Toxins in Cosmetics AKA The Dirty Dozen Toxins
Ever wonder why your hair shines and your shampoo foams like a bubble bath?
Chemicals is the answer - you would be surprised to know how many toxins go into cosmetics that you were never aware of. The cosmetics industry is surprisingly unregulated, there is actually a list called The Dirty Dozen Toxins created by Canadian environmentalist and geneticist David Suzuki.
Which ingredients are in your cosmetics?
Your answer will probably be “I don’t know”, at least that was mine. Today we pay a lot of attention to what we eat and try to live a healthy lifestyle. Yet we rarely stop to think about which foods we are consuming that are not coming through our mouths.
I am a firm believer that knowledge is power. I am by no means an expert in the Dirty Dozen myself, however I do believe that we all deserve to know what’s in our beauty products so we can choose consciously.
Why avoid toxins?
Our skin is the largest organ in our body and absorbs a high percentage of what you put on it, which can eventually enter your bloodstream and affect your wellbeing.
Many ingredients found in conventional beauty products have been categorized as toxic and linked with health issues such as hormonal imbalances, endocrine disruption and reproductive problems.
Which are The Dirty Dozen?
BHA and BHT
Coal tar dyes
DEA-related ingredients
Dibutyl phthalate
Formaldehyde
Parabens
Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)
PEG compounds
Petrolatum
Siloxanes
Sodium laureth sulfate
Triclosan
Need help to convert to clean beauty?
Take a look at my posts on Clean Beauty Starter Guide, Skincare, Makeup, Hair & Nails and Personal Care for a full product list to help you convert to a clean beauty routine.
Or check the toxic level of your current beauty products in the following apps: Think Dirty App, Skin Deep or Skin Ninja.
Find out more about The Dirty Dozen Toxins in David Suzuki Foundation, Upworthy Goop, or Chalkboard Mag