Ignorance is bliss, right…? I definitely don’t think that anymore about a lot of things, including what I put on my skin and my hair.
My hairdresser was the first person to tell me about sulphate-free shampoo a few years ago. I took her word for it that it was bad for me and starting buying shampoo without it. What we didn’t know was that many shampoo manufacturers replaced sulphates in their products with another ingredient that exposed us to a carcinogen. Yes, I did, and you may have cancer-causing products that you are using on your skin and hair.
Knowledge is power so I would like to make you aware of 3 toxic ingredients to avoid in order to keep you and your family safe.
#1 Sulfates – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodlium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
SLS is a very common ingredient in our everyday products. It is so powerful and harsh that it is also used for industrial cleaning. It is used in our products because it is cheap to produce and has a long shelf-life. Used to dissolve oil, it is commonly found in face cleaners, tooth paste and floor cleaners…
Its harshness removes the protective film on your skin, which is your natural moisturizer and barrier from virus and bacteria and first line of defense of your immune system.When consumers became aware of SLS, many manufacturers responded by creating SLES, a more gentle version to be used in beauty products. Unfortunately, the byproduct accidently created by the SLS process is a carcinogen (1.4 Dioxane). Because it is accidentally produced, the manufacturers don’t have to tell you about it, unless you live in CA where their laws require carcinogens to be listed on labels no matter what.
#2 Parabens – Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben and Butylparaben
These synthetic preservatives have been linked to endocrine disruption. They mimic estrogen, disrupting the body’s hormone system. Cornell University reports that a high lifelong exposure to estrogen can increase breast cancer risk.
#3: DEA/TEA – Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine
These ethanolomines are produced from a process called ethoxylation which yields the by-product 1,4 Dioxane These hormone disrupting chemicals are known to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. According to Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois, “repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers – liver and kidney.
Although these toxic ingredients are in a lot of the brands we are used to, there are a number of organic brands for skin care and hair care that you can trust. My personal favorite is SheaMoisture, a NY-based company that prides itself on making products that are healing inside and out.
60% of what you put on your skin gets absorbed so be aware of what you put on it.
Namaste,
Brenda.
