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12 Ingredients To Avoid In Your Personal Care Products

February 11, 2021

A big part of living a nontoxic lifestyle is avoiding harmful chemicals in personal care products. Just as we focus on buying organic food whenever possible, thinking about the daily products that your body comes into contact with is crucial to limiting toxic exposure, preventing disease, and helping you feel like your best on a daily basis. In this post, we are running through a cheat sheet of 12 common ingredients to avoid in your personal care products. This way when you’re shopping, you know exactly what to be on alert for!

It seems everywhere we turn these days there are more and more options for “paraben free” shampoo and “natural” toothpaste, but when you turn over a product and read the ingredient label, what shit should you actually avoid? You might see certain words and have no idea what they mean, let alone how they react in your body when they are absorbed into your bloodstream through the skin. 

I’ve talked about why you should switch to clean beauty in this post here and even came out with a full Clean Beauty Guide to help walk you betches through this big transition. It’s so hard to narrow down a list of ingredients to avoid. But here are 12 common ones I’d recommend watching out for. Get the full list of 27+ most toxic ingredients to avoid in my Clean Beauty guide e-book! 

12-Ingredients-To-Avoid-In-Your-Personal-Care-Products-Dani-On-The-Loose

12 Ingredients to Avoid In Your Personal Care Products

 

1. Fragrance

Usually listed as “parfum” and is a blend of specific chemicals. In fact, brands are not required by law to disclose what those chemicals are. Fragrance is in air fresheners and scented candles (ps I have a post on clean burning candles here), face wash, soap, lotion, makeup, and so much more.

2. Parabens

Used as preservatives in products so they have a longer shelf life. Linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and also reproductive toxicity. 

3. Sulfates (Sodium Lauyrl/Ether, SLS/SLES)

Sulfates used to be used as industrial degreasers. But nowadays, they are used to make soap foamy. 

4. Phthalates (Dibutyl Phthalate)

These are plasticizers and are present in fragrance, perfume, deodorant, and also  lotions. Phthalates are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, as well as liver, kidney, and lung damage.

5. PEG/ceteareth (polyethylene glycol, polysorbate)

PEG is a penetration enhancer so products absorb into the skin better. It’s often contaminated with known carcinogens (aka cancer causing stuff) 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide. 

6. Triclosan and Triclocarbon

Triclosan and triclocarbon are in antibacterials like hand sanitizers. AGAIN linked to cancer and endocrine disruption.

7. Toluene/ BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)

Toluene is usually found in exfoliants, perfume “fragrance”, nail polish, and hair products. In addition, it is carcinogenic and harmful to the reproductive system, thyroid function, and has shown to have neurotoxin effects. 

8. Formaldehyde, Formalin/ formaldehyde releasers

More carcinogens! This is a big one. Formaldehyde is in nail polish, hair dye, fake eyelash glue, shampoo, etc. It’s also a home building chemical. Be on watch for words like bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15. They are cosmetic preservatives that slowly form formaldehyde. 

9. Talc

Talc is similar to asbestos. You will find talc in baby powder, eye shadow, blush, deodorant, etc. In fact, Talc is linked to ovarian cancer and respiratory problems. So if you’re not familiar with the J&J Baby Powder Cancer Case Study you have got to give it a read asap. 

10. Petroleum (Mineral Oil, Petroleum distillates, Petrolatum, Petroleum jelly)

Mineral oil is literally leftover shit from oil rigs. Petroleum is in baby oil, moisturizer, styling gel, and the list goes on. It creates a film that impairs the skin’s ability to release toxins. Also watch out for petroleum distillates in mascara. 

11. Coal tar (aminophenol, diaminobenzene, phenylenediamine)

Another known carcinogen. As you can probably tell throughout this post, all this stuff is cancer causing. Coal tar is in dry skin treatments, anti-dandruff shampoo, etc. On ingredient labels, it looks like color plus number. Ex: FD&C, Red No. 6

12. Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are things like lead, mercury, arsenic, aluminum, zinc, chromium, and iron. Included in lipstick, nail polish, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner, foundation, sunscreen, moisturizer, etc. You will not find heavy metals on ingredient labels because they are only contaminants and not an actual ingredient. In this case, look for ingredients listed as lead acetate, chromium, thimerosal, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, and sodium hexametaphosphate.

(It’s important to note that some metals play important roles in normal functions of the body. For instance, iron is necessary for blood oxygenation. However, when these metals accumulate there is research to suggest they may have serious negative effects.)

 

Feeling overwhelmed?

Don’t worry! There are SO many amazing resources out there that help simplify making the transition to less toxic products. Start with getting the full list of 27+ most toxic ingredients to avoid in my Clean Beauty guide e-book! This e-book also includes a step by step transition checklist, a list of trustworthy clean beauty retailers, and my favorite go-to safe brands. 

So, have you spotted any of these chemicals in your personal care products?

XOXO, Dani

 

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/phenoxyethanol 

https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2011/02/borax-not-green-alternative-its-cracked-be

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/clean-cosmetics-the-science-behind-the-trend-2019030416066 

https://www.treehugger.com/toxic-ingredients-avoid-when-buying-body-care-products-and-cosmetics-4857867

https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/13-ingredients-to-avoid-in-personal-care-products/

https://helloglow.co/ingredients-to-avoid-in-makeup-and-skincare-products/

https://wellnessmama.com/426233/toxic-ingredients/

https://www.byrdie.com/toxic-beauty-ingredients-4782646

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5971/12-Toxic-Ingredients-to-AVOID-in-Cosmetics-Skin-Care-Products-Infographic.html

https://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/lead-and-other-heavy-metals/ 

https://www.beautyindependent.com/do-silicones-deserve-their-bad-rap/

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Last weekend’s b-day trip to see my parents (mom Last weekend’s b-day trip to see my parents (mom has been working with EuroMed foundation for alternative cancer treatments, great resource for anyone needing it!!) and have a little Labor Day weekend reset! Had the best time visiting my fave Scottsdale/Phoenix restaurants @kaleidoscopejuice & @tocayaorganica .Also was obsessed with @civanaresort and had a fun time forcing Garrett to do a sound bath mediation with me lolz. The spa & on site restaurants were sooo good, super health conscious and lots of gluten + dairy free and vegan options. The matcha pancakes and homemade hot sauce were to die for. 
Until next time, AZ! 💚🌵🏜️🎂🎈🍾
French Riviera bringing me back to life!! Best tri French Riviera bringing me back to life!! Best trip living off bread, champagne, and perfecting my “bonsoir” and “merci” lolz.
Check out Part 1 caption with a lot of my wellness travel must haves 🇫🇷🤍

#europeansummer #healthytravel #southoffrance
France Part 1 - went to @cannes_lions festival wit France Part 1 - went to @cannes_lions festival with @dearmediastudio - such a cool experience to see all things creator economy, advertising, influencer marketing, and brand innovation. 

Favorite Wellness Hacks that got me through all the meetings & networking events:

- @d.o.s.e.y travel supplement case filled with @arrae.co bloat, @sakaralife multi vitamin and metabolism powder, @clearstemskincare acne supplement, @cymbiotika super greens, vitamin C, Zinc, @maryruthorganics vitamin D, and much more.
- travel size nebulizer to kill any germs and viruses that might get in the lungs from airplane circulated air, crowded spaces, etc
- @purity_coffee organic one cup on the go coffee tea bags
- @boiron homeopathic jet lag medicine and travel kit 
- @livelarq filtering water bottle 
- my @ninjakitchen mini travel blender for smoothies on the go (posted about on my TikTok, it was a game changer!) with @artisanamarket cashew butter packets and @truvani plant based protein packets 
- @doterra immunity boosting on guard hand sanitizer, wipes, essential oils digest zen and deep blue, their nontoxic deodorant & sunscreen stick 
- @sakaralife plantbased protein bars, energy effervecents, and detox tea 
- @bungalow.cafe.cannes for juices, smoothies, healthy eats and the best avocado toast when I needed a break from pasta 
- also my @cholulahotsauce travel packets because I can never find hot sauce in Europe and need it with lemon on everything lolz 

Xo, D

#wellnesstravel #healthytravel #canneslions #cotedazurfrance
@dearmediastudio 2nd annual IRL event in Austin th @dearmediastudio 2nd annual IRL event in Austin this past weekend- I remember @michaelbosstick describing the company vision to me about community events 5 years ago (before I had the amazing team we do now & when the brand partnerships department was literally just me, myself, & i lolz!) Fast forward here we are again with over 500 people coming to see some of their fave creators in person, experience brand activations, & spend the day with us! Super rewarding to see all this come to life after the behind the scenes planning since last year. Lucky to work with such incredible people & brands.

Next IRL coming SOON to a NEW city in the fall 🎤🎙️📰🎧🏙️🤠
We had to say goodbye to my best pal Caesar aka pu We had to say goodbye to my best pal Caesar aka pup on the Loose this past weekend. I feel like no one prepares you for this kind of grief you experience losing the pet that was ride or die with you through your 20s and all the life changes and growth that decade brings. He was by my side through it all. I got Caesar almost 12 years ago when I was a senior in college, preparing to graduate and then move to NYC. We adopted him from Fuzzy Friends in my hometown Waco, Tx where he was rescued from a puppy mill in Austin. He lived on both coasts during his life (NYC and LA!) and he truly went everywhere with us like Vegas, New Orleans, Palm Springs, Big Sur, and so much more. I can’t thank him enough for the unconditional love and comfort he gave me from 20 to now almost 33. Rest in peace my little angel. Love ya Always and forever🤍🦴🐾🐶
Earlier this month when I became an aperol spritz Earlier this month when I became an aperol spritz gurl 🇮🇹🍝🍕🍹

My fave wellness-y stuff I forgot to take good content of from this trip:
@d.o.s.e.y travel pill case for my millions of supplements - took @arrae.co everything, @cymbiotika super greens, and alot of @doterra vegan Lifelong Vitality 

@livelarq water bottle with built in filter

@superhumanapp travel meditations

@piquelife teas, @drinklmnt electrolytes, and @purity_coffee travel packs

@averraglow clear skin elixir, cleansing nectar, and serums

@sakaralife metabolism powder travel packets every AM and detox bars for snacks

Xo, D
Are the youths calling these DITLs? Lolz Here are Are the youths calling these DITLs? Lolz
Here are the details of some of my go to brands/faves from this day in the life:
-AM meditation: @doterra emotional aromatherapy essential oils kit + @superhumanapp app
-always in my work bag: @piquelife tea, @sakaralife bars, @drinklmnt packets 
-AM smoothie: @truvani is my go to plantbased & clean ingredient protein powder + @artisanaorganics nut butters (protein + healthy fats will keep you full for longer)
-skincare routine w/ nontoxic @averraglow acne fighting products (also love clearstem!!) 
-clean makeup @lawless @crunchicollection 
-smoothie @juiceland here in Austin (my ride or die spot for healthy plant based eats)
-organic and clean wine (only thing I drink at home really) from @dryfarmwines bc extra extra low alc content (some less than 10%) & prevents any hangovers 
-and PM windown red light mask with @higherdose 

Xo, D

#dayintheoffice #dayinmylife #dearmedia #holistichealthcoach #plantbasedlifestyle #nontoxiclifestyle
a New York minute- quick trip last week filled wit a New York minute- quick trip last week filled with work meetings, plantbased restaurants, and a little sibling hang time all in one (my brother is there, shoutout Andrew lolz!)
I lived in NYC for a brief stint in my early 20s over a decade ago and it always re-energizes me when I go back. One of my favorite places in the whole world. So much hustling and good plantbased food this trip. Fave spots we hit up: any restaurant by Matthew Kinney (Bar Verde and Double Zero), Juice Press locations everywhere, Coletta, abcV, and Butcher’s Daughter. Save for these healthy spots your next visit to the city! Xo, D

#plantbasedrestaurant #plantbasedhealth #nyctrip
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