Other Harmful Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid
This is number eight in a series of eight outlining ingredients commonly included in so-called healthy bath products that should be avoided and that are nowhere to be found in The Bath Shoppe line of products.
- Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers (quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, bronopol or imidazolidinyl urea: A known carcinogen and irritant found in nail products, hair dye, hair straighteners, false eyelash adhesives and some shampoos.
- Ethanolamines (diethanolamine [DEA]), monoethanolamine (MEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) found in many types of personal care products, household cleaners, cosmetics, and sunscreen. When mixed with certain preservative they can form nitrosamines and can cause cancer, affects male reproductive health, organ toxicity and neurotoxic effects, memory function and brain development in offspring.
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA): is used as a preservative in personal care products and has been classified as a probable human carcinogen based on animal studies and has been classified as a hormone disruptor.
- Triclosan and triclocarban: is used as an antimicrobial agent in personal care products such as soap. Triclosan has been linked to hormone disruption, development of antibacterial resistance and environmental concerns.
- Coal tar ingredients (including aminophenol, diaminobenzene, and phenylenediamine): used in products that address itchy, scaly skin. The ingredients are derived from tar, a known human carcinogen.
- Methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone (also 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, neolone 950 preservative, MI, OriStar MIT, and Microcare MT, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one): used as preservatives in personal care products. They may pose a risk for organ toxicity and allergic reactions.
- Acrylamide (also polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, polyquaternium, acrylate): used as a stabilizing and binding agent in some creams and lotions, make-up and sunscreen and hair products. It is a potential human carcinogen and has been shown to disrupt reproduction in animal studies.
- Phenoxyethanol (also Euxyl K 400 and PhE): a chemical preservative used in many types of personal care products such as deodorants, toothpaste, baby wipes, hand sanitizers, cosmetics, sunscreens, and lotions. It has been linked to skin irritation, eczema, and central nervous system effects.
This is not an exhaustive list, to see more visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website: www.safecosmetics.org. Take control of your health by reading labels and, if you don’t recognize an ingredient or know what it is, be sure to look it up. The Environmental Working Group is also a good resource www.ewg.org. EWG has an app that you can download and scan product barcodes as well.