The Organic Effect

Dá o que pensar! Os alimentos organicos tem um efeito positivo no nosso organismo.

Go Green with your Beauty Routine

Top 4 Personal Care Ingredients to Avoid!

Ingredients I Avoid Part. 2: Body Care

HOW TO BEST DISPOSE OF TOXIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Beyond clearing out products containing health-harmful ingredients and those well past their prime of efficacy, disposing of these product-lined bottles, jars and tubes responsibly is a logical next step. Right?

As you begin making the switch to non-toxic beauty products and do a cabinet detox, you’re likely to wind up with plenty of containers filled with remnants of carcinogenic and hormone disrupting ingredients. While your first instinct may be to rinse out and recycle these product-lined bottles, jars and tubes, doing so sends these toxic chemicals right into our surface water (as does using them on a daily basis, but thank goodness you’re done with that). We know that contaminating water is not what you had in mind so here are some better ways to dispose of beauty products, their containers and their contents as safely as possible.

Call or go online to find out if your local disposal center accepts cosmetics as household hazardous waste. Most provide specific drop-off times for cosmetics, medications, aerosols, paints, fluorescent bulbs, batteries and other hazardous products (notice the company your beauty products are keeping…). Bringing them here assures they’ll be disposed of wisely – whether through recycling, incineration, conversion to cement, pyrolysis (thermochemical decomposition), or placement in a hazardous waste landfill. This is the safest way to dispose of beauty products containing toxic, villain ingredients and prevent them from getting into our water and land.
Note: Lipstick made with lead or acrylates and nail polish should always be considered hazardous waste and never be thrown away in the trash or recycled and must always be disposed of through a hazardous waste program.

If you can’t dispose of beauty products directly through a local household hazardous waste program, try these next best solutions:

For bottles that can be completely emptied of their contents – remove as much of the product directly into the trash where it will go into a landfill. Do not rinse the bottle out, but you can take a paper towel and wipe it clean. If the bottle is plastic or glass you can recycle it afterward.For bottles that cannot be completely emptied of their contents – throw the whole bottle into the trash, where it will go into a landfill. Do not rinse.



https://www.spaheroes.com/topic/superpowers-and-villains/the-right-way-to-dispose-of-toxic-beauty-products/

12 INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN MAKEUP + SKINCARE PRODUCTS

The cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and other products we put on our bodies can be just as harmful as anything we put in them. Ingredients found in face washes, sunscreens and more have been linked to everything from hormonal disruptions to cancer, and what’s worse is that they go directly into your bloodstream when applied to the skin or hair. While there are certainly lots of studies with different perspectives on this topic, everyone can agree that using more natural products or—better yet, making your own—is the safest bet for you and the environment.

IMAGE:HTTP://I0.WP.COM/HELLONATURAL.CO/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2015/05/12-INGREDIENTS-TO-AVOID-NATURAL-PRODUCTS.JPG?RESIZE=650%2C870

 12 INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN MAKEUP + SKINCARE PRODUCTS

1. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

Found in: shampoo, body wash, foundation, face wash, mouthwash and toothpaste

SLS has been shown to cause or contribute to: skin irritation, canker sores, disruptions of skin’s natural oil balance and eye damage. It is also widely believed to be a major contributor to acne (especially cystic acne) around the mouth and chin.

2. BHA

Found in: exfoliants, perfume

The National Toxicology Program classifies butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” It can cause skin depigmentation. In animal studies, BHA produces liver damage and causes stomach cancers such as papillomas and carcinomas and interferes with normal reproductive system development and thyroid hormone levels. The European Union considers it unsafe in fragrance.

3. TRICLOSAN AND TRICLOCARBAN

Found in: toothpaste, deodorant, antibacterial soap

Triclosan was all the rage as antibacterial products became ubiquitous in the 1990s. Even the FDA agrees that there is no health benefit to humans who use triclosan, and in 2013 ruled that manufacturers using it had to demonstrate that there were no long-term detrimental effects. Triclosan (in liquid products) and triclocarban (in bar soaps) have been linked to hormonal disruptions, bacterial resistance, impaired muscle function, impaired immune function and increased allergies. Instead, use naturally antibacterial and antiseptic agents like tea tree oil.

4. AMINOPHENOL, DIAMINOBENZENE, PHENYLENEDIAMINE (COAL TAR)

Found in: hair dye, shampoo

Coal tar, a byproduct of coal processing, is a known human carcinogen, according to the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Hair stylists and other professionals are exposed to these chemicals in hair dye almost daily. Europe has banned many of these ingredients in hair dyes. While FDA sanctions coal tar in specialty products such as dandruff and psoriasis shampoos, the long-term safety of these products has not been demonstrated.

5. PARABENS

Found in: makeup, moisturizer, shaving gel, shampoo, personal lubricant and spray tan products

The FDA acknowledges several studies linking parabens, which mimic estrogen, to breast cancer, skin cancer and decreased sperm count, but has not ruled that it is harmful. According to the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products, longer chain parabens like propyl and butyl paraben and their branched counterparts, isopropyl and isobutylparabens, may disrupt the endocrine system and cause reproductive and developmental disorders. Look for ingredients with the suffix “-paraben” as well—paraben-free products will be labeled as such.

6. POLYETHYLENE/PEGS

Found in: scrubs, body wash, makeup, toothpaste

Those tiny plastic beads in face or lip scrubs and exfoliating washes are made from polyethylene (used because they’re gentler on the skin than natural exfoliators like walnut shells). These synthetic chemicals are frequently contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which the U.S. government considers a probable human carcinogen and which readily penetrates the skin. Polyethylene has been noted as a skin irritant and should never be used on broken skin. Polyethylene beads in scrubs and body washes also are not filtered by our sewage systems, meaning they can collect pollutants and travel into waterways, where they’re consumed by fish and marine animals.

7. RETINYL PALMITATE, RETINYL ACETATE, RETINOIC ACID AND RETINOL

Found in: moisturizer, lip products, sunscreen, anti-aging products

Retinol products (often found in anti-aging products) have the opposite intended effect and become carcinogenic in sunlight, making it extra important to only use them at night and to avoid any sunscreens containing retinol-derived ingredients.

8. PETROLEUM DISTILLATES

Found in: mascara

Petroleum-extracted cosmetics ingredients may cause contact dermatitis and are often contaminated with cancer-causing impurities. They are produced in oil refineries at the same time as automobile fuel, heating oil and chemical feedstocks.

9. “FRAGRANCE”

Found in: moisturizers, deodorant, lotion, face cream, shampoo, conditioner

Federal law doesn’t require companies to list on product labels any of the chemicals in their fragrance mixture. Recent research from Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found an average of 14 chemicals in 17 name-brand fragrance products, none of them listed on the label. Fragrances can contain hormone disruptors and are among the top 5 allergens in the world. Our advice? Buy fragrance-free wherever possible.

10. OXYBENZONE

Found in: sunscreen

Oxybenzone is one of the highest-risk chemicals found in sunscreen. It acts like estrogen in the body, alters sperm production in animals and is associated with endometriosis in women. Studies on cells and laboratory animals indicate that oxybenzone and its metabolites may disrupt the hormone system. Opt for sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium oxide or avobenzene instead.

11. DIBUTYL PHTHALATE, TOLUENE AND FORMALDEHYDE

Found in: nail polish and other nail products

These chemicals, known as the “toxic trio,” have been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption, headaches and respiratory problems—especially concerning for nail salon workers and those who frequently get manis or pedis. It’s advised that pregnant women avoid nail products altogether. Brands like OPI and Zoya have pledged to remove these chemicals from their products.

12. HYDROQUINONE

Found in: skin lighteners

The FDA warns that this skin-bleaching chemical can cause a skin disease called ochronosis, with “disfiguring and irreversible” blue-black lesions on exposed skin. Illegally imported skin lighteners can contain mercury, which can poison adults and children and is especially toxic during pregnancy. Be wary of imported skin lighteners, don’t buy products without ingredients clearly labeled, and always avoid products with “mercury,” “calomel”, “mercurio” or “mercurio chloride.”

Learn how to make just about any DIY personal care product on our DIY Bath + Body and Skincare + Makeup pages. You might even become a total DIY beauty routine convert. (I know I couldn’t live without this homemade turmeric mask!)

Read more at http://hellonatural.co/ingredients-to-avoid-in-makeup-and-skincare-products/#pJyEl63ZaSmFmjIv.99

15 Toxins in Your Personal Care Products

There are many toxins lurking in our personal care products, products we use everyday. This means we are ingesting these toxins everyday, leading to accumulation and disruption of our body’s healthy functioning. The effects occur slowly over time; we may develop allergies, a skin rash, or worse, cancer.

This is a list of the most common toxins we should be avoiding.

1. PARABENS

these are used to keep mold and bacteria from growing in your personal care products. They have been found in breast cancer tumors and are shown to mimic estrogen, potentially leading to cancer and disrupting our endocrine system. There is fear that parabens may contribute to breast cancer. (Source)

2. PHTALATES

Dibutylphthalate (DBP, DEP, also butyl ester) helps skin care absorb into skin. Phtalates are used to add flexibility to plastics and leach easily into the environment when that plastic is heated. Phtalates have been found in people’s urine.  A study done on rats found that high doses of phtalates changed hormone levels and caused birth defects.  Women are susceptible to larger doses of phtalates because of all the skin care products they use. (Source)

3. DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA)

DEA is used in the manufacture of diethanolamides, which are common ingredients in cosmetics and shampoos. These are added to give a creamy consistency and foaming action. It is a potential skin irritant, respitory irritant and has been shown to have neurological effects. (Source) EWG’s Skin Deep gives Diethanolamine a very high hazard rating.

4. PETROLATUM (MINERAL OILS & PARAFFIN)

A big-oil by-product, this substance is used as an emollient and moisturizer in skin and hair care products. The EWG gives petrolatum a moderate hazard rating because the ingredient can be contaminated with cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (chemicals found in crude oil and it’s by-products) (Source)

5. SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE

this makes cleansers foam and bubble. It is a known skin and lung irritant. The biggest risk comes from potential contamination with 1.4 Doixane and Ethylene Oxide, two chemicals that are highly toxic and carcinogenic. (Source)

6. PROPYLENE GLYCOL 

a skin conditioning agent. It is associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis in humans. This ingredient is a lung irritant and has been associated with asthma, hay fever and eczema in children. (Source)

7. ACRYLAMIDE

This ingredient binds and thickens. Exposure at large doses can cause damage to males reproductive glands. It is considered a potential human carcinogen (Source)

8. PHENOL

(Carbolic Acid) – Originally extracted from coal tar, but is now derived from petroleum. It has a toxic effect on the central nervous system and it’s vapors are corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. It absorbs through the skin very quickly.  This stuff is nasty. (Source)

9. DIOXANE

This carcinogenic chemical contaminates 46% of personal care products tested by the EWG.  Exposures to this impurity are linked to tumors of the liver, gallbladder, nasal cavity, lung, skin, and breast. It’s presence in cosmetics is a large concern, since it can be absorbed through the skin in toxic amounts. (Source) This impurity can be found in over 1000 ingredients.

10. FRAGRANCE OR PARFUM 

these are a mix of various scent chemicals and fragrance dispersant’s that are not disclosed on the label. They have been associated with contact dermatitis, allergies, respiratory distress and possible reproductive system effects. When a company uses “fragrance” or “parfum” in their ingredients list, we really don’t know what they are using. (Source)

11. FORMALDEHYDE

Another carcinogenic impurity found in personal care products, it is released into the air by cosmetic preservatives including diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen but isn’t labeled on products. Nail Polish releases the toxic gas. (Source)

12. HEAVY METALS (LEAD, ALUMINUM, ARSENIC, NICKEL, BERYLLIUM, MERCURY, CADMIUM & NICKEL)

Impurities and contaminants of different ingredients in cosmetics can expose you to some terrible metals that bio-accumulate and cause cancer. Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil is used in eyeliners and other care products, it is often contaminated with these heavy metals. (Source)

13. TRICLOSAN

Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, it can react with free chlorine in tap water which then converts to toxic dioxins when exposed to UV light. It has been shown to bind with estrogen and androgen receptors in vitro, raising concern that it may cause developmental and reproductive harm. (Source)

14.TOLUENE

A petrochemical solvent, it is a potent neurotoxicant that acts as an irritant, impairs breathing, and causes nausea. Pregnant mothers who inhale toluene vapors can have developmental damage done to their fetus. (Source)

15. BHA (BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE)

Antioxidant and fragrance ingredient. It is carcinogenic and disrupts our endocrine systems. (Source)

If you are looking for products that do not contain these terrible ingredients, check out ourproduct reviews and our buying guides.

http://thebestorganicskincare.com/toxins-your-personal-care-products

6 REASONS TO DO A BEAUTY CABINET DETOX

There’s a lot of talk these days about the toxic ingredients in beauty and skin care products – those nasties that are simply not good for you and have no place in a healthy lifestyle. While you may have the best of intentions to clean up your beauty act, it takes a little know-how and effort. The truth is, yes, it does take a minute to evaluate what you already have and do a beauty detox – but it’s not that much time and it’s so worth it. Here’s why: 

• Your health is your business. 

The FDA does not regulate cosmetic ingredients and therefore is not ensuring our health is being protected. While many health advocates are trying to pass laws that would require companies to prove an ingredient is safe before allowing it to be used in products, they’ve been largely unsuccessful thanks to chemical companies and lobbying groups spending lots of money to make sure these bills don’t pass. This continues the pattern of giving “profit-first” beauty companies free reign on what they can put into our products. Sorry to scare you, but it scares me. The statistics of cancer and endocronological disorders are impossible to ignore. This is a public health issue, and only you are responsible for your health.

• Save money. 

Women (and increasingly men) are being marketed a large variety of beauty products. This can get expensive. While there is pleasure in this discovery process for many of us, if you’re not clear on which products in your bathroom, purse or gym bag are really giving you results, you may have too many. Taking inventory of what you have that delivers the experience and outcome you want will help you clean out anything that isn’t working for you. Being mindful of the products and ingredients you love will help you make smarter, fewer purchases and have you focusing on products that make you feel and look your best.

• Healthy skin is so in. 

In the same way that eating whole foods rather than processed foods impacts your health, using clean products made with healthy ingredients impacts the health of your complexion. Because your skin absorbs over 70% of what you put on it, the quality of ingredients in your products effects not only how your skin looks but also how it functions. Give it the support it needs to regenerate, repair and react naturally to enjoy your healthiest, most beautiful glow.

• It’s getting old. 

Beauty product packaging often doesn’t carry expiration dates, so chances are you’ve got a few things on hand that are way past their prime, making them less effective. Look for the symbol of an open jar on the back of the product indicating how many months the product is safe to use once opened. Otherwise, try to recall when you first started using each item and consider if it seems reasonably fresh – or not. Clearing your cabinets of stale product lets you more easily to enjoy what you do have before rotating in fresh, effective, beautiful smelling products.

• You care about the environment. 

I know you do. We all want to do our very best to to minimize our negative impact on the planet. Switching to clean products helps reduce the chemicals and packaging we introduce into our environment and water systems. Everything we put on our bodies and later wash off goes back into the earth. Using less and making clean choices helps us all.

• You’ve got the power. 

As consumers, our dollars are our voice. As the interest in beauty products containing toxic ingredients wanes, more companies are motivated to cleaning up their act. Once you detox your beauty cabinet, chances are you’ll be less likely to buy products containing harmful ingredients ever again. And that’s pretty powerful.


It just might change your life. You can’t really “un-know” something. Once you clean up your bathroom, you might find that you are inspired to look at labels elsewhere in your home, like your cleaning products, your laundry detergent and your medicine cabinet. It’s a journey. As the great Maya Angelou once said, “When you know better, you do better.”


https://www.spaheroes.com/topic/superpowers-and-villains/6-reasons-to-do-a-beauty-cabinet-detox/

This Two-Minute Video Will Change the Way You Bathe

 This Two-Minute Video Will Change the Way You Bathe

Billions of microbeads from soaps and toothpaste are floating through our waterways—and onto your dinner plate.

http://www.takepart.com/video/2015/05/12/two-minute-video-will-change-way-bathe-forever?cmpid=longtailshare

By Liz Dwyer

Forget all those advertising promises of glowing, blemish-free skin or sparkling-white teeth. If you're still using personal care products that contain microbeads, you're washing your face or brushing your teeth with plastic. As this two-minute animated video from the folks over at The Story of Stuff reminds us, the tiny balls aren't proven to be a boon to your beauty, but they are a serious environmental disaster.

That's because the microscopic spheres, which can be found in plenty of facial soaps and scrubs—acne treatments tend to be chock-full of them—body washes, and toothpastes, are made from a material called polyethylene. Yes, that's the same plastic manufacturers use to make everything from soda bottles to food containers to garbage bags. 

Plastic bottles or containers aren't naturally biodegradable, but at least they can be tossed into a recycling bin. Microbeads, however, are smaller than a grain of sand, which means they can't even be filtered by sewage treatment facilities. It's pretty horrifying to watch the animation of the small spheres floating down a bathroom drain, into our waterways, and into fish—which we then eat. "How's that for the circle of life?" asks the video's narrator.   

Thanks to the work of environmental activists, states such as Illinois have passed—or are in the process of passing—legislation that phases out the sale of toothpastes or soaps that contain microbeads. The movement is going national. Earlier in May the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 was introduced in Congress. The law would mandate a national ban on the inclusion of microplastics in personal care products.

But by the time that legislation works its way through Congress and gets passed—if it gets passed—billions more microbeads could be polluting our waterways. What's a conscious consumer to do in the meantime? Vote with your wallet. As the clip shows, companies began replacing more natural ingredients with microbeads to increase profits. That means if people refuse to buy products that contain the little balls, it simply won't make financial sense to produce them anymore.

http://www.takepart.com/video/2015/05/12/two-minute-video-will-change-way-bathe-forever?cmpid=tp-fb

Ingredients to Avoid

Our skin absorbs up to 70% of what we put on it directly into our bloodstream. Think about that for a moment. Take a look at some of the ingredients in the products you use daily. Chances are, if they are not organic and 100% natural, there are a whole plethora of ingredients that are not only causing many of the skin issues you are trying to address, but are also toxic and down right deadly. Below are a list of ingredients that should be avoided. There are many more, and I mentioned some in an earlier post, but I'd like to add Phenoxyethanol - a preservative used in a lot of "natural" and even organic skincare and beauty products. While there is still some debate on it's safety, my thought is if there is any debate on an ingredient's safety in the first place, I probably don't want to use it! That being said, the main issue with phenoxyethanol is that it can disable the immune's system primary defense mechanism (strange that it is used in vaccines then, huh?). It is also a suspected carcinogen and skin irritant.

You can also check on the safety of ingredients at the EWG's Skin Deep Database at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

·         Butylparaben

·         Ethylparaben

·         Isobutylparaben

·         Isopropylparaben

·         Methylparaben

·         Propylparaben

·         Triclosan

·         Ceteareth-20

·         Cocamide Mea

·         Emulsifying Wax

·         Ethanolamine

·         Laureth-7

·         sodium lauryl sulfate

·         BHT

·         Butylene Glycol

·         C13-14 Isoparaffin

·         Dipropylene Glycol

·         Disodium EDTA

·         Trisodium EDTA

·         Tetrasodium EDTA

·         EDTA

·         Paraffin

·         PEG-8

·         Methylchloroisothiazolinone

·         Methylisothiazolinone

·         Polybutene

·         Propylene Glycol

·         Petrolatum

·         Hydroxyethylcellulose

·         PEG-100 Stearate

·         PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

·         FD&C Blue 1

·         FD&C Red 40

·         FD&C Yellow 5

·         Lillial

·         Vanillyl Butyl Ether

·         Parfum (synthetic Fragrance)

·         Chlorphenesin

·         Polyethylene

·         Diazolidinyl Urea

·         Polyquaternium-7

·         Dm Hydantoin

·         Carbomer

·         Polymethyl Methacrylate

·         Pvp/Va Copolymer

·         Sodium Acrylate

·         Acrylates Copolymer

·         Cyclomethicone

·         Cyclopentasiloxane

·         Dimethicone Copolyol

·         Dimethicone

·         Methicone

·         Phenyl Trimethicone*

·         Nitrosamines

·         Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate

·         Diethanolamine (DEA)

·         Triethanolamine (TEA)

·         4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor (4-MBC)

·         Oxybenzone Benzophenone-3

·         Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates (OMC)

·         Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid (OD-PABA)

·         Homosalate(HMS)

Source: http://chickweedandblush.blogspot.pt/p/ingredients-to-avoid.html

Ingredients to Avoid

The skin is the body’s largest organ and absorbs what you put onto it. Always read the ingredient labels and know what’s in your products.

Source: http://storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-cosmetics/

The “Terrible Touch-Me-Nots” (as they were presented to me back in 2001) are ingredients to AVOID in personal care, beauty and skin care products. What you put on your skin can go into your body to affect your health and sense of well-being – either negatively or positively. You can choose which … if you know the facts. As our body’s biggest organ, your skin is your most important immune defense barrier as well as your largest organ for eliminating waste. Commercial products with harmful petroleum ingredients can plasticize and “constipate” your skin, making germs more likely to get in and toxins less likely to get out of your body. The result: Neither you nor your skin are as radiant or as healthy as you could be.

Every day we use products that we think are safe; but the truth is that most of these products are NOT safe – and manufacturers don’t have to tell us so. Ever since 1938 – when the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry –  products can be marketed without government approval of ingredients, regardless of what tests show. Most of the 25,000 chemicals used have not been tested for long-term toxic effects. In a typical day, you might be exposed to over 200 different chemicals, many of which are suspected of causing cancer or juggling hormones. EPA tests conclude that ingredients in shampoos, dyes, and other personal care products “may be playing havoc with hormones that control reproduction and development.”

Who knew?!! I know I didn’t until someone shared this information with me many years ago. Bottom line—always read the ingredient labels and know what’s in your products.  Don’t be scared….just get educated and avoid these harmful, hazardous and toxic “Terrible Touch-Me-Not” ingredients!

Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40): a very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier, making you more venerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and is found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It can act as a “carrier” accelerating the penetration of other harmful chemicals into your skin. It may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients says it may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less.

DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine) & TEA  (triethanolamine): hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects. In the United States however, they are still used despite the fact that Americans may be exposed to them 10-20 times per day with products such as shampoos, shaving creams and bubble baths. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois) says that repeated skin applications…. of DEA-based detergents resulted in major increase in incidence of liver and kidney cancer. The FDA’s John Bailey says this is especially important since “the risk equation changes significantly for children”.

DMDM Hydantion & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may also irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, and aggravate coughs and colds. Other possible side effects include weakening  the immune system and cancer.

FD&C Color Pigments: synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins into the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.

Synthetic Fragrances: mostly synthetic ingredients can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported to the FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
Alternative – Organic Essential Oils.

Mineral Oil: petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products such as baby oil which is 100% mineral oil!
Alternatives  – Moisture Magnets (Saccharide Isomerate) from beets; Ceramides, Jojoba and other vegetable oils, etc.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin’s natural moisture factor. This could increase the appearance of aging and leave you more vulnerable to bacteria. Used in cleansers to dissolve oil and grease. It adjusts the melting point and thickens products. Also used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners.

Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol: gaseous hydrocarbons which in a liquid state act as “surfactant” (wetting olagents and solvents). They easily penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to make extracts from herbs. PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats! The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG solutions by burying them in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. But there isn’t even a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications.
Alternatives – water extracted herbs, Therapeutic Essential Oils, etc.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers – and in 90% of personal-care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS may also damage the skins immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain the SLS for up to five days, during which tie it may enter and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain.
Alternative – Ammonium Cocoyl Isethionate.

Triclosan: a synthetic “antibacterial” ingredient – with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! The EPA registers it as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to both human health and the environment. It is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion; that is only one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools! Hormone disruptors pose enormous long-term chronic health risks by interfering with the way hormones perform, such as changing genetic material, decreasing fertility and sexual function, and fostering birth defects. It can temporarily deactivate sensory nerve endings, so contact with it often causes little or no pain. Internally, it can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, and convulsions. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs and can cause paralysis, suppression of immune function,brain hemorrhages, and heart problems. Tufts University School of Medicine says that triclosan is capable of forcing the emergence of “super bugs” that it cannot kill. Its widespread use in popular antibacterial cleaners, tooth pasts and household products may have nightmare implications for our future.
Alternative – Therapeutic Essential Oils.

Other Common Toxic Ingredients To Avoid:

• Aluminum
• Pthalates
• DEET
• Dioxins
• Formaldehyde
• PABA
• Para-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA)
• Parabens
• Phenoxyethanol
• Toluene
• Camphor

Helpful Resources:

• Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
• The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
• No More Dirty Looks

Source: http://www.organicbeautytalk.com/ingredients-to-avoid/

Because the source link above is broken, I found this one a bit diferent but helpful too: https://www.kalimukti.com/blog/top-5-cosmetic-ingredients-to-avoid

CHEMICALS OF CONCERN

Learn about a few of the top ingredients and contaminants to avoid, based on the science linking each to adverse health impacts, and the types of products they’re found in. To learn more about how chemicals impact your health and where they come from, check out the Health & Science section.

For each of the chemicals included in this section, a growing body of hazard-based evidence suggests connections to long-term health concerns like cancer and reproductive problems.

- See more at: http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/#sthash.zqCwbua5.dpuf