The top 12 toxic beauty ingredients that are linked to breast cancer, heart disease, birth defects, memory loss, depression and more. These are just a few of the conditions that have been linked to “The Top 12 Toxic Beauty Products Ingredients,” a list of the worst toxic and cancer-causing ingredients commonly found in skin care products and cosmetics. Several years ago severe health issues struck the former Ms. America Susan Jeske, who worked more than 20 years in the beauty, cosmetic and personal care products industry. Due to those health issues, led her to a holistic doctor who urged her to stop using the synthetic and toxic chemicals on her skin that were making her sick. Her health issues went away after just two weeks of using natural and organic products. She started studying everything about cosmetics and skin care and what she found disturbed her and is on a mission to educate the public about the dangers.
These toxic ingredients are “non-natural” and damaging to people’s health. This list is the latest in several ongoing movements by groups such as the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to ask the Food and Drug Administration to regulate chemicals used in the cosmetic industry.
Take a break and grab one of your favorite beauty care product and read the ingredients list, if one or more of these toxic ingredients are listed, be very cautious of what you may be doing to your health and your skin, dump what’s toxic and replace them with natural beauty products. Please note that this list is in no way complete as there are many other dangerous and toxic ingredients being placed in many big brands out there. All of the toxins listed below are linked to many more health issues than what I’ve included here. Know what they are and always read the labels on beauty products before you purchase them! There’s a world of wonderful, all-natural beauty products that are available to everyone. Amepha’s Organic™ offers all natural and organic skin care products that is free of parabens, chemicals, synthetic ingredients and preservatives. Once you start digging into the natural alternatives, you won’t miss the toxic cosmetics at all! Most of all, you’ll be using products that don’t contain any of the following:
Benzoyl Peroxide: Frequently used in acne products, the MSDS states: “Facilitates action of known carcinogens…. Possible tumor promoter. May act as mutagen; produces DNA damage in human and other mammalian cells in some concentrations. Also, toxic by inhalation. May be harmful if swallowed and in contact with skin. Eye, skin and respiratory irritant.”
DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (Triethanolamine): This foam booster is a skin/eye irritant and causes contact dermatitis. Easily absorbed through skin to accumulate in body organs, even the brain. Repeated use resulted in major increases of liver and kidney cancer.
Dioxin: Won’t appear on an ingredient list. Often contained in antibacterial ingredients like triclosan, emulsifiers, PEGs and ethoxylated cleansers like Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Dioxin causes cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, miscarriages and birth deformity. It’s a hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion-one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools! Our bodies have no defense against its damage. Most visible example was Yushchenko, the Ukrainian President, who suffered from dioxin poisoning and looked old overnight.
DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): Just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, cancer, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, aggravate coughs and colds.
FD&C Color & Pigments: Synthetic colors from coal tar contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins in skin, causing skin sensitivity / irritation. Absorption can cause depletion of oxygen and death. Animal studies show almost all are carcinogenic.
Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl): Used as preservatives and aren’t always labeled “parabens.” They’re used in deodorants and antiperspirants and have been found in breast cancer tumors. Parabens, as xenoestrogens (hormone disruptors), may contribute to sterility in male mice and humans. Estrogen-like activity causes hormone imbalance in females and early puberty.
PEG (Polyethylene glycol): Made by ethoxylating Propylene Glycol. Dangerous levels of dioxin have been found as a by-product of the ethoxylation process. PEGs are in everything including personal care, baby care and sunscreens.
Phthalates: Xenoestrogens are commonly found in many products, usually not listed on labels. Health effects include damage to liver/kidneys, birth defects, decreased sperm counts and early breast development in girls and boys.
Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol: Petroleum plastics act as surfactants (wetting agents, solvents). EPA considers PG so toxic it requires protective gloves, clothing, goggles and disposal by burying. Because PG penetrates skin so quickly, EPA warns against skin contact to prevent brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. There is NO warning label on products where concentration is greater than in most industrial applications.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and 90 percent of personal-care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation-even death. SLS may also damage skin’s immune system by causing layers to separate, inflame and age.
Sunscreen chemicals: Avobenzone, benzphenone, ethoxycinnamate, PABA are commonly used ingredients that are known free radical generators and are believed to damage DNA or lead to cancers.
Triclosan: Synthetic “antibacterial” ingredient with chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! EPA registers it as a pesticide, posing risks to human health and environment. Classified as a chlorophenol, chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Tufts University School of Medicine says triclosan is capable of forcing emergence of ‘super bugs’ it cannot kill.
