And to be honest, I am aware and conscious of the possible harm these products have on me.
Hello~ Yellow nails, I see you.
So, today I would like to share with you the top 3 ingredients I avoid in nail polishes!
1) Formaldehyde
Purpose/Usage
Used as a nail strengthener
Prevent bacteria from growing in water-based products
Also found in nail glue, eyelash glue, hair gel, hair-smoothing products, baby shampoo, body soap, body wash, color cosmetics
Why should you avoid it:
It has been linked to respiratory-related cancer and even leukemia.The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.
It is also a skin allergen and can cause dermatitis.
Used as a plasticizer to prevent nail polishes from becoming brittle
Why should you avoid it:
It is a suspected endocrine disruptor and classified as toxic to reproduction. Health Canada associates DBP with liver and kidney failure in young children when products (or polished little fingers) containing phthalates are sucked or chewed for extended periods.
3) Toluene
Purpose/Usage
Used to help nail polish go on smoothly and adhere evenly to the nail
Why should you avoid it:
It is known to cause eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Moreover, high amounts of toluene has been linked to birth defects, developmental abnormalities, along with liver and kidney damage.
How to identify on a label:
Toluene, phenylmethane, methylbenzene, or toluol.
Safer alternatives:
1) Go bare and just shine
Yup, the best alternative is not to use nail polishes at all. If you want a little something special, the best thing you can do is to buff them with those nail buff to shine your claws to a smooth finish.
2) Use water-based nail polishes
These polishes are made with the intention to be free from these toxic ingredients. The only downside is that it wont last as long as conventional polishes.
3) Do a quick google search
You will be able to find heaps of nail polish brands that are free from these toxic. Do your homework to make sure that they are certified and are truly toxic-free and not just brands that are using the term for marketing!
4) Do the Styrofoam test
So, this test basically helps you to determine how damaging the nail polish is. The more harmful the polish have, the more the Styrofoam will "melt". I use this to test out nail polishes on my own in secret and I will avoid using those that creates the deepest holes. I love nail polishes too much to abandon them totally, so this helps me to do lesser damage to myself.
Sunscreen comes in two forms: chemical (synthetic) and mineral.
Chemical sunscreen is the most popular because it goes on clear and does not have the chalky residue of some mineral SPFs.
Purpose/Usage
Provide sun protection
Why should you avoid it:
Chemical sunscreen penetrates the skin, absorbing all the ingredients into your blood stream, and they have been linked to endocrine and reproductive changes. It mimics estrogen in the body potentially causing hormonal disruption.
It may lead to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer for men.
It can also cause skin irritation.
Moreover, because people wear sunscreen when they are out at the beach and in the sea, these ingredients are also known to attribute to the bleaching of corals.
How to identify on a label:
The three most toxic ingredients are oxybenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate.
They are found in sunscreens, facial moisturizer, lip protection products.
Safer alternatives:
1) Mineral sunscreen
Use sunscreen products that uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients do not penetrate the skin, have shown no endocrine or reproductive changes, and have the lowest toxicity concerns.
2) Protect with natural oils
If you are worried about nanoparticals, then your best bet is to use natural oils such as coconut oil and carrot seed oil, that provide SPF protection.
Tips:
There is a general misconception that the higher the SPF, the longer you can stay under the protection of the sunscreen. But it actually refers to the ability of the sunscreen to block Ultraviolet B Rays~
Here’s a quick reference guide:
SPF 15 – Blocks 94% of UVB Rays
SPF 30 – Blocks 97% of UVB Rays
SPF 45 – Blocks 98% of UVB Rays
After that, it does not really make much of a difference.
So, to ensure that you are protecting yourself from these harmful rays, reapply sunscreen often (every 2 hours or so) and dont forget your eyes and lip area too!
Combination of chemical ingredients used to artificially scent a cosmetic product.
95% of the chemicals in most commercial fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum and natural gas, known as petrochemicals.
Why should you avoid it:
Studies have shown that it can cause allergic reactions, headache, dizziness, nausea, eczema, and rash (children tend to be particularly sensitive), respiratory distress (asthma attacks), and possible effects to reproductive system
How to identify on a label:
Fragrance, parfum
Note: The terms “fragrance” or “parfum” is also used as an ingredient description for natural fragrance ingredients too, read the rest of the ingredient list to determine if it is a synthetic fragrance.
Safer alternatives:
1) Choose products with no added fragrance
2) Less is better: If you are very attached to your fragrance, consider eliminating other fragranced products from your routine, and using fragrance less often.
If something is heavily scented, it is probably wise to avoid it.
Also avoid products where the list of ingredients is a mile long and contains multiple unrecognizable chemical names.
3) Stick to natural fragrances like essential oils or fragraces derived from botanical ingredients such as: flowers, fruits, sap, seeds or skin of the plant, as well as the bark, leaves, roots, resins or wood of certain trees and not from a lab (synthetic).
Sorry for the skip last week as I was pursuing my wanderlust :)
This week, the ingredient to avoid is:
PARABEN
Purpose/Usage
Synthetic preservative
Lengthens the shelf life of a cosmetic product
Commonly found in soap, skincare, body care, hair care, toothpaste, deodorant.
Why should you avoid it:
It has been found in breast tissue (google Dr. Philippa Darbre), and may be playing a role in the development of breast cancers. It also acts like estrogen in the body, and that could lead to impaired fertility or fetal development.
Other health concerns includes Endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity.
1) For starters, avoid buying products with parabens! Hahaha!
Look at the ingredient list and look for products that states that it is free from parabens!
2) Vitamin E
Vitamin E contains natural antioxidants which extend the life of your products.
3) Keep it cool & clean
If you want to preserve the lifespan of products that are free from paraben, keep it in a cool environment and try to minimize exposing the product to moisture and bacteria!
The terms of "Antibacterial", "Germ Protection", "Kills 99.9% of germs" have been really effective marketing lingo to sell products that targets people with OCD, loving mothers, and people who generally love the idea of having no bacteria and germs on themselves.
That is basically, almost everyone... myself included.
Before I started reading ingredients and researching their uses, benefits and dangers online; terms like that speak out very strongly to me and I grab the products off shelves on its guarantee that each time I use it, germs and bacteria die~
However, now that my "green eyes" are opened... these are the terms I shy away from. Why? Let's look deeper into it!
This week, the ingredient to avoid is:
Triclosan/ Triclocarbon
Purpose/Usage:
Preservative
Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal agent
Why should you avoid it:
1) Have the potential to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria
If you recall Biology in Secondary School, about bacteria and why it is so important to finish your dose of antibiotics~ The same thing applies to the use of such antibacterial products.
If bacteria isnt killed off completely, they have the ability to build up a resistance and over time, it will require something stronger and potent to kill them.
2) Suspected of interfering with hormone function
Studies on animals (rats & frogs) have shown that it impacts male and female hormones like testosterone and estrogen, and also affect thyroid systems, which regulate weight and metabolism.
I know we arent the same as rats and frogs, but is it something I want to take a chance on???
3) Bad for the environment
Triclosan/ Triclocarbon are a highly persistent chemical in the environment and they do not degrade for over a decade.
If you are not aware, in Singapore, we reuse our grey water to meet with our water demands. Newater's technology is top notch in the world, but I dont know how they cope with all the non-degradable chemicals in our grey water.
So, let's just use products with biodegradable ingredients, alright?
How to identify on a label:
Triclosan/ Triclocarbon
Used mainly in antiperspirants/deodorants, cleansers, laundry detergent, and hand sanitizers.
Not so common products that use this ingredient are facial tissues, antiseptics for wounds, and other household products that states that it can be used to resist bacteria, fungus, mildew or odors.
Safer alternatives:
1) Use essential oils
Personally, I use Eucalyptus for my laundry and floor, Lavender in my hand soap and Tea Tree (as known as Melaleuca) with my shampoo~ These are easy to find and I like their scent, plus it's these are pretty versatile!
Other essential oils to try: Thyme, Clove & Oregano
These 3 are known to be effective against everyday bacteria found in our surroundings!
2) Use Alcohol
If it is just bacteria and germs that you are concerned about, and you dont have access to water & soap~ alcohol works magic!
However, if you are looking for something to clean, note that alcohol doesnt remove dirt and grime and I find that it is really drying to the skin. So, I will still opt for the use of essential oil or the next simple alternative!
3) Washing hands with soap and water properly
The best way to ensure that your hands are bacteria and germ free~ is to wash your hands thoroughly with a gentle natural soap and ensure that your hands are completely dry after washing!
~~~
And since we are on the topic of bacteria, I had an interesting conversation with a lady from Japan who founded her own natural soap line and she was specialized in the research of good bacteria found internally (think Yakult). She was sharing with me about why and how we should use natural ingredients to not eliminate bad bacteria but rather to cultivate good bacteria to fight off the bad.
Food for thought~
Because, if you think about it, that's a win-win situation plus it's safe!
Now, how to go about cultivating good bacteria itself to began with,
is something new and foreign to me (besides drinking yakult) so let me research more on it first!
When you eat something, the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help to break it down and flush it out of your body.
However, when you put chemicals on your skin, they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream, and they go directly to your delicate organs and over time, they get accumulated in your body as toxic.
Hence, I decided to start a new segment on my blog to talk about an ingredient to avoid each week!
And this week, the ingredient to avoid is
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate
Purpose/Usage:
Makes a product foamy
Cleansing agent
Why should you avoid it:
It is used to break up surface tension, the bonds between molecules in the outer layer of a compound. This is how SLS produces lather. Therefore, SLS actually alters the skin structure, allowing other chemicals to enter more easily into our system. It also explains why your skin may feel irritated and dry after use!
As for the level of toxicity, it ranges from high to moderate depending on the chemical components.
There are claims that it leads to cancer, however, there is still insufficient study on it.
Castile soap (sometimes listed as saponified olive or coconut oil)
Sodium Coco Sulfate (a coconut derivative)
I am not asking all of you to dump away all of your products with SLS/SLES now (that will hurt your heart & pockets), but let's start changing with baby steps! One of the biggest "complains", my fellow greenies and I hear is that it feels weird using products that doesnt have SLS/SLES because it doesnt foam that much! Especially, when it comes to shampoo or even hand soap.
It is all a matter of habit and getting used to it, trust me, it felt weird for me too but I started seeing a difference in using products with ingredients that I know are safer for me. If you want to make a change, I recommend starting with hand soap, because, it is one of the most used product at home and even outside!
I created a video for you, showing you how I make foamy hand soap that contains ingredients which are safer for all of us!
Sources:
Muji Hand Foam Dispenser: Find it here
Dr Bronner's PURE CASTILE SOAP-LAVENDER: Find it here
I love Dr Bronner's soap, it can be used in so many ways! Click here to find out more!
And that is pretty much it~ I hope you learn something!
Next ingredient, next week!
Recently, LUSH launched a campaign to shine the light on cosmetic testing on animals and got people to sign a petition, in hopes that it will put an end to it.
In this campaign, they acted out what goes on behind the scene from the end to the start of such testing. Their "animal subject" was a human .
View video:
This issue has been one of the hot topics for the longest time, and I recall having to write essays for it in my studies when I was studying in Australia. I had to take both sides of the argument into consideration.
My stand in regards to this from then, is still the same now.
It is an unnecessary. Just because we are the "smarter" animal, it does not give us the right to conduct tests like these in the notion of "Better them than us".
It's businesses that are money driven that results to such acts as chemicals are cheaper or produces more impacting results in the short term than using natural ingredients.
What I mean by short term results?
Enjoy now, suffer later.
Since I am on the topic of cosmetics, lets look at the harmful ingredients to avoid in them?
Read here for the list of harmful ingredients in our daily skincare products!
A prove that these ingredients are being used in beauty products, let's do a simple search on the ingredients used 2 foundation products from 2 different but popular makeup brand.
(I cropped out the brand names, but if you know makeup... You will figure them out)
Talc: As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It has been strongly linked to ovarian cancer, which has become the fourth most common fatal cancer in women.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate: It is used to absorb, reflect or scatter UV rays; it protects the skin from sunburn and other damaging effects of the sun. Shown to have hormone-mimicking effects. It can interfere with cellular signaling, causing mutations, and lead to cell death. This reaction may also be implicated in cardiovascular disease. May cause allergic reactions.
Silica: Used to absorb sweat and oil, but prevent light reflection, and improve spreadability. Amorphous silica is considered safe for use in cosmetics, while crystalline Silica is linked to a variety of health hazards, including cancer, allergies, and organ system toxicity.
Boron Nitride: It offers excellent adhesion, some whitening of the skin, and low friction on the skin, which explains why it feels silky and soft upon application and on your skin. Although it's not the best oil absorber, it won't change the colour in your foundation, eye shadows, or blushes if you have oilier skin.
Dimethicone: A silicone-based polymer that provides a smooth application. It fills in uneven texture and fine lines, which helps create a smooth and flawless look in products like primers, foundations, and lotions.
That is 3 harmful ingredients out of 5 and they make up of the larger quantity in the product. Hmm...
Water: Ok, this is easy to understand. Skip.
Cyclopentasiloxane: Used to give a silky and slippery feeling to the touch and acts a mild water repellent by forming a protective barrier on the skin. It can also fill in fine lines and wrinkles, giving the face a temporary “plump” look. May cause mild skin and eye irritation. There are many concerns regarding the harmful effects it may have on the environment (i.e. marine life).
Polymethyl Methacrylate: widely known as a plastic component used in products, it is appearing as an ingredient in a number of cosmetics and aestheticians' offices as a filler for wrinkles and fine lines. Considered safe but it does list concerns that it can be a carcinogen, cause allergic reactions, immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity.
Butylene Glycol: Used as a solvent, as a viscosity-decreasing agent (to thin creams and gels so they’re easier to use), and as a conditioning agent. May be irritating to the skin, eyes, and or nasal passages, but it is the least potentially irritating of all the glycols.
PEG-10 Dimethicone: A synthetic, silicone-enhanced polymer that functions as skin protectant and helps products adhere to skin better. Not much information if it has any effects on human body yet.
That is also 3 out of 5, but it seems like compared to the first product, this is the better one out of the 2. But would you risk it? We apply foundation on a pretty substantial portion of our body and for areas with pretty thin thickness of skin, for quite a duration.
Another product I want to mention is lipstick, ladies use them everyday (every hour) and it is something that we actually consume. A few months back, I saw the post of the presence of lead in very popular makeup brand popping up everywhere on Facebook.
Click on image below to be directed to news video:
In short:
But lead is not the only toxic in lipstick, yes, there are more:
Cadmium: Linked to stomach tumors
Carmine: A red pigment/dye derived from insects native to South America and Mexico that live as parasites on cactus plants. Used as a colorant in food, cosmetics and textiles. Has been associated with severe allergic reactions.
Petroleum or Mineral oil: Help moisturize your lips by sealing in existing moisture, it does not treat dryness. Actually dries lips, so you have to keep applying the lip balm in order to get the desired, moisturized effect. It’s a vicious cycle.
Titanium dioxide: Used to block UV rays, but becomes dangerous to human health when it makes up 25 percent or more of a product’s composition.
Menthol, camphor, and phenol (sometimes listed as carbolic acid): Used to treat cold sores due to its drying properties but can lead to dryness, irritation, and peeling or flaky skin. Skin exposure to high levels of phenol has resulted in liver damage, diarrhea, dark urine, and hemolytic anemia.
Parabens: Used for their antimicrobial properties and are specifically known under the names methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. Acts like estrogen in the body and disrupt normal hormone function.
Fragrance (likely contains phthalates): linked to cancer and birth defects.
~~~
It is quite a chunk-full of harmful/ synthetic ingredients that we use on ourselves without much knowledge just to make ourselves beautiful, right?
SO WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
After knowing, comes action.
I am not asking you to forgo beauty products all together~
There are alternatives, choices that dont practice acts like these:
Or are loaded with things that can make us sick:
We are the drivers of the beauty industry, if we stopped purchasing toxic makeup or from companies, they will ultimately have to change to cater to our preferences and needs.
In the next few posts to come, I will share with you alternatives that are:
I was asked to be a guest writer for WWW.MAISIAOSIAO.COM to shed some light on the types of harmful chemicals present in our conventional beauty products. I knew Hui from one of my booth setup for Personally Made Precious. She was there shopping with her friend and purchased a handmade body scrub from me.
It was very heartwarming and sweet of her to give me this opportunity to share my knowledge and personal experience with her readers.
Thank you very much for the collabortaion, Hui and thank you for being a fan of my body scrub! :)
Hi, I am Jody Liu; a Blogger, a mermaid, and an International Pageant Queen! I love writing about beauty, fashion and food that is mindful about its impacts for the environment. Feel free to leave me a comment or question!
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