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How safe are your cosmetics?
Long before my daughter Michelle was born or before I started thinking about creating a beauty brand, I showed off with a bathroom full of creams, different kinds of make-up and a ton of ointments. As a young woman, I wasn’t thinking about the consequences of using the wrong kinds of beauty products. Luckily, I know better today!
Many products promise us a radiant skin, white teeth, and silky-smooth locks … but all those fairytale promises aren’t always the truth. To keep up with these promises, beauty brands often add a lot of chemicals and hazardous substances to their cosmetics. In the end those ingredients will find their way in through our skin and initiate processes in our body that are not nearly as harmless as you would think.
Nasties in your skincare
What culprits am I talking about? About endocrine disruption chemicals (EDC). EDCs are a mix of chemicals that interfere with the way the body’s hormones work. Through the years a significant amount of research has been done about this topic and the results are shocking. Research teaches us that EDCs can cause neurological problems (such as autism or concentration problems), obesity and even cancer. For teenagers, the effect on the reproductive organ is the greatest danger. hormone-disrupting substances are used in shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, nail polish, hair dye and perfume. They serve to improve the texture, to make it last longer or just to make the product more appealing.
One, two, ... hundred ... you quickly gain a large amount
‘But hey, the concentrations of those chemicals are very low’, I sometimes hear. That’s right. A cream with chemical substances will not make you instantly ill. But what if you put those products on your body for thirty years? Combining different spreads? Using your daily skincare, a lick of deodorant under your armpits, washing you hear with a dose of shampoo and conditioner… The average woman uses 12 personal care products each day, containing 126 unique chemical ingredients.
And what effect do chemicals have on damaged skin? On the skin of your baby or teenage daughter? Many question marks remain unanswered. We do know that traces of chemicals are not only found in breast milk, blood, and urine, but even in with newborn babies. Of course, not everything is “the fault” of cosmetics. And no, I’m not a biochemist myself. But with all the research I’ve done, I know very well what I will and will not use on my skin and hair. (And let my daughter use).
There are good and safe alternatives. Then why not choose it?
One, two, ... hundred ... you quickly gain a large amount
‘But hey, the concentrations of those chemicals are very low’, I sometimes hear. That’s right. A cream with chemical substances will not make you instantly ill. But what if you put those products on your body for thirty years? Combining different spreads? Using your daily skincare, a lick of deodorant under your armpits, washing you hear with a dose of shampoo and conditioner… The average woman uses 12 personal care products each day, containing 126 unique chemical ingredients.
And what effect do chemicals have on damaged skin? On the skin of your baby or teenage daughter? Many question marks remain unanswered. We do know that traces of chemicals are not only found in breast milk, blood, and urine, but even in with newborn babies. Of course, not everything is “the fault” of cosmetics. And no, I’m not a biochemist myself. But with all the research I’ve done, I know very well what I will and will not use on my skin and hair. (And let my daughter use).
There are good and safe alternatives. Then why not choose it?
A small guideline to keep you away from nasties
1. Consider how long a product will stay on your skin
Products such as soap, shaving foam and shampoo are rinsed off immediately after using. They will not stick to your body, what makes them less risky to penetrate deeply onto your skin. It is especially important to be careful with creams that will stay on your skin for a longer time; day and night creams, body lotion, sunscreen, toothpaste, …
2. Make the switch to natural
Natural products are free of nasties. At least, that’s how it should be. Unfortunately, some brands ‘greenwash’ their products, what means that they claim to be natural, but are not. To be sure you can best doublecheck the ingredients list. At SELF we make it easy for you. Our products contain only 100% natural and vegan ingredients that have a long-lasting protective, nourishing and restorative effect. We opt for the highest concentration of active ingredients, without one drop of artificial chemicals. Pure food for your skin!
3. Check the INCIs
Always read the labels on everything you’re buying. Your skin can’t read and decide for itself whether it wants certain ingredients on it so it’s all up to you. You’re in charge. Front packaging can sometimes be misleading, so you should always get into the habit of reading the product ingredients just like you would for food. Hormone-disrupting substances often have very complex names, but there is some logic in them. If you find one of these substances in the ingredient list, it is better to leave it on the shelf.
- Paraben/paraben/parabens (e.g. .Methylparaben Methylparaben)
- Abbreviations are often used for phthalates. In any case, avoid BzBP, DEP and DMP (and compositions with ‘phthalates’).
- Also avoid products containing Bisphenol A (BPA), Triclosan, Benzophenone, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Butylhydroxyanisoe (BHA) and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC).
3. Check the INCIs
Always read the labels on everything you’re buying. Your skin can’t read and decide for itself whether it wants certain ingredients on it so it’s all up to you. You’re in charge. Front packaging can sometimes be misleading, so you should always get into the habit of reading the product ingredients just like you would for food. Hormone-disrupting substances often have very complex names, but there is some logic in them. If you find one of these substances in the ingredient list, it is better to leave it on the shelf.
- Paraben/paraben/parabens (e.g. .Methylparaben Methylparaben)
- Abbreviations are often used for phthalates. In any case, avoid BzBP, DEP and DMP (and compositions with ‘phthalates’).
- Also avoid products containing Bisphenol A (BPA), Triclosan, Benzophenone, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Butylhydroxyanisoe (BHA) and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC).
4. Boycot
Just as every other industry, the cosmetics market is one of supply and demand. Do you want brands to invest in cleaner beauty products? Simple, chose consistent for a healthier and natural alternative. Together we stand strong!
5. Place a blanket ban on any and every perfumes and fragrance in skincare
In many personal care products, fragrance is added to impart a pleasant smell or to cover up offensive odors that may naturally occur in that product. Those fragrances are basically incubators for phthalates and are filled with hormone-disrupting substances.
I hope this article helped you to get a clear view on the difference between natural and non-natural selfcare products. If you have any questions or doubts, please feel free to contact me! I would love to talk.
Love,
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