What you put on your skin goes directly into your body. Indeed, human autopsy studies have shown that mineral oil widely permeates our internal organs; major moisturizer brands have been found to cause tumor formation in treated animals. All the more reason why we need healthy “food cosmetics” as alternatives to petroleum-derived body care products.
It boggles the imagination how most mass market body care products today are almost entirely composed of petroleum-derived chemicals, whose toxicity are thoroughly established. Take parabens as an example. These endocrine-disrupting, estrogen-like petrochemicals have been found at concentrations 1 million times higher than the estrogen (estradiol) levels naturally found in human breast tissue, leading to the highly concerning conclusion that human hormones are now being eclipsed by synthetic chemicals.
Here is a list of the top toxic cosmetic ingredients and why. Beware!
1. BHA and BHT
Both of these ingredients, mostly found in moisturizers, are suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer.
Alternative: Burt’s Bee’s natural products
2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colors listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number
Many hair dyes contain these ingredients. They potentially cause cancer and are often contaminated with heavy toxins and metals that can be damaging to the brain.
Alternative: Herbatint Non-Toxic Hair Dyes
3. DEA-related ingredients
DEA is often found in creamy and soapy products such as shampoo and conditioners. This harmful substance can react to other ingredients and form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer.
Alternative: Organix Shampoo and Conditioner
Cosmetics Warning: Go Natural! was originally published on blackdoctor.org
