12 ingredients to avoid in cosmetics because they are harmful
Cosmetics are articles that we use on a daily basis and, unless they provoke irritation or allergic reaction, we rarely stop to check the ingredients.
We choose this type of products because of the color, smell, price or any other reason that has to do with taste, but we must start to review the labels and know what ingredients should be avoided in cosmetics .
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12 ingredients to avoid in cosmetics
Some chemical components of cosmetics are so aggressive that they have been banned in some countries, but in many others they remain in the market and you have to know them to avoid buying products that include those components.
Regardless of the price of cosmetic products that are on the market, many include to a lesser or greater extent some of these chemicals that we should avoid applying to our skin , since some have proven damage with continuous use and in some cases it has been shown that they could favor the appearance of cancer.
1. Parabens
They are used as preservatives because they serve to keep bacteria away. They are very cheap to produce, which is why many cosmetic brands use them.
However, the parabens cause alterations in the body's hormonal functions that is known as endocrine discrutora so in France and Denmark have been banned.
It is for this reason that parabens are one of the ingredients to avoid in cosmetics.
2. Diethanolamine
The DEA, MEA and TEA are compounds that they are found in soapy products and cause, among other things, the delay of hair growth.
They are very used so that the products acquire a more creamy texture or are more sparkling, some sensitive people show irritability in skin and eyes. The worst risk posed by these three compounds is that added to other components enhance carcinogenic effects (although the danger is not very high).
If one of these ingredients appears on the label, it is a cosmetic product to avoid.
3. Siloxanes
Siloxane is used to soften and soften cosmetic products. Although there is no definitive study, it is suspected that they alter hormonal functions and cause toxicity in the liver .
If in your beauty products you read on the label Ciclomethicone or a compound that ends in "siloxane", then that product contains ingredients that are best avoided in your usual beauty treatments or treatments.
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4. Aluminum
Aluminum is used in antiperspirant deodorants , and it has been linked to the appearance of breast cancer. Unfortunately it is very common to find it in any brand of deodorant even though it is a harmful ingredient that should be avoided.
5. Lead
So is, many lipsticks contain lead . Although the amount they contain is very small, the truth is that the body absorbs it and if we think that lipstick are products that are used very frequently, we can realize that we have been very exposed to lead.
The recommendation is to check the label of the lipsticks and if you have lead discard that cosmetic product, it is harmful.
6. Ammonia
Although this ingredient is one of the least aggressive of the long list of harmful ingredients in cosmetics, ammonia causes problems in the scalp .
It is widely used in dyes and is contraindicated for people suffering from seborrheic dermatitis or eczema on the scalp.
7. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) compound
This ingredient is used for the bases of the creams and has been found relationship with nervous system damage .
If ingredients such as "ethyl" or "glycol" are read on the label, it is a product containing harmful compounds.
8. Silicones
They are mainly found in makeup , but also many shampoos and conditioners contain them. They are not toxic, but prolonged use damages our skin, scalp and capillary surface.
This type of compounds are considered harmful ingredients in beauty products because they permeate the skin and hair causing them to stop "breathing" so at the beginning you can feel that the appearance improves, with the passage of time they damage leaving it worse.
9. Formaldehydes
Chemically they are the simplest aldehydes that exist. They are flammable volatiles and are used in cosmetics to fix nail varnishes and body lotions.
It is highly allergenic, but what is really alarming is that the WHO considers it a harmful ingredient that can cause cancer. Formaldehydes are one of the harmful ingredients that contain cosmetics that should definitely be avoided.
10. Phthalate
Its major detrimental characteristic is that it has been shown that acting together with other chemical components can favor the appearance of genetic mutations and affect the function of hormones, causing reproductive problems .
At some point it worked as a substitute for formaldehyde, as it was also used to fix the lacquer of nail varnishes . However before these discoveries, it is best to check if the label contains phthalate as a cosmetic ingredient and if so, avoid its use.
11. Pfelendiamine
It is a compound derived from anilines. It is used by its ability to color and its low cost so it is commonly found in hair dye. It appears as CI and a 5-digit code.
This ingredient is harmful in beauty products because in addition to causing irritation has been shown allergic reactions of asthma and being a compound derived from coal tar, is highly carcinogenic.
12. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
It is used as a cleansing agent for foaming, and its use is frequent even though it is known to cause cancer.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a harmful component in cosmetics, so when found on the label, it is best not to use it.
Bibliographic references:
- Winter, R. (2005). A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Complete Information About the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients in Cosmetics (Paperback). US: Three Rivers Press.
