Lively Women

What’s in Your Skin Care Products?

by Kristen King on March 5th, 2007

I was talking with a client who specializes in skin care about my current facial moisturizer, which I won’t name. Because he’s an expert, I asked him for a recommendation regarding some of the products I’m using now. He checked the ingredients and got back to me with some alarming news

Ingredients Water, Glycerin, Octyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Cyclomethicone, Soy Sterol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-10 Soya Sterol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Diazolidinyl Urea, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Ingredient: Sodium hydroxide

HIGHLIGHTS: Sodium hydroxide is a manufactured chemical. It is present in several domestic cleaning products. Very low levels can produce irritation of the skin and eyes. Exposure to the solid or concentrated liquid can cause severe burns in the eyes, skin, and gastrointestinal tract which may ultimately lead to death.

This substance has been found in at least 49 of the 1,585 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Source: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts178.html

Ingredient: Diazolidinyl urea
HIGHLIGHTS: The substance may be toxic to eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.

Source: http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Diazolidinyl_Urea-9923707

Ingredient : Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylparaben
HIGHLIGHTS: Hormone disrupters. Nuff said.

Source: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/05/03/the_most_toxic_soaps_and_shampoos_well_worth_avoiding.htm

And that bottle is going into the trash! Irritation, organ damage, and hormone disruption are so not worth that dewey look. I’m headed to Whole Foods tonight to try for something a little less, uh, disquieting in the natural skin care section.

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POSTED IN: Cancer, Health, Hormones, Injury, Prevention, Product review, Wellness