Let’s think for a sec. How many products do you think you put on your skin every day?
Five? Six?
But wait — did you also count your shaving cream? Then there’s your shampoo, conditioner, special lotion for your face, special lotion for your body, about 10 makeup products, hairspray…
If you really want to alarm yourself, take a moment and go through your bathroom vanities to count them all. I’ll wait.
Got your number? Well, in this case, a high score is bad news – both for you and your skin.
Our skin is our body’s largest organ, yet it probably gets more toxic chemicals thrown at it in a day than any other organs.
Not only that, but it’s just sitting there on the outside of our bodies with no protection of its own — no digestion to break things down, no filtering process to keep toxins at bay. This means that any product you put on your skin… goes right into your bloodstream.
Okay, okay, I promise that this isn’t a doomsday report — you do have options! In other words, this exposé doesn’t mean that you should abandon all beauty aspirations and go bare-faced and frizzy-haired every day. Trust me — as someone who has worked her entire career in television… this simply isn’t an option for most of us.
Generally speaking, women tend to be the ones using the most products but guys, I’m talking to you too! Of course, what you put on your skin matters just as much. In short, to avoid the toxicity, all you’ve got to do is be on the lookout for specific ingredients to steer clear from in beauty and personal care products.
Don’t worry, I’ve done the homework for y’all!
The Dirty Dozen
Below are the top 12 especially toxic ingredients to watch out for. These are the worst of the worst. That’s why smart beauty experts call them the Dirty Dozen. Most of these words are so complicated that they honestly sound made-up. These words are great for scrabble, but not so much for your skin.
Let’s take a closer look at each of them so that you can see just how damaging these dirty ingredients truly are.
- Parabens: The most widely used toxic chemical in cosmetics, parabens are used as preservatives. They’re known for disrupting hormone function.
- Phthalates: Used to soften plastics, phthalates are often found in nail polishes and hair sprays and are also endocrine (hormone) disrupters.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Common in shampoos, this ingredient can cause skin irritations. It’s also found in herbicides and pesticides.
- Propylene Glycol: This substance absorbs excess water, so it’s useful in many cosmetic products to dry the skin, but several studies have shown that it may harm the kidneys and liver.
- DEA: This compound helps make cosmetic products sudsy or creamy, but it can be an irritant to the skin and eyes. It may even contribute to liver cancers and problems with your thyroid.
- Diazolidinyl Urea: This ingredient slowly releases tiny amounts of formaldehyde, a carcinogen, and it’s found in numerous cosmetics.
- Butyl Acetate: This is straight-up a toxic chemical that’s often found in nail polishes and perfumes. It has a fruity odor, but it’s also flammable and highly dangerous to your respiratory system as well.
- Butylated Hydroxytoluene: This is an ingredient used as a preservative in moisturizers and lipsticks. It has been linked to assorted cancers in several studies.
- Ethyl acetate: Like butyl acetate, ethyl acetate is found in nail polishes and nail polish removers. It’s flammable and has been linked to several health issues, including liver cancer.
- Toluene: Oh this? It’s found naturally in crude oil as well as lacquers and glues. At home, you’ll find it in your nail polish and nail polish remover.
- Triethanolamine: This compound is often found in gel-based products, and it contains nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens.
- Petrolatum: This is an ingredient that’s used as a moisture barrier, so you’ll often find it in lipsticks, lip balms, and moisturizers. It’s a known carcinogen.
And lastly, “fragrance” is one more dirty chemical that we have to be on the lookout for. Unlike the others on this list, a fragrance is not just one thing. It’s a catch-all for any other bad ingredients that are included in your products. If you see “fragrance” on a list of ingredients, stay away.
Remember: If you’ve been worried about toxic chemicals in your food, kudos to you — that’s smart eating. But don’t forget about your personal care products too. These are often just as harmful as pesticide-ridden foods. Fortunately, you can often find comparable (or even better) products out there that won’t harm you and don’t cost more.
Here are a few of my GEMS!
Good Medicine Beauty Lab
This company is run by five women from the Southwest U.S. who make wild, non-toxic, animal-friendly and desert-born beauty products. Each and every formula is made by hand and with love from their desert lab. I love their blend of powerful desert botanicals, pure essential oils, and fresh fruits and vegetables! These women are true artisans of clean skincare.
*My favorites
Hush and Dotti
This All American husband + wife powerhouse make excellent vegan makeup and other beauty products. All of their items are cruelty-free, organic, and vegan-friendly. I love their motto: “girl, you are too pretty to poison”. Their packaging is simple and minimal, and their ingredients are jam-packed with all kinds of non-toxic goodness!
*My favorites
Herbivore Botanicals
This husband and wife super team deliver safe, non-toxic, highly effective skin products; with an emphasis on organic, high quality, and food-grade ingredients. They ethically source the finest raw natural materials the earth has to offer – from French pink clay to Brazilian gemstones! Formulating treatments that combine essential vitamins, minerals, and botanicals to restore skin to its optimum health and vitality, straight out of their Seattle kitchen. I love this stuff!
*My favorites
OSEA Malibu
OSEA embodies the core elements of wellness: Ocean. Sun. Earth. Atmosphere. Jenefer Palmer founded OSEA 20 years ago with the intention of creating a skincare line free of toxic, synthetic ingredients. Say hello to plant-based and vegan innovative formulations of certified organic, bioavailable seaweed, infused with pure steam-distilled and cold pressed essential oils create powerful anti-aging solutions and reduce the appearance of blemishes–eliminating the need for toxic synthetic ingredients entirely. OSEA is free of synthetic chemicals such as parabens, petrochemicals, and sulfates.
*My favorites
Lulu Organics
Founded by the lovely Linda ‘Lulu’ Aldredge. Lily ditched the beauty and fashion industry to study herbalism! She believes in providing high quality, simple products, with food-grade ingredients and no preservatives. I love this homegrown organic beauty company, whose handmade and trustworthy products are some of the best in clean skincare!
*My favorites
So, look out for the “Dirty Dozen” when you shop for beauty products and choose what’s right for your skin.
I absolutely believe in the saying, “You are what you eat…” but most certainly, “You are what you slather on as well.” We should all be paying just as much attention as what we put ON our bodies and what we put inside.
Do you have any toxic-free personal care products that are your go-to for healthy beauty? I’m always looking for new gems, so please feel free to mention them in the comments below!
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