☆ Dirty Dozen (Chemicals to Avoid in Cosmetics) ☆

I wrote a Two Part article some time ago concerning the hundreds of nasty chemicals that are usually found in Cosmetics and Beauty Products:

"Part 1: Dying to be Beautiful"

"Part 2: Don't Want to Die to be Beautiful"

Today's post is a simplified version of the top "dirty dozen" chemicals to avoid, making it an easy place to start without getting too overwhelmed. 

This list came from the David Suzuki Foundation when I received a small pamphlet in the mail that is perfect to stick in your wallet or to put up on your bathroom mirror to double check your beauty products and cosmetics. 

The truth is that it is quite horrifying just how many toxic chemicals are allowed to be in products we put in direct contact with our skin. U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products also include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). And yes, those are being put on your skin, not to mention the impact such chemicals have on the environment and wildlife. 

The David Suzuki Foundation surveyed Canadians to see how many of the "Dirty Dozen" ingredients appeared in their cosmetics; their findings show that 80 per cent of entered products contained at least one of these toxic chemicals! 

So, if that's not enough for you to get thinking about what's in your cosmetics it should. This is a good place to start:

"You can avoid harmful chemicals when you use our shopper's guide, and audit your bathroom cupboard using this list of harmful ingredients"

The Dirty Dozen:

1. BHA and BHT

Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife. 

2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as "CI" followed by a five digit number

In addition to coal tar dyes, natural and inorganic pigments used in cosmetics are also assigned Colour Index numbers (in the 75000 and 77000 series, respectively).

Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colours listed as "CI" followed by five digits.1 The U.S. colour name may also be listed (e.g. "FD&C Blue No. 1" or "Blue 1"). Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain. 

3. DEA-related ingredients

Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA. 

4. Dibutyl phthalate

Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. 

5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer. 

6. Parabens

Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions. 

7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)

Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as "unscented." Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife. 

8. PEG compounds

Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol). 

9. Petrolatum

Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer. 

10. Siloxanes

Look for ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Read more »

11. Sodium laureth sulfate

Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate). 

12. Triclosan

Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.

Print off the Shoppers Guide so you too can carry it in your wallet when you're purchasing or looking for new cosmetics! Or there's also the Mobile Shoppers Guide to use on your web devices! 

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Where to go for more information about toxic chemicals in personal care products:

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics — U.S.-based campaign endorsed by the David Suzuki Foundation.

CancerSmart 3.0: the consumer guide — Toxic Free Canada's resource on practical ways to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in everyday household products.

FemmeToxic — Online youth focused campaign for safer cosmetics.

Guide to Less Toxic Products — The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia's online resource.

Leaping Bunny — Cruelty-free standard providing assurance that animal testing has not been used.

Skin Deep — U.S.-based Environmental Working Group's electronic database detailing the ingredients and hazard ratings for 55,000 personal care products.

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☆ What's Going On: Cookware & Bakeware Beware ☆

So I've mentioned a couple time in my Vegan Recipes Segments that I use an Eco-friendly frying pan and cookware vs evil Teflon. It took a while for it to occur to me that lots of people don't know why non-stick pans are bad. 

I'd first heard it as a teenager from my mother who had said they kill baby birds. I didn't want to kill baby birds so it was an immediate no-no for me. Later I found out why...

The big problem is Teflon. 

First, what is Teflon? 

Teflon is a trademarked combination of fluoropolymers (produced by the DuPont company and licensed to many cookware manufacturers) that coats pans to give them a non-stick surface. 

Why is it bad? 

PFOA is the compound used to manufacture Teflon and ranks as nastier than pesticides like DDT when it comes to indestructibility in the ecosystem. It is bad for nature, bad for wildlife, and bad for you. 

Overheated non-stick-coated pans can release toxic fumes that will literally kill a canary if it were in your kitchen. Teflon claims that such high-temperature burning doesn't happen under normal circumstances and that otherwise, the stuff is safe. Still, who hasn't burned the bottom of a pan? And it is still advised that you should keep your pets out of the kitchen while cooking with the stuff. Safe huh? Plus, 95% of humans have the chemical tied to non-stick surfaces in our bloodstream. There are nearly a dozen studies that tie it to thyroid damage and as a likely human carcinogen (cancer-causing). Not to mention, every molecule you get in your system will be with you for life! Scary! 

What's worse is that the chemical is turning up in wildlife at alarming levels, even in the systems of polar bears way up north who have never been near the stuff! 

The stuff isn't just in your non-stick pans either. It is used in cookware, burger wrappers, popcorn bags, french fry cartons, and candy packing. 

There is no time like the present to eliminate the stuff from your life. 

There has been no official heed to toss out your old non-stick pans or product recalls, but the chemical is on its way out. Health Canada is in the process of phasing it out, but we all know how slow and backwards such processes can be, so better to do something about it yourself. 

As always, I won't leave you without any solutions. ~_^

There are lots of eco-friendly non-stick pans coming out on the market. Always make sure you know what it is you're buying though as companies can be tricky with the way they word their products to make them seem earth-friendly and healthy when they are not. 

I have "Earth Chef" brand that use a Ceramic surface instead. It is a tad stickier then Teflon but still great for cooking and much much more durable (and the surface doesn't flake off into the food!). 

Stainless Steel is always an option, just remember you'll have to add more oil to avoid sticking. Cast iron skillets and Glass are good options as well. Light-weight titanium is good, though can be pricey. Be careful though, some get their non-stick surface from the same chemicals as Teflon (sneaky bastards!), so make sure to do a little research on the manufacturer's corporate website to be sure. 

For Bakeware; Ceramics (make sure the glaze is lead-free though), stainless steel, and Silicone which is highly accessible-- they may look a bit weird and come in bright colors but are a great and safe alternative. 

Peace & Love,

xo

~Bianca   

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.