15 Things you Don't Want on Your Skin

I'm willing to bet you use some sort of skin care product, soap or shampoo. Skin and body care products do not legally have to be FDA approved or clinically tested before sold on the shelves. The kicker is that these products are absorbed into your blood stream almost immediately, and unfortunately most are toxic. 

I found that what I thought was my fruity moisturizing cleanser is actually a bubbly cancer causing, dermatitis inducing and fertility reducing poison that smells good.

Additives such as unnatural fragrances and coloring can be found in almost all non-organic products

I compiled a list of harmful ingredients often found in every day skin care products.  I recommend going through your medicine cabinet and checking those 5 point font ingredient lists to make sure you are not absorbing poisonous chemicals into your blood stream every day. Even if you believe the risk is minimal, why put your health and the health of your family on the line at all?

Avoid skin care products that have the following ingredients:

• Triclosan causes cancer and affects fertility, sexual function and causes birth defects.  This antibacterial ingredient stores itself in body fat in the liver, kidney and lungs. It has been linked to paralysis, immune system suppression, brain hemorrhages and heart problems.  This anti-bacterial chemical is banned in Europe but is still mixed into almost half of all US hand and bar soap.

• Preservatives such as parabens and Quaternium-15 which cause irritations, rashes, allergic reactions and contact dermatitis. It has also been known to promote the growth of breast cancer, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases and cause lower sperm counts. 

• Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin are preservatives that cause allergic reactions,  joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pain, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, loss of sleep, and are a common asthma triggers. They are also known to weaken the immune system and cause cancer. 

• Additives such as unnatural fragrances and coloring are made of chemicals that deplete blood oxygen levels, cause allergic reactions and irritation along with cancer growth. These are in almost every non organic skin care product.

• The ingredients diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) and dioxane are to be avoided at all costs. They are known to promote the growth of cancer particularly in the liver and kidney.  These chemicals are commonly found in bubble baths, facial cleansers and soaps.

• Isopropyl (SD-40) dries out your skin, causes brown spots and premature aging. It also strips your skin of its acid mantle leaving it susceptible to viruses, mould, and bacteria. I found this chemical as the first ingredient to my hand sanitizers.

• Mineral Oils are considered to be cancer causing and coats your skin, preventing it from breathing normally and releasing harmful toxins.  Many products have mineral oils; baby oil for example is 100% mineral oil.
  
  
• Alcohol dries out your skin and damages its blood vessels, causing cracked, dry and red skin.

• Isopropyl is an alcohol that specifically is petroleum based and causes headaches, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, and even coma. Isopropyl is easily absorbed into your skin and is understood to destroy your body’s intestinal flora, leaving your major organs open to parasites and cancers.

• Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) dehydrates your skin and has been linked to causing cancer.

• Propylene Glycol is the active ingredient in antifreeze but is commonly found in skin care products.  It breaks down protein and cellular structure of your skin’s cells and can cause brain, liver and kidney abnormalities.  Deodorants have a higher concentration of this chemical than legally allowed at industrial sites where workers wear protective covering.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and sodium Laureth Sulfate causes eye damage, depression and diarrhea. When combined with other chemicals it can also cause cancer. Officially used as car wash detergents, garage floor cleaner and engine degreasers, these chemicals are also used in cosmetics and skin care products.

• Talc is linked to ovarian and testicular cancer, and can be found in most baby and adult powders and makeup.

• Retinyl Palmitate is a derivative form of Vitamin A, and while still used in US skin care products Canada does not use this toxic chemical since it has been linked to causing cancer.

• Petrolatum coats the skin and prevents it from absorbing oxygen or releasing toxins and is known to cause cancer.