Toxic cosmetic ingredients
The main protective barrier that our body has to keep away from all the contaminating agents that exist outside is the skin.
The skin is like a sponge, it absorbs everything it touches, which is why the cosmetics we use can become our worst enemies in terms of health in the long term.
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In the world of industrial cosmetics it is common to find products that include toxic ingredients and substances that damage our metabolism and our skin, let us not allow misleading advertising to make us think otherwise.
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These toxic ingredients are intended to improve the image of the products, enhancing their color, durability and smell, what they do not tell us is that they are really harmful.
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Below we will show you which are the toxic ingredients that usually appear in cosmetics and which are not at all recommended.
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· Mineral oils
· Chemical filters UV rays in sun protection products (titanium dioxide)
· Silicones
· Dyes
· PEG and PPG derivatives
· Synthetic fragrances
· Thimerosal
· Propylene Glycol
· Phthalates
· DEA, MEA and TEA
· Halogenated organic compounds
· Nitrosamines and nitrosating agents
· Formaldehyde derivatives
· Parabens and other preservatives
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Mineral oils
Mineral oils are obtained directly from petroleum and have surprising results, providing freshness and tenacity. What they don't tell us is that they clog pores, prevent the skin from fulfilling its functions, make it more permeable to external agents, removing hydration and accelerating the aging process.
Many of these oils end up directly in the liver, kidneys or lymph nodes, causing strong inflammatory reactions over the years, blocking some of the main functions of the metabolism, affecting the elimination of toxins. Other derivatives are acrylates and acrylamides that form a film on the skin and hair.
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Silicones
Silicone is a substance that can clog the pores of the skin and cause occlusive effects. Sweat caused by occlusion can cause severe skin irritation, in some cases causing tumors in the liver and lymph nodes.
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Silicones such as Dimethicone or Cyclomethicone are very present in hair cosmetics, causing a lack of nutrients and acting negatively on the scalp. In addition, they are non-biodegradable products.
PEG and PPG derivatives
PEG and PPG derivatives make our skin much more permeable to harmful substances. These are products that can be carcinogenic and are obtained from petroleum-derived ingredients, causing severe skin irritation.
These derivatives are widely present in a wide variety of industrial cosmetics, as they act as emulsifiers, surfactants, softeners and solvents.
Copolyol, Parteh, Laureth, Polyhlykol, Poloxamer 407, Polysorbate, Cetholth, Ceteareth, Ceteth, etc.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a substance that aims to prevent moisture from escaping, acting as a softener and solvent in all types of cosmetic products. It penetrates the skin in a very effective way, causing a weakening of protein and cellular structures.
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DEA, MEA and TEA
DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine) and TEA (Triethanolamine) are substances used to regulate the pH of cosmetic products. They act very effectively in the deepest part of the skin, forming nitrosamines that are carcinogenic, especially if combined with nitrates or nitrosating agents.
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Nitrosamines
Nitrosamines are compounds based on nitrites and amines, and are shown to be substances that can be carcinogenic and are made from different contaminated raw materials.
Parabens and other preservatives
Parabens act as hormone disruptors by passing through the skin. Through different studies, traces of parabens were found in several patients with breast tumors.
INCI examples: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben.
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Formaldehyde and derivatives
Formaldehyde and its derivatives are mainly used as preservatives in all kinds of cosmetic products for nail care. Substances that can cause allergies and promote aging.
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Phthalates
Phthalates directly influence the skin's protective mechanisms, damaging the kidneys, liver and different reproductive organs that play the role of hormones in our body.
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Synthetic fragrances
Synthetic fragrances can cause different allergic reactions in the body, especially in people who are highly sensitive. Some of them have even been shown to be carcinogenic or mutagenic substances after testing on animals.
​Thirorosal
It is used as an antiseptic and preservative in topical medications, cosmetics and vaccines.
It is composed of two different components: an organic mercury compound and thiosalicylate. Allergic reactions can be due to either of the two parts.
Other names: Mertiolate, Thiomersal, Ethyl [2-mercaptobenzoato(2<)-O,S]-mercurate(1<) sodium
Ethyl (2-mercaptobenzoato-S) mercury, sodium salt, Mercurothiolate, Merfamin, Merthiolate, Mertorgan, Merzonin
[(o-carboxyphenyl)thio]ethylmercury sodium salt, Sodium ethyl mercurithiosalicylate, Thiomersal, Thiomersalate,
Thiomersalan, Thimerosal.
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USES
Antiseptics: sprays
Antitoxins (diphtheria, tetanus)
Cosmetics: make-up removers, masks, moisturising creams, eye shadows…
Personal hygiene products: soap-free cleansers…
Eye preparations: eye drops, contact lens cleaning solutions, ointments.
Antigenic extracts for skin tests
Topical and systemic medications: nasal and ear drops, merthiolate tincture
Vaccines, immunotherapy.
Tuberculin test
METABOLISM
Thiromerosal is transformed in the body into ethyl-Hg and thiosalicylate.
Current information is limited regarding the potential differences in effects between ethyl-Hg and thiosalicylate. Ethyl-Hg, like all mercury derivatives, can accumulate in animals and humans.
Organic mercury compounds are chemically very unstable. MeHg is the organic mercury compound most studied for its harmful effect. There is some equivalence between ethyl-Hg and MeHg, since both have a very similar chemical structure, therefore it is considered that ethyl-Hg would also be transformed into inorganic mercury. At high doses, both are associated with neurotoxicity. MeHg can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation and through the skin. It is distributed in all tissues, but is concentrated in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the blood.
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UV filters in sun protection products
UV filters in sun protection products can act as hormones, and are often found in breast milk and fish skin.
INCI examples:
Benzophenone (followed by a number), Camphor Benzalkonium Methosulfate,
Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ethylhexyl
Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone.
Aluminum Chlorohydrate
This is a very common ingredient in all types of industrial deodorants, which is shown to be harmful because it clogs pores and causes different inflammatory reactions.
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Other forms of aluminium in cosmetics INCI: Aluminium Chloride, Aluminium Chlorhydrate, Aluminium Chlorohydrex, Aluminium Chlorohydrex PG, Aluminium Fluoride, Aluminium Sesquichlorohydrate, Aluminium, Zirconium Trichlorohydrex GLY.
Synthetic dyes
The problems derived from the use of these dyes can be allergies, dermatitis or some are considered carcinogenic.
Tar
There are many substances that are produced from tar or coal tar: phenolen, phenyleneadiamine, naphthalin, diaminobenzene, alkylnaphthaline, chinolin, etc. These substances are mainly used in hair products, and all of them are considered carcinogenic substances.
Disodium Edta – Trisodium Edta
Both Disodium and Trisodium Edta are substances that are intended to enhance the effectiveness of other preservatives, but have been shown to greatly weaken the membrane that protects cells and are actually harmful to the environment.
Other ingredients not recommended
Carbomer, Styrene / Acrylates Copolymer (carcinogenic in animal experiments), Polymethyl Methacrylate, Etidronic Acid, Butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), O-Phenylphenol, PAB, PABA, Borax (Sodium Borate, Sodium Tetraborate, Boric Acid or Sodium Borate), Bronopol (-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-2,3-Diol), Triclosan, Phenylenediamine (P-Phenylenediamine Sulfate), Toluene, Triclocarban etc. Titanium dioxide.
