Chemical Ingredients to Avoid In Skincare and Cosmetics

Hello,and Happy New Year 2011!! Hope this year will bring us happier,healthier,and wealthier.Amin!:) 

To enter this new year blogging,I think I'm going to post this important information that I  got from one web couple of days ago.I forgot the source of the web(just simply click and paste it,so if any of you having this article and want me to put credit here,just contact me ok?:) ). I think it's better for us to know the list of chemical ingredients to avoid in skincare and cosmetics.So here is the list:

* 1,4 - Dioxane
      Cancer risk.

* 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol(see bronopol below)
      May contain / release formaldehyde, which is an irritant, carcinogenic and a neurotoxin.

* AHAs – Alpha-hydroxy acids (or ‘fruit acids’; incl. Glycolic acid and lactic acid)
      Can penetrate the skin;
      May increase sensitivity to sunlight therefore increase photo-aging and risk of sun-related skin cancers.

* Artificial colours
      The following colours may contain heavy metal impurities and could be carcinogenic:
      . Blue 1 (E133)
      . Green 3 (E142)
      . D&C Red 33 (E127)
      . FD&C Yellow 5 (E102)
      . FD&C Yellow 6 (E110)

* BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
      Preservative antioxidants;
      Possible allergen;
      Has been linked to possible behavioural effects, reproductive failures, not allowed in baby food.

* Bronopol
      Cancer risk.

* DEA / TEA (diethanolamine / triethanolamine)
  Can react with nitrites (often present in cosmetics as contaminants but not disclosed on the labels) to form nitrosamines – most nitrosamines are carcinogenic .

* Diazolidinyl urea / Imidazolidinyl urea.
      May contain / release formaldehyde, which is an irritant, carcinogenic and a neurotoxin.

* DMDM hydantoin
      May contain / release formaldehyde, which is an irritant, carcinogenic and a neurotoxin.

* Fragrance (Parfum, or Aroma)
      Can exacerbate asthmatic symptoms;
    May contain chemicals linked to cancer, damaging to the liver and kidneys and toxic to the nervous     system.

* Germall
      Diazolidinyl Urea (see note above)

* Lanolin
      Cosmetic grade Lanolin can be contaminated with carcinogenic pesticides such as DDT, dieldrin and lindane.
* Methylchloroisothiazolinone / Methylisothiazolinone
      Can cause allergic reactions or irritation.

* Padimate-O (octyl dimethyl PABA)
      Cancer risk.

* Parabens (Alkyl parahydroxy benzoates, or butyl/methyl/ethyl/propyl/isobutyl paraben)
      Oestrogen mimics;
      Can penetrate the skin.

* Petrolatum / Mineral Oil / Paraffin Wax / Petroleum Jelly
 By-products of the petrochemical industry. They are not absorbed by the skin, and block natural respiration, excretion and absorption of other nutrients. May contain oils and other impurities which could be toxic or harmful.

* Phthalates (Dibutyl (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP))
 Risk to pregnant women and unborn children;May disrupt hormones and cause birth defects;Linked to asthma and allergic disease.

* P-Phenylenediamine (PPD, or Para-phenylene-diamine)
      Linked to cancer in workers;
      Linked to asthma and allergic disease;
      Can penetrate skin;
      Skin irritant.

 * Propylene glycol (propan-1,2-diol)
      Humectant - used to maintain moisture;
      Can cause contact dermatitis;
      Linked to depression of the Central Nervous System.

* Quaternium 15
      May contain / release formaldehyde, which is an irritant, carcinogenic and a neurotoxin.

* Triclosan (5-chloro-2 (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol) or Trade name - Microban
      Bioaccumulative - builds up in fatty tissue and can’t be broken down properly;
      Has been found in human breast milk and fish;
      Dioxins (linked to cancer) are formed when it is manufactured, incinerated or exposed to sunlight.

* Sodium Lauryl Sulphate / Sodium Laureth Sulphate
      Skin, eye and respiratory tract irritant;
      May damage liver, lungs and immune system;
      Some evidence to suggest reproductive effects.

* Talc
   Cosmetic grade talc (often found in baby powders, face powders, body powders and some contraceptives)    is carcinogenic.

* Toluene (Toloul, methylbenzene)
  Risk to women workers of spontaneous abortions;Skin irritant; Toxic to central nervous system, eyes, blood, liver, kidneys and skin.
Sources:
Women's Environmental Network - Toxic Tour
Green People - Skin Pollution feature
Chrissie Wildwood - Spotlight on the trade in wild plants

It's quite long list,and I must admit that some of my cosmetics I've bought contained one or even more of those ingredients above :(... So my hope for this year is to: GO GREEN for my cosmetics!It's hard because some major brand cosmetics offering good products which are not green and safe..

For Indonesian readers,I got this link which will help you through safe cosmetics.What the web said and what on my list above are the same.Just click this link,it's in Indonesian :)

Yeah,still..I hope that list will be useful for you!And,I'll keep mentioning ingredients of products I've reviewed here so that all readers can use it for their buying decision before buying products. Because we care  about  what's inside our products,right?;)  Have a green year ahead!!^^v