The skin is one of the most important organs in the body and it’s the one organ women really care about. With all the skin care products available on the market there are certain skincare ingredients to avoid. People pay thousands of dollars to maintain their skin and why shouldn’t they? The skin performs vital functions when it comes to bodily functions. This is why it’s very essential to be mindful of what you apply to your skin.
Over 50% of what we apply to our skin gets absorbed, that is why you have to be very careful about what you apply to your skin. Skincare ingredients and makeup have been known to have harmful ingredients that may cause allergic reactions or have long-term adverse effects like cancer.
Here are some of the skincare ingredients to avoid when it comes to your skincare products:
Parabens
Found in nearly every product: Makeup, Moisturizer, Shampoo, shower gel, spray tans, conditioners, serums, night creams, masks, and many more.
This is one of the skincare ingredients to avoid. The product may not list that it contains parabens but you may want to look at the label for methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben. Parabens are used as a preservative, they preserve the shelf life of skincare products by preventing bacteria and mold from building up in the product.
Over 50% of what we apply to our skin gets absorbed, and parabens are no different. Parabens are absorbed into our bodies and are known to mimic estrogen which may cause interference with your hormonal balance despite your gender. Too much estrogen has been linked to the growth of tumors and in some instances cancer. Before you purchase your favorite skincare products always check the ingredients for parabens or their chemical family.
ALSO READ: HOW TO LOOK GOOD WITHOUT MAKEUP
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and/or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Found in: 80-90% of every product that foams. Shampoo, shower gels, conditioners, cleansing products
SLS and SLES are commonly known for stripping the skin and hair of their natural oils which have adverse effects when it comes on the skin. They cause dry skin and in some instances irritation. When the skin is inflamed reactions include itchy skin and scalp, eczema, and dermatitis.
Phthalates
Found in: Lotions, nail polish, moisturizers, shampoos, hair sprays, toys, detergents, and other variety of products.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible, solvent, and softer in cosmetic products. This is the chemical that allows the product to stick to your skin. Phthalates in skincare products can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system. When you’re checking your ingredients and you don’t see it be sure to check under fragrance ingredients
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Found in: lipsticks, moisturizers,
BHA are synthetic antioxidants that are used to extend the shelf life of skincare cosmetics. They allegedly have carcinogens and hormone disruptors that may cause liver damage.
Aluminum
Found in: Deodorants,
This is one of many skincare ingredients to avoid. Aluminum is a toxic metal that can have estrogen-like effects in our systems, disrupting the healthy functioning of the endocrine system.
Fragrances
Found in: moisturizers, deodorant, lotion, face cream, shampoo, conditioner
Fragrances have a lot of unknown toxic chemicals that can be harmful to you and sometimes companies use fragrances to mask other ingredients.
Taking all of this into consideration you should be careful about what you apply to your skin. You can decide to go the DIY route because then you’re sure you are not using any chemicals in your skin that will affect your skin adversely. However, if you still don’t have time to do DIY skincare products you can always just be very cautious about the skincare ingredients to avoid. Always go for natural skincare products to avoid complications in the future.