OT: Toxic Ingredients to Avoid (Inspired by Butch)

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

 

Butch, your post on cosmetic ingredients was a great reminder

that " if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is " . I was a

store manager for " The Vitamin Shoppe " in southern California when

the Dr. Pericone craze hit. Never seen such a frenzy! Unfortunately,

if a product promises to make you look younger (or lose weight),

people usually don't care what's in it, or how much it costs. Sad.

 

I found this (long) list of toxic ingredients to avoid in my files

and thought I would pass it along. Good stuff to be aware of!

 

All the best,

Michelle

http://www.holisticmenopause.com

 

TOXIC INGREDIENTS TO AVOID

 

ALPHA HYDROXY ACID: - Skin irritant. An organic acid produced by

anaerobic respiration. Skin care products containing AHA exfoliate

not only dead skin cells, but the skin's protective barrier as well.

Long-term skin damage may result from its use.

 

ALUMINUM: - Skin irritant. Has been linked to Alzheimer's Disease.

Very commonly found in antiperspirants; it's used to clog your

underarm pores, so you don't sweat... not a good thing to do! The

leading cause of breast cancer is the use of antiperspirant. A

Concentration of toxins that leads to cell mutations (a.k.a.

CANCER.) Yes, ANTIPERSPIRANT. Most of the products out there are an

antiperspirant/deodorant combination so go home and check your

labels. Deodorant is fine, antiperspirant is not.

 

ANIMAL FAT (Tallow): - A type of animal tissue made up of oily

solids or semisolids that are water-insoluble esters of glycerol

with fatty acids. Animal fats and lye are the chief ingredients in

bar soap, a cleansing and emulsifying product that may act as a

breeding ground for bacteria

 

BRONOPOL: - Acts by releasing nitrites, which combine with DEA to

form nitrosamines. " One of the most expensive lines of cosmetics

today, Chanel, often uses this chemical. So do many leading brands

of baby products. And the Body Shop, whose product sales are built

on a reputation of containing natural ingredients, also offers

products containing this chemical. There are many safer yet equally

effective products available, " states Dr. Epstein.**

 

BUTYLATED HYDROXIANISOLE (BHA) and/or BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE

(BHT) - BHA and BHT are preservatives very commonly used not only in

cosmetics and personal care products, but in food products. BHA is

absorbed through the skin, stored in body tissues, and is an animal

carcinogen, suspected human carcinogen, and a xenoestrogen.

 

COAL TAR DYES: = Carcinogens. Blue #1 and Green #3 to name only a

few. According to Dr. Epstein, " These carcinogenic dyes are often

contaminated with arsenic and lead. " Check your toothpaste label on

the box it came in! These artificial dyes are in many other products

as well.

 

COLLAGEN: - May suffocate the skin. An insoluble fibrous protein

that is too large to penetrate the skin. The collagen found in most

skin care products is derived from animal skins and ground up

chicken feet. This ingredient forms a layer of film that may

suffocate the skin. The molecular weight of any product must be 3000

to enter the skin, 800 to enter the cell, 75 to enter the blood

stream. The molecular weight of most skin & hair products is over

10,000 therefore, is ineffective.

 

CRYSTALLINE SILICA: - Carcinogen. According to Dr.

Epstein, " Crystalline Silica is present in some personal care

products and toiletries. It's been incriminated as a cause of lung

cancer in both animal studies and human. "

 

DEA (Diethanolamine) and/or MEA (Monoethanolamine) and/or TEA

(Triethanolamine) -Some alias names: Cocamide DEA, DEA-Cetyl

phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 phosphate, Myristamide DEA, Stearamide MEA,

Cocamide MEA, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Oleamide DEA, TEA-

Lauryl Sulfate ( " Diethanolamine and Cosmetic Products " , FDA Office

of Cosmetics Fact Sheet, Dec. 9, 1999)

 

Ethanolamines are eye and skin irritants, causing contact

dermatitis. DEA is easily absorbed through the skin, and accumulates

in body organs, even the brain. " Animal tests show it causes damage

to the liver, kidney, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, and skin.

Contact with the eyes can cause impaired vision " . ( " Dangerous

Beauty: Cosmetics and Personal Care P. Dingle and T. Brown, 1999

 

DIOXINS: - A potentially carcinogenic by-product that results from

the process used to bleach paper at paper mills. Dioxin-treated

containers sometimes transfer dioxins to the product itself. (see

Sodium Laureth Sulfate). According to Dr. Epstein, " The Health

Protection Branch of Canada has reported dioxin levels in the parts

per trillion range in several samples of milk and cream packaged in

bleached milk cartons manufactured in the United States. Dioxin has

migrated from the cartons to the milk. Very likely U.S. milk

products are similarly contaminated with dioxin. Dioxin's

carcinogenicity is up to 500,000 times more potent than that of DDT. "

 

http://www.chej.org Formaldehyde: carcinogen. Found in many cosmetic

products and conventional nail care systems.

 

ELASTIN OF HIGH-MOLECULAR WEIGHT: - A protein similar to collagen

that is the main component of elastic fibers. Elastin is also

derived from animal sources. Its effect on the skin is similar to

collagen.

 

FLUORIDE - Possible carcinogen. Dr. Epstein states, " There have been

several studies incriminating fluoride in bone cancer. The important

point about this is that the public have been given no information

on this and fluoride in toothpaste is particularly dangerous because

kids swallow a significant amount of the fluoride, especially when

toothpaste contains saccharin as many toothpastes do. "

http://www.nofluoride.com

 

FLUOROCARBONS: - Can produce mild upper respiratory tract

irritation. A colorless, nonflammable gas or liquid commonly used as

a propellant in hairspray.

 

FORMALDEHYDE: - Is used as a disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, and

preservative. It is found in cosmetics and personal care products

because numerous other ingredients release formaldehyde when they

break down. Two of these formaldehyde donors used as preservatives

are DMDM (Dimethylol Dimethol Hydantoin) and Imidazolidinyl Urea

often sited as the second most common cause of contact dermatitis

from preservatives. (A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic

Ingredients, Ruth Winters, Three Rivers Press, 1999)

 

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: -Implicated in mouth, tongue, and throat cancers.

A colorless, volatile, flammable liquid produced by the fermentation

of yeast and carbohydrates. Alcohol is used frequently as a solvent

and is also found in cleaning agents, cosmetics and personal care

products, perfumes and rubbing alcohol, beverages and medicine. As

an ingredient in ingestible products, alcohol may cause body tissues

to be more vulnerable to carcinogens. Mouthwashes with an alcohol

content of 25% or more have been implicated in oral cancers.

Poisoning symptoms include flushing, dizziness, depression, nausea,

headaches, and coma. Rubbing alcohol baths or sponges used to soothe

a fever can lead to acute poisoning through skin absorption or

inhalation. Package warning suggest using protective gloves, and

using a well-ventilated area.

 

LANOLIN: - Highly contaminated with pesticides. According to Dr.

Epstein, " Most lanolin samples, at least 50 to 60%, are

contaminated. "

 

LYE: also known as Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide. A highly

concentrated watery solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium

hydroxide. Lye is combined with animal fats to make bar soaps, which

may corrode and dry out the skin. It is found in toothpaste, eye

drops, and other personal care products. The MSDS for it

says " POISON! DANGER! CORROSIVE. May be fatal if swallowed, harmful

if inhaled. Causes burns to any area of contact, reacts with water,

acids, and other materials. " (MSDS Sodium Hydroxide #S4034)

 

Why is it included in toothpastes? The action of the lye helps

remove stains and discolorations on teeth. This seems to be an

extreme way to get whiter teeth! Sodium hydroxide is in drain

cleaners and oven cleaners. You can buy lye - sodium hydroxide- in

the plumbing department of your hardware store. All these products

have the same warnings as that noted above, but there are no

warnings about Sodium Hydroxide on toothpaste tubes.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Certain ingredients are only chemically stable in

products if the pH (acid/base) is adjusted to the ideal pH. This is

especially true of paraben preservatives used in personal care

products. In addition, the parabens work as preservatives better in

certain pH ranges. Often the amount of acid or base needed to adjust

the pH is only drops per 100 gallons of product. The MSDS of these

caustic substances are not reflective of just how safe they are

after being diluted in hundreds of gallons of product. Literally,

they are safer than water in these applications because they adjust

the pH of the product to a neutral pH for the skin, thus decreasing

the likelihood of skin irritation. There simply is no basis for

criticizing the use of pH adjusters

 

Consumers should be very careful to check ingredients on toothpaste

tubes, especially those that promise " brighter, whiter teeth " . It

may be the sodium hydroxide that is doing the " whitening " .

 

MINERAL OIL (heavy) - MINERAL OIL (light) - Smothers the skin. A

derivative of crude oil (petrolatum) that is used industrially as a

cutting fluid and lubricating oil. Mineral oil forms an oily film

over skin to lock in moisture, but traps in toxins and wastes, and

clogs your pores. It hinders normal skin respiration by keeping

oxygen out. It can promote acne and other disorders, and slows down

normal cell development, resulting in premature aging of the skin.

 

NITROSAMINE: - According to Dr. Epstein, " We've known since 1976

that DEA will react with nitrites which are present, as

preservatives or contaminants, in personal care products, to produce

a carcinogen known as nitrosodiethanolamine. This is found in

virtually any cosmetic that contains DEA. Consumers have been

exposed without any information and without any guidance whatsoever!

In 1979 the FDA warned the cosmetic industry that DEA was dangerous

because of this. The cosmetic industry ignored the warning! While

over in Europe, strong action was taken to phase out the use of

DEA. " Padimate-O (also known as octyl dimethyl PABA): Act by

releasing nitrites which combine with DEA to form *nitrosamines.

Found in cosmetics, especially sunscreens. " The most prudent

consumers will prefer sunscreens without padimate-O, " states Dr.

Epstein.

 

PARA-PHENYLENEDIAMINE DYES: - Carcinogenic when oxidized. According

to Dr. Epstein, " These are dyes which are extensively used in

permanent black and dark brown hair dyes which have been

incriminated in a variety of cancers including non-Hodgkin's

lymphoma and multiple myeloma. "

 

PETROLATUM: - Smothers the skin. A petroleum-based grease that is

used industrially as a grease component. Petrolatum exhibits many of

the same potentially harmful properties as mineral oil.

 

PHTHALATES: - Phthalates are commonly found in cosmetic and personal

care products, especially nail polish, perfumes, hair sprays, and

skin lotions, as well as clothes, household cleaners and

deodorizers, baby toys, garden hoses, shower curtains, insect

repellants, toothbrushes, food packaging, aspirin, medical tubing

and fluid bags, gum, candy, biodegradable tampon injectors, and

prescription medications.

 

POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE - See Lye

 

*PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG) - PG is a strong skin irritant. A cosmetic

form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid,

and industrial antifreeze. In skin and hair care products, propylene

glycol works as a humectant, which is a substance that retains the

moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the

escape of moisture or water. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) warn

users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong

skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage. May

be harmful by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption. May cause

eye irritation, skin irritation. Exposure can cause gastro-

intestinal disturbances, nausea, headache and vomiting, central

nervous system depression.

 

Check out your body lotions, deodorant, hair conditioner, hair gel,

creams, and many more products! Molecular weight of PG is 60.

(Ingredients with molecular weight of 75 or lower enters our blood

stream)

 

Propylene glycol is also used as a solvent in acrylics, stains, inks

and dyes, and in cellophane and brake fluid. It is used as a

preservative in flavored coffee. PG can have an anesthetic effect.

Other side effects on animals exposed to PG include heart

arrhythmia, stunted growth, decreased blood pressure, and even

death. BG - Butylene Glycol - is now being used to replace PG in

some personal care products, even though Butylene Glycol is the only

one of the glycols that has not been able to even get on the GRAS

List (Generally Recognized As Safe)

 

QUATERNIUM -15: - A formaldehyde donor Quanternium-15 is a

preservative and anti-microbial and a severe cause of dermatitis. It

is also a teratrogen (causes birth defects in animals) ( " A

Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients " , Ruth Winters, Three

Rivers Press, 1999)

 

According to Dr. Epstein, " This ingredient is generally safe, BUT

will break down in the bottle, or tube, or on the skin to release

formaldehyde for which the evidence of its carcinogenicity is

literally overwhelming.

 

" SODIUM HYDROXIDE - See Lye

 

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS): andor SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES):

SLS and SLES are used as detergents, surfactants and foaming agents.

These compounds can be found in almost any kind of industrial

cleaning agent. They are even more widely used as major ingredients

in cosmetics, hair conditioners, toothpaste, about 90% of all

shampoos, other products that foam (including those made especially

for babies), and in products designed to be left on the skin for an

extended period of time, for instance, bubble bath.

 

SLS is rapidly absorbed and retained in the eyes, brain, heart, and

liver, which may result in harmful long-term effects. SLS could

retard healing, cause cataracts in adults, and keep children's eyes

from developing properly. In fact, studies have shown that washing

your hair one time with a shampoo containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

could put as many nitrates into your bloodstream as eating a whole

pound of bacon. And that is just ONE application. Molecular weight

of SLS is 40 (Ingredients with a molecular weight of 75 or lower

enters our blood stream)

 

SLES is " Contaminated with a very potent carcinogen; dioxane and

very easily absorbed through the skin, " states Dr. Epstein. SLES is

the alcohol form (ethoxylated) of SLS. It is slightly less

irritating than SLS, but may cause more drying. Both SLS and SLES

may cause potentially carcinogenic formations of nitrates and

dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with other

product ingredients. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood

system from just one shampooing.

[Guest guest]

Michelle wrote:

 

Unfortunately, if a product promises to make you look younger (or lose weight),

people usually don't care what's in it, or how much it costs. Sad.

 

Is that ever true! The herb company that I

get my goodies from recently came out with

a skin product. Now, I won't say it isn't

a good one, but I simply do not have a $55

a month face. I shell out that much if not

more on supplements, and do not begrudge

the cost. I feel too good.

 

But I can't believe the people coming out of the woodwork who claim they can't

afford

the health foods, but they are buying this.

Crazy.

 

Ien in the Kootenays, shaking conservative head.

************************************************

" There are only two ways to live your life.

One, as if nothing is a miracle.

The other as though everything is. "

~Albert Einstein.

************************************************

Rainforest Miracles: http://wildhealing.net

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Great list Michelle!

I'll send it to my Neways friend. Though she

probably has it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Michelle,

 

I enjoyed reading this. I have a skin condition called perioral dermatitis. It

is a combination of roseaca and eczema. The things that irritate it and cause

it to itch and blister up are: Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Chlorine, and Flouride. A

couple of years ago, when I got the diagnosis, I was not told by this damn

dermatologist, who, incidentially did not spend but about 60 seconds in the room

with me, to avoid those things listed above. He gave me 2 creams to use,

because I couldn't take the 3 months of antibiotics (wow imagine what harm that

could have caused!). The creams are over $160 - out of my price range! He did

not mention to use " soap " instead of cleanser - which is totally different in

chemical composition. He did not mention that my toothpaste was a prime suspect

in my skin problem, etc.

 

I switched to Burt's Bees toothpaste which does NOT contain silica (another

irritant), sodium laurel sulfate, or floride. I still have the skin condition -

I have had it since I was about 16, but it is no where near as severe. I would

like to have a shampoo and conditioner recipe that I could make at home with

natural ingredients, as well as a lotion recipe. I have a book about making

your own cosmetics at home, but it STILL has many of the ingredients that I do

NOT want in them. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks for the post! It was great!

 

Jill Mc.

Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Jill, glad you enjoyed the post.

 

I don't have any recipes sorry. I haven't made my own products since

reading " The Herbal Body Book " in the 70's. I've been chemical,

color and preservative free for about 28 years and am a fan of

Aubrey Organics for their purity and integrity.

 

I'm sure you are aware of the benefits of rose oil for roseaca?

Coconut oil is good for exema and roseaca, and at

http://www.herbsoflight.com you'll find OXY/JOJOBA which is

apparently very helpful with exema.

 

Are you taking oils internally?

 

All the best,

Michelle

 

http://www.holisticmenopause.com