Is Your Makeup Safe? Discover Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid
Cut Oil Use by Avoiding Cosmetics Made from Petroleum Based Products
Avoiding petroleum based products not only reduces our dependence on oil but can pose less health risks. Since there are no federal restrictions and requirements for safety testing on cosmetic products, it's up to consumers to read the labels to find items that pose the least health risk. Many of the petrochemicals and other cosmetic ingredients to avoid are banned by the European Union, but still commonly found in makeup sold in the United States.
Petroleum based products can contain cancer causing chemicals. In fact, the Environmental Working Group revealed 22% of the cosmetics and lotions for sale contain cancer-causing impurities. According to Teens Turning Green, 89% of the 10,500 chemical ingredients used in personal care products have never been tested for safety.
Top Petroleum Based Products and Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid
To minimize health risks and reduce your personal dependence on oil, try to avoid these common petrochemical cosmetic ingredients. One of the most common petrochemicals is petrolatum. Petrolatum is one of many petroleum based products that is used in lipsticks and other cosmetics. Petrolatum can contain impurities linked to cancer and other health issues.
Parabens are petroleum based products. When reading the labels on cosmetics, look for these common petrochemical ingredients including benzylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben and propylparabens. Parbens are often used to prevent bacteria growth in cosmetics and to help maintain the product integrity. Parabens are a recognized hormone disruptor and have been found in breast cancer tumors.
Coal tar is commonly used in hair color and scalp treatment shampoos. Coal tar has been linked to cancer in some studies and is banned in Canada and by the European Union.
Another one of the cosmetic ingredients to avoid is 1,4 Dioxane. It is a known animal carcinogen and a possible human carcinogen. To find 1,4 Dioxane in cosmetics, read the labels and avoid any products containing petroleum based products containing sodium laureth sulfate, PEG, xynol, ceteareth, oleth, ethoxylated. The FDA does monitor product for 1,4 Dioxane but has not set an exposure limit to date.
An additional cosmetic ingredient to avoid is propylene glycol. One of the more common petroleum based products, propylene glycol is linked to dermatitis, kidney, lung and nervous damage. It's commonly used in cosmetics including foundation, moisturizer and lipsticks. It's also used to make antifreeze and brake fluid.
Alternatives to Petroleum Based Products
As consumers become more aware of petrochemicals and other toxic cosmetic ingredients to avoid, more alternatives have become available. Natural food stores and organic shops often carry a full line of petrochemical free cosmetics or check out the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to find out how safe the ingredients of your favorite cosmetics are.
Sources:
FDA Cosmetics: http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/default.htm
Hirshfield, Lynn, Girls Gone Green, New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2010
Teens Turning Green: http://www.teensturninggreen.org/get-educated/dirty-thirty.html
Published by Wendy Roltgen
An experienced freelance writer specializing in web copy, catalog copy, direct mail, sales and marketing literature, training manuals, and newsletters. View profile
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