You've probably heard the term 'non toxic' thrown around quite a bit in recent years, especially on social media. Non toxic quite literally means that something is free from toxins, and that it isn't harmful or destructive to someone or something. In the health and wellness world, this term has been used to find products like skincare, makeup, household cleaners, clothing, etc. that do not include chemicals that can have detrimental effects to our health, whether that be immediately seen or in the future.
Many products have ingredients in them that are not good to be continuously exposed to. As well, some products advertise in a way that make the product look 'clean' and 'non toxic,' but when you look at the ingredient labels, it's full of toxic chemicals. These chemicals may seem harmless, but things as simple as fragrance and colorings can have some negative effects. It's difficult to know ALL the harmful ingredients in the products we love, but I want to share a list of some common offenders that are seen quite often in conventional products that you can look out for.
The intent of this is to help you become more informed and make decisions that make you feel better about the products you are using. I urge you to do research on your own as well about ingredients you don't know about. In the grand scheme of things though, stressing over a product and whether it's non toxic or not also does harm to your body; having high cortisol (stress hormone) isn't good either. So whatever product you decide to buy, even if it's not non toxic, feel good about your decision and what works for you.
Here is my list of ingredients to avoid in skincare, cosmetics, and household items:
Synthetic fragrances
Fragrances can cause endocrine disruption, as well as contact dermatitis, headaches, asthma attacks, and other neurological and cardiovascular problems. It's also a blanket term that brands will use on their ingredient list, so you will never know what actual fragrance they are using; this hides the actual chemicals they are using to make a product smell good.
Parabens
Parabens are commonly used in cosmetics to inhibit growth of mold and bacteria, but they are also an endocrine disruptor, and have been found in unsafe amounts in breast cancer tissue samples. As well, they can cause early breast development and early menarche in girls.
Sulfates
Sulfates, like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are compounds called surfactants, commonly found in cleaning products, toothpaste, face washes, and laundry detergents. These make it easier for water and oil to bind together and clean, and also cause items to 'foam up.' These compounds, however, are known to cause skin irritation and cause dermatitis, edema, and rashes since they strip the skin of its natural oils. Sulfate particles can also linger in the air and cause lung irritation and aggravate asthma.
Siloxanes
Known for their softening and smoothing effects, siloxanes (or silicones) are used in products like moisturizers, antiperspirants, conditioners, etc. Siloxanes don't break down, they simply accumulate in the body and are linked to reproductive cancers, neurological and immune effects, and skin irritation.
Phthalates
Phthalates are chemicals that help soften plastic and make fragrances last longer and are found in SO many products like shampoos, lotions, laundry detergents, cosmetics, etc. They are known endocrine disruptors, which can lead to fertility issues, reproductive health issues, birth defects, and other hormonal-related conditions. You won't outright see 'phthalates' listed on the ingredients list, but they are associated with fragrances, so if you see 'fragrance' listed on your detergent or other products, you should know that phthalates are probably involved, too.
Toluene
Toluene is normally used in paint and paint thinners, but it can be found in nail polish and adhesives. It can cause cognitive impairment, vision and hearing loss, skin irritation, and developmental effects if exposed while pregnant.
Triclosan
This is an antibacterial and antifungal agent found in soaps, hand sanitizers, deodorants, lotions, toothpastes, etc. It has been shown to increase antibiotic resistance, and impact reproductive and thyroid hormones.
Formaldehyde/formaldehyde releases
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, but can still be found in cosmetics/cosmetic-related products like eyelash glue and nail polish. You won't see formaldehyde explicitly written on labels, but rather ingredients that can turn into formaldehyde with time, like quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, bromopol, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, and glyoxal.
Polyethylene glycols (PEGs)
PEGs have a few purposes. They act as an emulsifier to blend oil and water-based products together, an emollient to soften skin, and as a carrier to allow other products/chemicals to work better and penetrate the skin barrier more. PEGs can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, both of which are carcinogenic or have carcinogenic potential. Since PEGs increase the permeability of the skin barrier to absorb more products, these harmful chemicals can get into the skin as well.
Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, and Homosalate
These 4 ingredients are commonly found in chemical sunscreens, or products that contain SPF in them like foundations, lotions, etc. These are known endocrine disruptors, and can cause birth defects as well, so it's best to avoid chemical sunscreens during pregnancy and use mineral-based sunscreens, which use zinc or titanium dioxide. As well, these chemicals can be found in your bloodstream after a few applications and can stay at unsafe levels for weeks.
Talc
Talc is used in products to help absorb moisture and is an anti-caking agent; it's found in products like baby powder, and cosmetics like pressed foundation powders, eyeshadow and blush. Talc may cause lung damage if inhaled, and can also be contaminated with asbestos, so it can cause further damage, like cancer, if exposed long-term.
Carbon black
This is a pigment that can be found in cosmetics, like eyeliner and mascaras. It can be linked to cancer, and interfere with lung function and hormone production. Instead, look for acetylene black, furnace black, or channel black when looking at pigmentations.
PFAs and PFCs
PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and PFCs (perfluorochemicals) are found in things like non-stick cookware, water-repellant products, stain-resistant fabrics, and other products that resist oil, water, and greasy substances. Exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of thyroid dysfunction, liver and kidney disease, reproductive issues, and cancer.
Optical Brighteners
Commonly used in laundry detergents, optical brighteners absorb UV waves and enhance blue light and reduce the amount of yellow light to in turn make things seems whiter than they are; it's just a trick to make you think your clothes are cleaner simply because they are brighter. Brighteners to look out for include benzoxazole, stillbene, and phenylcumarine.
This is just a short list of the many toxic ingredients there are in the products we use. It's best to educate yourself on these things to optimize your health; even if you're making smaller changes, they are changes nonetheless. Once you recognize a few of these offenders, you can slowly switch out the daily products you use, like soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. and overtime you'll be exposed to less toxic ingredients. Slow and steady wins the race!
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