Personal Care Products
Do you know what is in the products you put on your body?
Women in the U.S. put an average of 168 chemicals on their bodies each day, men average 85 and teen girls use an average of 14 products each day.
Did you know that personal care products in the European Union must go through testing prior to going on the market? This is not the case in the U.S. where products require no prior testing before going on our store shelves. Empower yourself by learning what chemicals to avoid.
TIP: Take it slow! Use up your current product before replacing them.
Why should you be concerned?
PFAS can cause many health concerns, including…
Cancer
Hormone disruption
Infertility and birth defects
damage to immune system
Chemicals to avoid…
These 10 chemicals have been linked through studies to cause harm to our health and are found in many mainstream products we use each day.
Download FTC’s brochure, which contains this list, and carry it with you when shopping for personal care products.
.1 Parabens
Methyl-, isobutyl-, proply- and others. Preservatives that have been linked through studies to health concerns and have been banned in Europe and Asia.
.2 Fragrance/
Parfum
An engineered scent or flavoring agent that may contain any combination of 3,000+ chemicals. Fragrance formulas are protected under federal law’s classification of trade secrets, and therefore can remain undisclosed.
.3 Phthalates
DBP, DEHP, DEP and others. A class of plasticizing chemicals used to make products more pliable or to make fragrances stick to skin. Phthalates disrupt the endocrine system and may cause birth defects. Found in: synthetic fragrance, nail polish, hairspray.
.4 Triclosan
A chemical ingredient with antibacterial properties. It was banned from use in antibacterial soaps in 2016, but can still be found in products, including toothpaste, soaps and detergents.
.5 Toulene
A volatile petrochemical solvent that is toxic to the immune system and can cause birth defects. It can be found in nail polish.
.6 Formaldehyde
A volatile organic compound or VOC. It is commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics and is a proven carcinogen.
.7 Propylene glycol (PEG)
Used as a hydrator, helping maintain moisture levels in lotions and other skincare products. It is also used as a preservative and a solvent for fragrances.
.8 SLS/SLES
Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates are chemicals that help products like soap and toothpaste to foam. SLES is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which is a known carcinogen.
.9 Coal Tar
A chemical ingredient with antibacterial properties. It was banned from use in antibacterial soaps in 2016, but can still be found in products, including toothpaste, soaps and detergents.
.10 Sunscreen chemicals (ie: Oxybenzone)
Sunscreen agents and ultraviolet-light absorbers. Can be found in sunscreen and moisturizer. Tip: Avoid using spray sunscreen, which may contain benzene, a known carcinogen, that can be breathed in when sprayed.
Sunscreen
Chemical filters can degrade under prolonged UV or light exposure, potentially generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are highly reactive molecules containing oxygen. Chemical filters can cause excessive levels of ROS which can lead to DNA damage and various health impacts including cancer.
Benzene, which is a known carcinogen, has been detected in many aerosols and when sprayed can be breathed in. It’s best to use lotion rather than spray sunscreens.
The safest means of protecting yourself from sun damage with the use of sunscreen is to use a mineral based product, like a non nano zinc oxide, in a lotion form. They are effective immediately upon application and are also less likely to cause irritation. EWG has a great sunscreen guide.
Helpful Apps
There are many apps available that will help you determine the safety of a product. Just enter the item or scan the barcode and get safety ratings and more!
Helpful Websites/Articles
Learn about toxic chemicals in cosmetics and source safer products.
EWG’s Skin Deep Database helps source safe personal care products.
In this article, Find The Cause Research Consortium scientist, Dr. Charlotte Kuperwasser, discusses rethinking skin cancer prevention.
