Every day, we take care of ourselves by using many products: deodorant, shampoo, make-up, shower gel… Find out the black list of those cosmetic ingredients!
In the cosmetics department, the INCI Beauty application allows you to read the ingredients displayed on the packaging. The INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) shows them in order of concentration.
The first 5 to 7 ingredients on an INCI list generally represent 70% of the product’s composition. But do we know the properties of these molecules and their dangers?
IN CREAMS, SOME PROBLEMATIC INGREDIENTS
-Moisturising creams, cream foundation
In these daily-use products you do not rinse, allergens and irritants are found, as well as UV filters, which are sometimes suspected of being endocrine disruptors.
-The deodorant
It is believed to be one of the main triggers of breast cancer. Aluminium salt and cyclopentacyloxane are endocrine disruptors. Prefer organic deodorant sprays or alum stone.
-Make-up
BB creams, anti-wrinkle creams and lipsticks should be avoided in supermarkets. Choose an organic and natural range.
IN THE SHOWER, ALLERGENS AND IRRITANTS
-The shower gel
When choosing a shower gel, we tend to base ourselves on the smell rather than the composition. However, they contain methylisothiazolinone or ammonium lauryl sulphate. Organic, paraben-free, sulphate-free and soap-free shower gels should be preferred.
-Shampoo and hair dyes
These products contain among other products, allergens and irritating substances.
OTHER
-Nail Polish
4 resins are known to be high risk: those containing formaldehyde, phthalates, toluene and camphor.
Since fingers are often brought close to the eyes, the resin in varnishes sometimes causes allergies around the eye!
-Toothpaste
Titanium dioxide, which gives toothpaste its white, opaque appearance, and hydrated silica, an abrasive and whitening agent, may contain nanoparticles and are suspected of being carcinogenic.
Excess fluoride leads to dental fluorosis (white spots on the enamel) or, worse, to bone fluorosis, initially responsible for joint stiffness. It is useful but in small doses. Fluoride is also naturally present in drinking water and certain foods (fish, spinach, carrots, etc.)
-Aerosol shaving foams
Propellants (hydrocarbons) are hazardous. Not only are they flammable, but they may contain traces of butadiene – classified as “possibly carcinogenic-mutagenic-reprotoxic” (CMR).
-Baby wipes
Many brands of baby wipes contain products that are toxic to the liver and blood. Washing your child with natural products, such as a mixture of olive oil and lime water, is much better.
-Menstrual Protection
‘Potentially toxic residues’, namely dioxins and glyphosate (also present in pesticides and weed killers) were found in small quantities in sanitary towels and tampons. The best solution is still the menstrual cup.
This is the black list of the cosmetic ingredients to look out for to avoid them
MINERAL OILS (Harmful to your skin)
Where found: in shower gels, shampoos, face & body moisturisers, lip balms
Role: Petrochemical derivatives are used to prevent natural water loss and soften the skin.
Risk: they form an occlusive film that prevents the proper evacuation of our body’s natural toxins and clogs our pores. The superficial effect, of no benefit to the skin, comedogenic
Nature’s risk: very polluting
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: Paraffin, Paraffinum liquidum, Cera microcristallina, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Petroleum, Paraffin Oil, ceresin
UV FILTERS (Harmful to your health)
Role: sunscreen,
Risk: suspected of affecting thyroid function, an endocrine disruptor.
Nature’s risk: discolours coral reefs and eventually fatal to them
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: benzyl salicylate, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, PABA, titanium dioxide, camphor benzalkonium methosulfate, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone, oxybenzone, ethyl hexyl salicykate, methylbenzylidene camphre, benzophenone, 2-benzoyl-5-methoxy phenol; 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) phenyl-methanone; durascreen; solaquin; benzotriazolyl
SYNTHETIC DYES (Harmful to your skin)
Risk: Aggressive, irritating and not good for the skin.
You can find them on the labels under the name of these dyes start with “CI” followed by 5 digits, the first digit of which is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
Natural dyes (to choose if there is one) start with “CI75…” or “CI77…”. They are of vegetable, mineral or animal origin.
PARABENS (Harmful to your health) :
Where found: all types of cosmetics
Role: preservatives, antibacterial, effective against fungi and moulds. Parabens are actually naturally present in fruit and vegetables! They use this component to keep insects and fungi away.
Risk: allergies, irritations, suspicion of altering the balance of the microbiome (bacterial population).
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: methylparaben, ethylparaben, finally all the ingredients with “something-paraben”, E214 to E219
Parabens are chemical preservatives, not approved for use in organic cosmetics.
SILICONS (Harmful for your skin):
Where found: shampoos and hair products, face & body creams, deodorants
Role: They give a soft texture and a smooth feel to the skin and hair.
Risk: surface action, suspicion of forming a barrier on the skin that prevents other skincare products from penetrating it
Risk in nature: Resulting from the transformation of quartz, they are very polluting (do not degrade well and impregnate water and soil)
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: They end in -on or -an and among them are dimethicon, amodimethicon, and cyclohexasiloxan
SULFATES (Harmful for your skin)
Where found: shower gel, shampoos and conditioners
Role: surfactants, present in foaming cosmetics. They have a powerful detergent action. So powerful that industrial cleaning of floors and engines are using SLS commonly.
Risk: very irritating; they have a strong degreasing power that dries the skin to the point of removing its natural barrier
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate
POLYMERS (POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL AND POLYPROPYLENE GLYCOL) PEG AND PPG
Where found: shampoos and hair products, face & body creams, deodorants
Role: Propylene Glycol is a synthetic emulsifier and humectant, usually derived from petrochemicals. It can cause eczema and hives
Risk: toxic, potentially carcinogenic, irritant, suspected in reproductive disorders
Risk in nature: non-degradable
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: PEG (followed by a number), Propylene Glycol, PG/Propandiol, PPG
RESORCINOL
Where found: hair dyes, vegetable or conventional
Role: colourant
Risk: Endocrine disruptor, allergen.
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: Benzenediol, Dihydroxybenzene, hydroxyphenol, hydroquinone, phenylenediol, resorcin
TRICLOSAN
Where found: deodorants some foaming products and toothpaste
Role: antibacterial agent
Risk: Endocrine disruptor that affects the functioning of the thyroid. It forms carcinogenic residues that accumulate in the body and that the body cannot eliminate
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: Triclosan, TCL, Trichlorine, Cloxifenolum, Lexol 300, Aquasept, Irgasan, Gamophen, DP300, Diphenyl hydroxyl ether
BHA AND BHT
Where found: make-up
Role: antioxidants
Risk: potentially carcinogenic
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: Butylated Hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene.
PHTHALATES
Where found: nail polish, hair spray and perfume
Risk: They are suspected of neurotoxicity, heightened allergic reactions, fertility problems and impaired thyroid function. They have also been implicated in the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer
Risk in nature: Harmful to wildlife and fish
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: diethyl phthalate, or any name made from phthalic acid
DEA, MEA, TEA
Where found: moisturisers, shampoos
Role: soothing texture agents
Risk: they generate nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic
Risk in nature: Harmful to wildlife and fish
To look out for on the labels of products are the following: cocamide DEA, lauramide DEA, MEA, TEA