system and are associated with increased risk of breast cancer.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of chemicals which are used in cosmetics, skincare products, perfumes, lotions and many other products to increase their softness and flexibility. They are known endocrine disruptors that have been linked to cancer and reproductive defects.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a surfactant that is found in most conventional personal care and beauty products and is a known skin, eye and lung irritant. It is also a potential carcinogen when combined with other chemicals to form nitrosamines.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
BHA is found in skin exfoliants and perfumes and animal studies have linked it to liver damage, stomach cancers, abnormal reproductive system development and disrupted thyroid hormone levels. It is known to cause skin de-pigmentation and is thought to be carcinogenic in humans.
Polyethylene (PEGs)
Polyethylene is used to make micro plastic beads which are commonly found in conventional body scrubs, face scrubs and exfoliating gels. Polyethylene is known to be a skin irritant and the micro beads are not filtered out by water treatment systems so they collect in waterways and have been found in fish and animals.
Sources
http://organicisland.com.au/theisland/3-ingredients-youll-never-find-in-organic-island-and-why/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-cunningham/dangerous-beauty-products_b_4168587.html