Chemicals to Avoid in Beauty Products

Beauty & Bath products listing any of these on the label do nothing but mess with our hormones, zap us of energy and put us at risk of health issues.

1. Parabens - Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Butylparaben. These are synthetic preservatives used in an estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products. Studies link these with breast cancer because they have been found to contain hormone/endocrine disrupting properties.

2. Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum - These petroleum products coat the skin like plastic – clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They have been found in some studies to slow cellular development, creating earlier signs of ageing.

3. Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) - An engine degreaser, used to break down your skin's moisture barrier, potentially leading to dry skin with premature aging. And because they easily penetrate your skin, they can allow other chemicals easy access. SLS combined with other chemicals may become a "nitrosamine" – a potent carcinogen.

4. Propylene glycol - Common cosmetic moisturiser and carrier for fragrance oils. A potential cause of dermatitis, may inhibit skin cell growth and linked to kidney and liver problems.

5. Dioxane - Hidden in ingredients such as PEG, polysorbates, laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Very common in personal care products. These chemicals are often contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane that's easily absorbed through the skin. Its carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965, and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978.

6. Toluene - May be very poisonous! Made from petroleum and coal tar... found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage.

7. Urea – Including diazolindyl urea, imidazolindyl urea. Common preservatives that release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, that is irritating to the mucous membranes and known to cause contact dermatitis & headaches.

8. Phthalates - Used as a plasticizer in everything from skincare, cosmetics, nail polish, perfume to hair products and deodorants. Known to cause damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system.

9. Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) - These chemicals can react with other ingredients in the cosmetic product to form potent carcinogenic chemicals called nitrosamines.

10. Synthetic Fragrances. This can refer to a combination of any of the thousand separate ingredients used to make up the "fragrance", many of which are phthalates (ie. toxic carcinogens and hormone disruptors).

Source: Dr Mercola, EWG, The Chemical Maze