Why Clean Beauty is Important
- Molly Kate
- Feb 28, 2023
- 4 min read
If you have been in the health and wellness sphere for any significant length of time you have probably heard about toxic beauty products. This is a real and widespread issue for those of us living in countries where our beauty products are not highly regulated. So first let’s dive into why it is important to know a thing or two about what is in your skincare and then I’ll share with you some of my favorite products that I use daily.
When you start comparing our clean beauty standards here in the US to those in some other countries you start to see a worrisome picture. The FDA has banned or restricted a total of 11 chemicals from our markets. Compared to the EU that has officially banned over 1,300 chemicals. Those alarming numbers should show you the importance of doing your own thorough research. Just because a product has hit the market in the US does not mean that it is safe for human use. Our government here has taken special care to avoid regulating companies who mass produce highly toxic products that we, the consumer, then spread all over our bodies to be absorbed into our bloodstream. The FDA has little to no authority to review chemicals in cosmetics and other personal care products. You are the only gatekeeper in your household when it comes to what harmful chemicals your family might be using daily. It is important we are all diligent in caring for ourselves and our family’s health.
Let’s take a look at some of the most harmful chemicals that are found in beauty products on the market today in the US. American Testing Lab Inc has created a list of the top toxic chemicals found in skincare and cosmetics and their risks so let's go through that. The first is cool tar, this is a carcinogen that is produced from burning coal and has the potential to carry heavy metals. It can be toxic to the brain and cause various cancers. Cool tar is an ingredient found in many shampoos and scalp treatments, soaps, hair dyes and lotions. Some of the heavy metals it could contain include lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc, calcium and iron. These heavy metals are linked to reproductive, immune, and nervous system toxicity. In addition to cool tar, these metals can be found in lipstick, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner, eye drops, foundations, sunscreens, nail polish and more. Carcinogens are the next chemical group we find in beauty products. Carcinogens are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity as well as environmental toxicity. The most popular carcinogen found in beauty products is formaldehyde, found in shampoos, hair gels, eyelash glue, hair smoothing products, liquid baby soaps and more. It is also a key ingredient in keratin hair treatments. According to the Environmental Working Group, these hair treatments are linked to hair loss, rashes, blisters, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and loss of taste and smell. Ethanolamine is a chemical found in many cosmetic and personal care products; they are linked to liver tumors and organ system toxicity. Fragrance is an umbrella term for lots of extremely harmful chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies, and skin sensitives. You need to check all your labels because fragrance is added to EVERYTHING. Parabens, BHA, and BHT are preservatives that cause endocrine system disruption and organ system toxicity. They can be found in a wide range of products including; shampoo, conditioner, lotion, facial and body cleansers, scrubs, lip products, makeup, sunscreen, deodorant, perfumes and creams. The EWG has also warned about phthalates, describing them as another endocrine disrupting chemical commonly found in beauty products such as soaps and shampoos.
These are just some of the main toxic chemicals that are not highly regulated in our skincare products, not an exhaustive list. Make sure you do your own research to more fully understand everything surrounding clean beauty products as it is a very important issue facing us all today.
One of the absolute best brands for clean skincare and makeup is Beauty Counter. Be forewarned, it can be very expensive. But they have amazing skincare products and great performing makeup products that can compete with the best of the “toxic world” makeup products. But some more affordable options are Mineral Fusion, Andalou Naturals, and 100% Pure for skincare and makeup. Now not all of their products are completely clean, Mineral Fusion has a list on their website of all their products that are EWG certified clean so be sure to check that out and check the ingredient list for each product. But these brands are way cleaner than the average brand at any regular makeup or skincare store. I also really love Toups and Co. They are a small, family-owned company and they have the absolute best tallow moisturizer; made with grass-fed tallow, olive oil and frankincense oil. It makes my skin actually glow and is the most moisturized my skin has ever been without being oily and doesn't clog my pores. And lastly my favorite clean tanner is from Beauty by Earth.
Now of course the cleanest beauty product is no product, but if you find you really need to use a mascara or need a nice cleanser and moisturizer, check out these brands and give them a try, keeping in mind some of their products are not 100% clean and still need to be vetted.
Thanks for taking the time to read this! Check out my other blog posts for more health and wellness advice and be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up to date with every new post.
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/prohibited-restricted-ingredients-cosmetics
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