What Chemicals Are You Putting in Your Body?

Your overall health includes your skincare routine and the products you put in your body.

Most of you are probably wondering why I have chosen to do posts about Green Beauty. What exactly does Green Beauty entail? Well, you're about to get the answer!

My eyes were opened to the importance of knowing what ingredients skincare and beauty products hold. For some of you, you know what it was like to have acne prone skin.

Heck, you may still be struggling with it. If you were like me you tried every possible product to find the "magic answer" to your skin problems. I can vouch for most of you when I say what we have in common is that I had literally tried everything. My list started with: Proactiv, Murad, Clinique, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, CeraVe, Aveeno, Eucerin, and the list goes on!

I even tried Isotretinoin (aka Accutane) which caused a hormonal imbalance.

Needless to say, none of them worked long-term. Now if these are products you use and they work for you, that's great! But, you must know that some of the ingredients you are putting onto your skin and into your body can affect your health.

The Top 10 Ingredients to Avoid and Why:

• Fragrance or Parfum/Perfume: Over 3,000 different ingredients can be used in the ingredient Fragrance/Parfum. Many ingredients in fragrances are unlisted and have been linked to health problems such as asthma, allergies, and even cancer (Dirty Dozen.) Several of the ingredients listed below can be hidden in the word Fragrance or Parfum.

• Parabens: have been linked to hormonal disruptions, breast cancer, increased skin aging, and DNA damage.

• PEGs: have chemicals that are linked to genotoxicity and irritate skin. This is another ingredients also linked to carcinogens (cancer.)

• Phenoxyethanol: treated by benzene and ethylene oxide both linked to carcinogens. Also a cause of dermatitis.

• Phthalates: Known to be dangerous to the environment and very toxic to aquatic organisms. Many companies use "phthalate-free" synthetic fragrances, but do not have to disclose their ingredients. Phthalate free doesn't always mean safe.

• Propylene Glycol: is a penetration enhancer, aka a carrier for other chemicals, which absorb into your skin and run straight into your bloodstream. It's also a suspected immune system toxin, neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, respiratory toxin, and skin toxin.

• Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Many commercial varieties are contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane – known carcinogens.

• Synthetic Dyes (Ex. Red 33, Blue, Yellow, etc.): These change the color of your beauty products making their appearance appealing. Like fragrances not all ingredients are listed.

• Triclosan: Triclosan is found in antibacterial cosmetics like deodorants, cleansers, and hand sanitizers. It is known to cause antibiotic resistance, short term eye irritations,and hormonal disturbance with continued use.

What chemicals are you exposing your body to?

Check the ingredients label on your daily beauty care routine products, and see!

Keep an eye out for my next post where I explain Green Beauty in more detail and even share my favorite daily clean beauty products. Have questions?

Leave a comment, I love to chat!