Do you use skincare & make-up? Have you ever thought about why you choose to buy that product? Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients?
Well me neither until let’s say a year ago… It started with an infection under my left eye which turned out to become a cyst. I’m not sure how that goes with you but I started panicking and already saw the worst case scenario’s happening 😉 It eventually took an eye surgeon to remove the cyst.
So I started an investigation… and this is what I’ve learned:
Using too much eyeliner for a long period of time can cause a congestion in your tear ducts — so now I use less eyeliner and from a cleaner brand
A lot of skincare and make-up products contain microplastics & chemicals — I personally threw a lot of my cosmetics and personal care products out of the bathroom
Many of those substances – depending on the size of the molecules – end up in your blood stream and may disrupt your body systems (endocrine, nervous, immune, reproductive, …)
As a result you can get skin irritations & allergies BUT the toxins in your bodily tissues can lead to life threatening diseases as well.
Paying a lot of money for well-known beauty products doesn’t always mean you get value for money.
The main ingredient in almost all skin – and haircare is water (aqua) — I rest my case…
Brands use the word ‘fragrance’ without disclosing which ingredients make up that fragrance.
Since regulations are limited in regards to labelling & advertising, it’s hard to see the wood for the trees as many brands claim to be eco-friendly or natural but in truth they are not so ‘green’.
For an approved preservative listing, refer to ECOCERT – a certification body for
the development of standards in natural and organic cosmetics
The most harmful ingredients are: parabens – phthalates – sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES) – toluene – formaldehyde – triclosan – hydroquinone – polyethylene glycol (PEGs) – mineral oil – silicones and synthetic colors
To read the ingredient lists you need a degree in chemistry 😉 but I think the below info can help:
- You can recognize parabens, phthalates and sulfates as they are usually described as such
- Toluene is used in nail products so look for products labeled ‘3-free’ or higher
- Formaldehyde releasers (banned in multiple countries) are labeled under various names*
- Triclosan or triclocarban is a substance used in antibacterial products
- Hydroquinone – a derivative of benzene – helps to lighten the skin (hyperpigmentation)
- Polyethylene glycols are easy to recognize as they start with PEG followed by a number
- Mineral oil – also known as paraffinum liquidum – is derived from petroleum
- Silicones end with siloxane, cone, silane or conol, and contain microplastics
- You could ID synthetic colors by color-number-word ‘lake’ combination or CI + set of numbers
* to check the labels you can use apps like e.g. INCI Beauty, Good Face App or Think Dirty
A lot of the above mentioned harmful ingredients can be replaced by natural alternatives.
The label ‘natural’ doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good for your skin & body.
Many but not all cosmetics and personal care products can be produced with 100% organic materials. You need an awful lot of resources which is not sustainable & lack of performance can be an issue.
With the clean beauty movement, the regular beauty brands are enforced to do better.
There are quite a few beauty brands who offer products with clean(er) ingredients already – and with new inventions on the rise the future of skincare will look brighter than the last decades.
To name just a few of the powerful ingredients clean beauty brands are already using:
Olive oil, licorice root extract, coconut oil, bamboo extracts, avocado oil, cucumber, jojoba oil, apple, rosehip seed oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, pomegranate, almond oil, honey, ylang ylang, marigold, kiwi, squalane oil (from sugar cane or olive oil), chamomile, argan oil, sea kelp, …
I hope I was able to shed some light on the practices in the world of skincare. I think it’s important that we all become educated consumers and that we focus on products from brands that deliver what they promise, and not on the ones who are just telling a beautiful story. Our beauty routine shouldn’t come with a price on our health.
If you would like to know which beauty products made my list, keep an eye on my upcoming articles!
Important:
The above information is to make you more conscious about the cosmetics you buy and use.
If you have specific skin issues and/or allergies, it’s best to consult your doctor, dermatologist for the best personal advice.
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