Carbon Black & Formaldehyde

Hey Guys! 

I am going to do one more series going through the details of two more ingredients that you need to be aware of in your personal care products. The second one is really, really important. And I bet you  never thought that it would appear in any of your household products. 

Starting with Carbon Black, a dark black powder used as a pigment in cosmetics such as eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. It is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon based products such as coal tar and has been linked to cancer.

Found in: eyeliner, mascara, nail polish, eye shadow, lipstick, blushers, rouge, makeup and foundation

On the Label: carbon black, D&C black no.2, acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, thermal black

*Commercial carbon black has organic contaminants such as polycyclic acromatic hydrocarbons which are considered carcinogens. Exposure can lead to tumors on lungs, bladder and skin, reproductive and developmental toxicity.

*PAHs bind tightly to the surface of carbon black and can only be removed with the use of solvents such as toluene and using high temperatures.

-Those especially vulnerable include industrial workers and women

***Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde  Releasing  Preservatives

These chemicals help prevent microbes from growing in water based products.

Found in: Nail polish, nail glue, eyelash glue, hair gel, hair-smoothing products, baby shampoo, baby soap, body wash, color cosmetics

On the Label: Formaldehyde, quaternium-1, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate -2-bromo-2- nitropropane-1,3 doil (bromopol) and glyoxal

What is it: A colorless, strong-smelling gas  used in a wide range of industries and products including building materials, walls, cabinets, furniture and personal care products.

*Longer storage time and higher temps increase the amount of formaldehyde released from the preservatives and raises health concerns.

Quaternium: The most sensitizing of the FRP’s (blush, mascara, lotion and shampoo)

DMDM Hydantoin- (lotion, sunscreen , makeup remover) one of the least sensitizing

*Diazolidinyl urea releases the most formaldehyde of any FRP

*** Don’t use expired products or those that have been stored in the sun

Share it with me!

Hey guys!!

I have a couple of things to share with you but I hope youve been tuning in to my blog series lately. It is so important to be aware of what sort of things are in your products (shampoo, conditioner,body wash, shavingcream, toothpaste, baby products, household cleaning products, perfumes and cologne.) I have started with a general overview of how to decipher the labels, then went into detail on a couple of ingredients that I know you use everyday. I personally,am pretty grateful to have found a company that I can buy anything I need from and know that it is safe; However, many of you might want to go through what you already have and decide what to keep, and what else you can get from the grocery store that is safer for you. That option is slightly trickier, but I can help you with that also. I would love to hear back from you all, share some things that you try to avoid and give me a list of some of the things that you use and what you would like to know about them.

Safe cosmetics: Triclosan & Parabens

Hey guys! To continue our discussion on harmful chemicals in our everyday products, I chose two chemicals that are super common in everything we use. I also chose two that affect everyone, because the first one is found in toothpaste, which everyone here should use.

 

The first chemical I want to talk about is Triclosan, which is commonly found in soaps as an antimicrobial. It also appears in toothpaste and tooth whitening products, deodorants and shaving creams.  Can be found on the label as Triclosan (TSC) or Triclocarbon (TCC).

Triclosan was originally made as a surgical scrub in the medical field, now it is much more common and instead of being used once in a blue moon for a medical procedure, sometimes it finds its way on our skin multiple times a day.

The main concerns regarding the use of Triclosan are endocrine disorders, particularly thyroid function.  Using an antibiotic or antimicrobial often is always a concern, and in this case producing Triclosan resistant bacteria may be an issue.

Triclosan is restricted in cosmetics in Canada and Japan. Triclocarban is restricted in cosmetics by the Environment Canada Domestic Substance List. The EPA also regulates Triclosan as a pesticide.

Parabens:

Parabens are a preservative used in a wide variety of personal care products and foods. These include shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shower cleaners and scrubs. We have the potential to absorb a TON of parabens in a day. You can find almost any type of personal care product that contains parabens.

These can be found on the label under Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben.

Parabens have the ability to mimic estrogen, causing endocrine disorder concerns. Developmental and Repro issues are a concern as well.  Propyl and butyl parabens appear to reduce sperm production, however, methyl and ethyl do not.

Some forms of parabens are banned in Denmark for products intended for child use.

Look for Paraben-Free on the label!

So now, go look and see how many products in your kitchens and bathrooms contain Triclosan or some form of Parabens. Luckily, Paraben - Free products are becoming pretty common, unfortunately there are tons of chemicals that are not being weeded out just yet.

How aware are you of harmful chemicals as ingredients?

Hey Guys!!

I wanted to do a couple of posts about safe ingredients in all of our personal care products. Now that means women, men , babies and everything in between. Everyone uses some type of product..everyday. It has been a topic that interests me and really continues to be quite mind blowing at times. It is alarming how unregulated the industry is; the companies can do whatever they want to make their products, and whatever they want as far as labeling the products (this really gets me). They certainly do not have the consumer's best interest in mind. 

Now this really does apply to everyone. It doesn't matter if you do not wear makeup regularly or get your nails done, or visit the salon. Everyone here brushes their teeth, right? That happens to be one of the worst offenders. (Triclosan) (sodium lauryl sulfate= responsible for foaming, the reason things have a poor taste if you eat them after brushing your teeth) (Propelyene Glycol - used in antifreeze, paints and enamels) (microbeads- bad for the environment) Not to mention that many of the ingredients have been linked to cancer. 

I have a hard time understanding why any of this can be allowed. It does not benefit anyone other than the bank accounts of the larget companies. 

I am going to touch on some of the major offenders, chemicals to avoid, and finish with some reviews on products that I have found that fit much stricter criteria yet actually produce results. That sounds like a win-win doesn't it??


I hope you guys tune in, and that I can give you tips to put to use to use with what you already have in your own kitchens and bathrooms. Have stuff that you think passes all the tests? Share it! I'd totally love to hear about it and try it as well.

Until next time,
Cheers,
Lindsey

Chemicals to avoid by product. Most commonly found harmful chemicals.

Here are some specific ingredients to avoid , broken down into the products that they are most commonly seen in .

*Soap: triclosan and triclocarban
*Skin moisturizer and lip products:  Retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinoic acid  and retinol in day time products
*Sunscreens: avoid SPF above 50, retinyl palmitate, aerosol spray and powder sunscreen, oxybenzone and added insect repellent
*  Toothpaste: triclosan
*Nails: Formaldehyde or formalin, hardeners, Toluene and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
* Baby Wipes: Bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, fragrance
*Diaper Cream: BHA, Boric Acid, Fragrance
*Acne Products: triclosan, parabens, PEG, ceterej, polyethylene
*perfume, cologne, body spray: diethyl phthalate, fragrance
*Make up: loose powders , vitamin A in skin and lip products
*Anti-Aging Products: alpha and beta hydroxy acids (Lactic acid and glycolic acid)
  *FDA-Sponsored studies find UV- caused skin damage doubles for users of products that contain alpha hydroxy acid

Quick Tips to Avoid Harmful Chemicals in Your Skincare

1. Simplify: choose products with simpler ingredient lists and fewer synthetic chemicals. Avoid synthetic fragrance by skipping products with "fragrance" listed

2. DIY: Personal care products can be easy to make! Check pinterest or other social media places for ideas on how to make them yourself!

3. Research products yourself: since the beauty industry is largely unregulated, its up to you to become knowledgeable about what you want and don't want in your personal care products for your own safety. There are no legal standards for personal care products labeled as natural or organic. Read labels carefully.

4. Use Apps like Think Dirty: To find out whether your go - to products are safe or not, Think Dirty's shop clean app ranks the safety of specific products on a scare or 1-10 and offers clean solutions.

5. Get Involved: It's becoming easier to find products that are safer for everyone. Stay informed and spread the word.

Safe Cosmetics Series: Arbonne Ingredient Policy

Arbonne Ingredient Policy 

Transparency and honesty. For 35 years, this has been the hallmark of our product integrity. From the beginning, Arbonne has developed products by combining the best of nature with leading science.m Our mission is to always improve and evaluate our ingredient policy as an ever- evolving standard of excellence. This means we continuously challenge ourselves to do better and better.

Pure
We're working diligently to understand the latest science, consulting our Scientific Advisory Board and adapting to new standards. Each product contains carefully selected, botanically based ingredients.

Safe 
 We rigorously test our products. We're vigilant about the latest research regarding chemicals to ensure were being mindful and cautious.

Beneficial 
Our products deliver results. As Trailblazers, we must educate, empower and inspire people to make better choices for the beauty, health and wellness of their families and friends.

**Our list of no-no ingredients has evolved over time, based on industry knowledge, research substantiation and establishing stricter guidelines before it became stylish.

*We formulate without:
-animal products or by products
-artificial products
-artificial sweeteners
-benzene
-bisphenol-a
-carbon black
-formaldehyde-donating preservatives
-hydroquinone
-mineral oil
-parabens
-petrolatum
-phthalates
-sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
-sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
-synthetic dyes
-talc
-triclosan
-triethanolamine (TEA)

We adhere to the standards of:
*U.S FDA, Health Canada, Austrailia Therapeutic Good Administration, United Kingdom Food Standards Agency, European Food Saftey Authority, Austrailia National INdustrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, International Fragrance Assoc, European Commission Cosmetics Directive, European Registration, Evaluation , Authorisations and Restriction of Chemicals Agency