Toxic ingredients in beauty care! There is a clear lack of transparency over what is in beauty care products, be it moisturisers, shampoo, lip balms, facial masks, etc. The list is literally endless, as endless seems to be the list of obscure, toxic ingredients.

Most of us seem to be paying more and more attention to what we put in our bodies, but what about on our bodies? If we are what we eat surely, we are also what we put on it. We have very little idea of what goes in skincare, haircare and makeup but given that skin is the body’s largest organ and that it absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it, maybe it is time we know.

Here are the top 4 toxic ingredients in beauty care we should all know about. Information is power!

  1. Parabens

A type of preservative used to prolong the shelf life of a product by stopping the growth of mould and bacteria within them. Parabens seem to disrupt hormone function by mimicking oestrogen, which may lead to breast cancer. Due to the small concentration of parabens used, they are still considered safe by the EU and the FDA. There are, however, more natural alternatives that are just as effective.

Found in – Shampoo, body and face moisturisers

  1. Formaldehyde

A colourless, strong-smelling gas, formaldehyde is mostly used as a water solution called formalin. Formaldehyde along with other preservatives protects products against bacteria during storage and continued use. Prolonged exposure has been linked to skin & eye irritation, hair loss, and it is believed to be a probable carcinogen.

Found in – Nail polish, hair straightening lotions, hair gel, makeup, shampoo and deodorant, amongst others.

  1. Synthetic fragrance

Synthetic fragrances, or parfums, are scents created in a lab usually from petroleum and natural gas byproducts. Parfums are loaded with phthalates, which have been proved to accumulate in the body. Since companies are not required to disclose the hundreds of chemicals that make up the fragrance, from benzene to toluene or xylene, consumers cannot discern which are toxic and make an informed decision.

Found in – shampoo, moisturisers and perfume.

  1. Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that make plastic softer and more flexible. As they are not a single chemical, they don’t all behave in the same way, which explains why some of them have been found to irritate skin & eyes, others to cause dizziness, vomiting, nausea and endometriosis. They have been linked to cancer and developmental issues, but further research is needed.

Found in – Shampoo, moisturiser, shower gel, hair spray, perfume, nail polish.