Effective, Nontoxic Alternatives to Dirty Ingredients
We share our planet with well over 75,000 different chemicals and at least 5,000 of these identified harmful chemicals are used in the cosmetic industry alone. Why is this so important? Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what it comes in contact with, allowing harmful chemicals to more freely move past the outside layer of the skin. These chemicals can then
circulate throughout our bodies damaging our skin and putting us at risk for developing serious health concerns. The Dirty 30 list is just the tip of the iceberg; these are the most toxic of the chemicals presently being used in the skin care and cosmetics industry.
Dirty 30
If overall good health, skin rejuvenation and corrective balance are your goals then let our
Dirty 30 list of skin care and cosmetic product ingredients be your guide.
- Artificial (Synthetic) Colors: Labeled
FD&C (Food, Drug or Cosmetics) or D&C
(Drugs or Cosmetics), this designation is
followed by a color and then a number
(FD&C Red No. 6, D&C Green No. 6, or
FD&C Blue No. 1). Artificial colors are
made from coal tar, a derivative of coal. Some
research indicates that coal tar colors cause
cancer. Artificial colors can also contain heavymetal
impurities, such as arsenic and lead,
which are known cancer-causing agents.
- Isopropyl Alcohol: Derived from petroleum,
this is used in antifreeze, shellac, and body
care products. Side effects include headache,
dizziness, depression, nausea, vomiting, and
coma. Isopropyl alcohol also strips your skin’s
protective natural proteins and oils causing
lasting, harmful effects on your skin and
throughout your entire body.
- Parabens (Methyl-, Propyl-, Butyl-, and Ethyl-):
These are universally used preservatives that
can add shelf life to a product. Many scientific
studies have confirmed that parabens have
the potential to cause cancer because of their
estrogenic activity. Foreign estrogens can
accumulate in the body and have been linked
to cancers of the breast, ovaries, uterus, and
prostate. Because the liver has to work
overtime to process these foreign estrogens,
parabens may contribute to other illnesses as
well.
- Phthalates: These chemical compounds are
predominantly used as plasticizers
(substances added to plastics to increase
their flexibility). Phthalates are also used in
nail polish, hair spray, and perfumes.
Phthalates have been shown to build up in
fatty tissue and negatively influence endocrine
function.
- Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate: This widely
used detergent foaming agent is used in
industrial engine degreasers, garage-floor
cleaners, water softeners, and auto-cleaning
products. Many skin and hair care products
also contain this ingredient.
It is often disguised in so-called “natural”
products by putting the term “coconut
derivative” in parenthesis. Derivatives are
extracted using harmful petroleum solvents.
According to the Journal of The
American College of Toxicology, sodium
lauryl sulfate corrodes and damages
the hair follicles and can actually cause
your hair to fall out! The American
Academy of Dermatology reports that
sodium lauryl sulfate molecules can stay
on your skin long after you think you’ve
washed them off. As they linger, these
toxic compounds literally strip fatty acids,
moisture, and amino acids from your
hair and skin.
- Ureas (Imidazolidinyl, Diazolidinyl,
DMDM): Ureas are the second most
commonly used category of cosmetic
preservatives. Ureas release
formaldehyde. According to the Mayo
Clinic, formaldehyde can irritate the
respiratory system, cause skin
inflammation, and trigger heart
palpitations. Exposure to formaldehydereleasing
products may also cause
allergies, congestion, nausea,
headaches, dizziness, ear infections,
chronic fatigue, depression, asthma,
chest pains, and insomnia. But more
seriously, formaldehyde is toxic to the
immune system. It has also been shown
to mutate human cellular DNA and
contribute to cancer.
Natural and Effective Alternatives
The sad fact is that these ingredients are
cheap, readily available, and widely used
(even in so-called “natural” products). But
the truth is their natural alternatives are not
only safer, they are often more effective.
| Toxic Ingredients |
Effective and Nontoxic Ingredients |
| Phthalate |
Essential Oils, Herbal, Floral, and Natural Food Aroma Extracts |
| Parabens |
D-Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Plantservative from Honeysuckle, Vitamin
C (and high levels of other antioxidants), L-Ascorbic Acid |
| Benzoyl Peroxide |
SCO2Totarol™, Tea Tree Oil, Sulphur, Zinc, Lemongrass |
DEA and other toxic
emulsifiers |
Plant Waxes, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Oliva |
| Propylene glycol |
Lecithin, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Organic Vegetable Glycerin |
| Sulfates |
Sugar Compounds and Natural Coconut Oil Compounds |
| Ureas |
Enzymes, Amino Acids, Oregano, Fruit Extracts |
For example, several clinical studies have clearly
confirmed that natural Vitamin E (d-alpha
tocopherol) is more effective than synthetic
Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopherol). That’s
because the body only recognizes the
natural form; it views the synthetic form as
foreign. The same is true for the dirty
ingredients featured in our list. These are
foreign substances to the body and cannot
be easily metabolized. The body then
accumulates these toxic substances and
health problems can occur. Though used as
treatments, these toxic ingredients may be
the exact cause of your skin irritation,
inflammation, or dryness. However, the fact
that they can contribute to cancer and other
serious illnesses should be more than
enough reason to avoid them.
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