Potential poisons in substances we can’t pronounce. Toxins Pt. 2

Potential poisons in substances we can’t pronounce.

As we’ve said before, Loulei Botanicals is about 100% botanical skincare using plant intelligence. No petrochemicals. No perfumes or masking agents. None of the 10 most toxic ingredients commonly found in beauty products: Mineral oil, diethanolamine (D.E.A.), triethanolamine (T.E.A.), monoethanolamine (M.E.A.), triclosan, sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate (S.L.E.S.), sodium lauryl sulfate (S.L.S.), hydroquinone, parabens (methylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben), or fragrance/parfum.

The cosmetics industry is free to use ingredients like these and others that are unregulated by the FDA. These products aren’t even necessarily safety tested (although some companies do test their concoctions on animals! We NEVER do animal testing.) The driving force behind the multi-billion dollar mass-market beauty product industry tends to be marketability, shelf stability, and profit margins.

Back to those 10 common but toxic ingredients commonly found in widely consumed beauty products… What’s so bad about them?

Mineral oil is cheap because it’s a by-product of the petroleum industry. It’s been a standard ingredient in products you probably grew up with. But that doesn’t mean it is good your skin or that it doesn’t clog pores. For adding no benefit, there’s a real risk of toxic contamination. According to researchers, “There is strong evidence that mineral oil hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminant of the human body, amounting to approximately 1 gram per person. Possible routes of contamination include air inhalation, food intake, and dermal [skin] absorption.”

Diethanolamine (D.E.A.) is used in skin care products and cosmetics to make them sudsy or creamy. The compounds in D.E.A.) cause mild to moderate skin and eye irritation and have been shown to cause liver cancers and precancerous changes in skin and thyroid. Two other related chemicals on this toxic list, M.E.A. and T.E.A., could react with other chemicals in cosmetics to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Triclosan was first created in the 1960’s as a pesticide. It found its way into ‘antibacterial’ products until 2017, but almost universal concerns about it have prompted the European Union to ban triclosan in personal care products.

Hydroquinone is a synthetic bleaching agent used to reduce hyperpigmentation. Like triclosan, it’s already banned in the E.U., as well as in Japan and Australia. While it may seem like a miracle solution to those with age spots, it has been known to be a skin irritant, associated with altered immune function and increased incidence of certain cancers in animals.   In the United States, you can find hydroquinone in 2% formulas in over-the-counter products and in products containing up to 4% when prescribed by a physician…but why would you want to?

Think of sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate (S.L.E.S.) and sodium lauryl sulfate (S.L.S.) as a detergent foaming agent and a wetting agent. Both are known eye and skin irritants. Here’s the kicker: Some products containing SLES contain traces of 1,4-dioxane, which is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 2B carcinogen. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration recommends but does not require, it to be removed by federal law.

Some studies have suggested that parabens may be linked to increased cancer risk because parabens have weak estrogen-like properties. Estrogen is a female hormone known to cause breast cells (both normal and cancerous) to grow and divide. “Preservatives (like the parabens previously cited) are used by cosmetic manufacturers to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, in order to protect both the products and consumers,” according to FDA.gov.

That’s being generous. Mega-cosmetic companies don’t want their consumers to be exposed to harmful mold and bacteria because that sounds like a lawsuit. One might suspect their primary interest is the shelf life of their products, and adding those parabens does increase shelf life.

Lest you think we invented information earlier when we said “The cosmetics industry is free to use ingredients that are unregulated by the FDA,” here what the FDA’s own website says: “Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on the market.”

Doesn’t it make sense to decrease your risk of taking in unhealthy substances into your body wherever you can, now that you know you have options?

More and more people are realizing the cumulative risks these chemical additives pose to our health and are looking for natural skin care products that make their skin feel and look marvelous. If that’s you, you’ve come to the right place!