What's Lurking in Your Natural Cosmetics?

Most body care and cosmetics companies include highly toxic ingredients in their products. But, more and more companies are touting their products as healthy alternatives to the chemical-laden brands. I randomly selected two products from a popular natural body care and cosmetics company to determine whether there were any nasty chemicals lurking there. Here’s what I found (these toxins are common to many brands of products):

-Five different types of parabens—butyl-, ethyl-, isobutyl-, methyl-, and propyl- parabens. These commonly-used preservatives are known toxins that irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; and have been linked to many allergic reactions. Doesn’t sound so bad? Keep reading.

Easy Greening: Parabens 1o1

-Butylene glycol—this petrochemical-derived substance penetrates the skin, where it can weaken protein and cellular structure. Outside the beauty industry, it is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats, another way in which it is used. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers it toxic enough to warrant protective clothing, goggles, and gloves when handling it for industrial uses. Yet it is used in higher concentrations in skin care products. The EPA warns against skin contact that it claims can cause brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities.

-Yellow Dye #5 and Red Dye #4—these synthetic pigments are typically derived from coal-tar and can contain heavy metals. In animal studies, they have been identified as carcinogens.

Learn about the nervous system toxin that is hiding in most cosmetics on page 2.

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Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

JL A.

9:23AM PDT on Sep 3, 2012

helpful tips for what to watch out for

September 3
send a green star

Patricia H.

8:39AM PDT on Sep 3, 2012

thanks for sharing

LMj S.

4:49PM PDT on Sep 1, 2012

Thank you for info.

September 1
send a green star

4:48PM PDT on Sep 1, 2012

Dale O.

8:24AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Never did bother with the toxic stuff and one has to be very careful of what one uses for a shampoo and soap or soap gels these days as well, then there is always the joys of what one is using for dish detergent!

July 31
send a green star

Aino V.

1:41PM PDT on Jul 13, 2012

good to know

July 13
send a green star

Michele W.

8:44AM PDT on Jul 13, 2012

Thank you

Elaine A.

8:55AM PDT on Jun 12, 2012

Parabens people!!! That is what is needed to preserve ANY product. If these preservatives were non existent in any of your so called "Paraben free" cosmetics, skin care or edible items, they would not last a fortnight! They would deteriorate in a matter of days. As each time you opened the jar you are allowing bacterium in the air as well as to whether your hands are themselves, contaminated with bacteria. So, if anyone one tries to tell you that their products are paraben free, they are flat out lying to you. Just as we are organic beings, your "so called natural products" must indicate that they to are organic. Thus the "natural" that all fear mongers would utilize to trick you into buying, are indeed those which are most in need of preservation!