{"id":9341,"date":"2018-11-07T08:56:06","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T07:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/?p=9341"},"modified":"2019-03-28T14:26:23","modified_gmt":"2019-03-28T13:26:23","slug":"amazingy-toxic-free-bathroom-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/amazingy-toxic-free-bathroom-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":":INFOGRAPHIC: Cleaner Cosmetics \u2014 #toxicfreebathroomchallenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

What harmful ingredients are lurking<\/strong><\/em>
\nin your beloved self-care products?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

In the steps towards living a greener, more toxic-free life, I\u2019ve found that taking a deeper look into every aspect of my lifestyle is a must \u2013 from the air I breath<\/a>, to the foods I eat<\/a>, and even the clothes I wear<\/a>.<\/h4>\n

Yet, as I aspire to live as toxic-free as possible, there are always those hidden cracks where toxins seem to seep through. And there is no place more vulnerable for me than my very own bathroom \u2013 a sacred space, where rituals are made. It\u2019s the place where each & every corner of my body is tended to on the daily, and I use a variety of products to help me do this. It was my sanctuary of trust. That was, until I noticed unseemly harmful ingredients harbouring themselves there. Turns out, the true cost of my personal care was at the expense of my health.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t feel like reading a lengthy article?<\/em><\/h5>\n
Simply scroll down to<\/em> #thetoxicfreebathroomchallenge <\/strong>infographic & my advice.<\/em><\/h5>\n

<\/p>\n

Unfulfilled promises \u2014
\nwhy so many beauty products contain
\ntoxic and\/or harmful ingredients<\/h2>\n

I want vibrant, healthy skin as much as the next person. Fortunately, that\u2019s exactly what every self-care, beauty and cosmetic product offers. I was content with that agreement: I buy a product, and it gives results.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But about 5 years ago, while I was in the shower \u2013 the place where all the most magnificent ideas are fostered \u2013 I caught myself reading the back of the shampoo I was about to use… first the marketing pitch part, and then the ingredient list. It promised me smooth, shiny & voluminous hair. But as I read the small printed list of ingredients<\/a>, I was perplexed to find it was a full of chemistry vocab I didn\u2019t know, nor could I properly pronounce.\u00a0It occurred to me, that in order to fulfill\u00a0its promises, my shampoo was chemically enhanced with ingredients that would force those results in whatever way necessary<\/b><\/p>\n

At first I thought it\u2019s just shampoo \u2013 no harm done. But as it turns out, some of these ingredients have adverse side effects. They can irritate the skin, provoking eczema, acne, allergies or dermatitis; are carcinogenic (linked as a cause of cancer), and are even known to be linked with impaired fertility or developmental damage of a fetus in the womb or growing child, just to name a few.<\/p>\n

The cost of having a(n unnaturally) full-bodied head of hair was at the expense of my body\u2019s general health, and I didn\u2019t even know it.<\/strong> And this didn\u2019t stop at shampoo. I saw that harmful ingredients were in almost every type of self-care product I owned. And I\u2019m not the only one affected by this. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), on average women use at least 12 products in the bathroom before leaving the house in the morning. And each of those products contains a dozen or more chemicals. That doesn\u2019t even take into account menstrual accessories<\/a>\u00a0or household cleaning products.<\/p>\n

Our skin, our body, our choice<\/h2>\n

The skin is a highly complex organ, protecting the inner body, at times even by absorbing whatever it\u2019s exposed to \u2013 which means it doesn\u2019t discriminate between what\u2019s good for it and what isn\u2019t. All the creams, lotions, makeup products (and any other small particles that can get through the epidermis) are soaked right up into the body. So if there are any toxic or harmful ingredients in those products, they get circulated around the body before they are eventually \u2013 but not always\u00a0\u2013 eliminated.<\/p>\n

There are companies which argue that small amounts of certain chemicals are harmless. But if you consider every amount (however minuscule) used in every product you own \u2014 not to mention environmental pollutants, food additives and other industrial chemicals \u2014 the amount can quickly accumulate to a multitude. Everything adds up. And we simply do not know how this affects humans over a long period of time. What we do know, however, is that studies show babies are being born carrying hundreds of chemicals.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like we\u2019re all part of some giant human experiment… unsuspecting beta testers \u2013 the cosmetic industry\u2019s guinea pigs \u2013 just waiting to find out how detrimental all these chemicals really are.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are some ingredients that pose a more pressing threat than others, so I have outlined them below.<\/em><\/h5>\n

Top 6 No-Gos on the Ingredient List<\/h1>\n

I know the unending struggle of reading through all the ingredients on a label and feeling overwhelmed. Below you\u2019ll read about the top 6 absolute no-gos when it comes to harmful ingredients, what makes them so bad, and their safer, more eco-friendly alternatives.<\/p>\n

\"#toxicfreebathroomchallenge\"<\/a><\/p>\n

1. The Laureth family (SLS, SLES, ALS)<\/h2>\n

Anything that has a foamy texture most likely contains sulfates \u2013 be it shampoos, floor cleaners, car soaps, or even toothpaste. The Laureth family are a group of chemical surfactants (compounds that lower the surface tension, i.e. foaming agents) which can be found in a wide range of cosmetics. Although many have come to the unfounded belief that these chemical compounds are safe, they are in actuality very harsh on the skin and have turned out to be the culprits behind many cases of skin & eye irritation, hair loss, and they\u2019re even becoming known for their potential as carcinogens. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) states that any products containing Lauryl Sulfate should only be used briefly and washed off thoroughly after use.<\/p>\n

Alternative to sulfates<\/h3>\n

Soaps derived from coconut are considered to be a suitable replacement for products containing SLS. If you are ultra-sensitive, however, err on the side of caution with all sulfates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Suggestion:<\/strong> They can be hard to find, but brands like Dr. Bronner<\/a> offer a great alternative. And their soaps can be used as the basis for cleaning DIYs<\/a>.<\/em><\/h5>\n

2. PEGs & Petrochemicals<\/h2>\n

Petrochemicals are ingredients derived from petroleum \u2013 a process that utilizes crude oil (gasoline) or natural gases. They\u2019re colourless, tasteless, odorless, produced cheaply and in very large quantities. They are used as the base for many cosmetic and personal care products, including (but definitely not limited to): baby oils, lotions, shampoos & makeup.<\/p>\n

To put the potential health risks in better perspective, petrochemicals are more typically used for the preservation of metals, as leather conditioner, to create non-stick coatings, as a base for automotive oil mixtures, and they are highly reputable for removing oil stains\u2026 So, maybe not something you\u2019d really want to put on your skin.<\/p>\n

Why are mineral oils used, and why should we avoid them?<\/h4>\n

Not only are mineral oils inexpensive, they\u2019re also readily available and don\u2019t turn rancid like plant and animal oils do. Cosmetic companies will usually promote the use of mineral oils in their products with the claim that they have moisturizing benefits, since mineral oils do in fact aid with moisturisation, to some extent.<\/p>\n

But do not be deceived by how natural \u201cmineral oil\u201d sounds \u2013 vitamins & minerals are indeed essential for the body and beauty maintenance, but mineral oil is an ingredient you really do not want or need. They have been long known to have negative side effects to our health;\u00a0while they do promote moisture retention, mineral oils act like a plastic film on the skin, clogging pores, reducing skin cell regeneration (ultimately resulting in an earlier aging process) and increasing acne.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They\u2019re also known to interfere with hormonal balance & overall growth development. These effects are now seen to carry over across generations. The children of tomorrow are being constantly affected by what we consume (and put on our skin) today.<\/p>\n

Other known petrochemicals to look out for:<\/h4>\n