Lets face it, our skincare products contain dozens of different ingredients.
And while some of these ingredients are essential for healthy skin, some can be damaging to
the skin, confusing to understand, and counter productive.
In this video, ill go over which ingredients to look out for and why you might want to
consider avoiding them.
And if this video gets 1oo likes, I will make a part 2 that goes over even more ingredients
you might want to avoid, let me know in the comments below if you would like to see that,
So until then, stay tuned till the end.
Hi guys, yaseen arsalan, media pharmacist here on youtube where I help you guys make
better and more informed decisions about your health and wellness.
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So without further a do, lets get into the first ingredient.Let me first preface this
by saying that this list isnt intended for you to take this as a hard stop on these products
altogether, however its simply intended to be a guide to getting you more conscientious
as an informed consumer to what it is exactly you are actually using, because you deserve
to know what you are putting on your body.
So to begin lets look at number 1: Phthalates.
They are a large group of chemicals often used to soften plastic.
You can also find them in nail polish, moisturizers, shampoos, hair sprays, and even toys.
What is tricky about them is that they are often included in many fragrances used in
skincare products to make the scents linger.
And The most common type of phthalate used in skincare is diethyl phthalate or DEP.
DEP helps products like moisturizers and lotions to penetrate the skin better.
And although the effects on humans have not been studied extensively, they are believed
to be an endocrine-disrupting chemical or an (EDC) that can alter your hormonal balance.
But they arent banned completely because According to the FDA, phthalates contained in skincare
products don't pose any significant health risks, even at the highest levels.
But it is still ongoing research and conversations continue about there safety, so a good way
to avoid them in the meantime before more about them is known is to Opt for products
that are specifically labeled 'phthalate-free'.
Number 2: Formaldehyde.
Its a colorless, flammable gas.
Widely used as a preservative in skincare and cosmetics.
Some Common formaldehyde releasers include quaternium-15 and DMDM hydantoin which for
some cause what is known as contact dermatitis even in short term use.
You find them mainly in nail polish, makeup, lotions, and deodorants.
And With the help of preservatives, formaldehyde is released in small amounts over time to
help protect cosmetic products against contamination by bacteria during storage and when they are
used..
And the FDA, which does oversee the cosmetics industry, doesnt prohibit nor regulate the
use of formaldehyde in cosmetics (except for nail polishes).
And the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), which is an independent panel of experts that
determines the safety of cosmetic ingredients, recommends that cosmetic products should not
contain formaldehyde at amounts greater than 0.2 percent.
And According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, formaldehyde is considered
to be a human carcinogen..
However, most skincare products contain such small amounts of formaldehyde that many manufacturers
don't really even consider it a risk to use it.
And in my opinion, Even though it's not as damaging in lower concentrations it shouldn't
be used in skincare products as there are alternative ways to keep products free of
bacterial growth without using formaldehyde.
Number 3: Fragrance.
Fragrance is basically a blend of aromatic extracts from natural and synthetic ingredients.
And when your reading the ingredients on your products, you often have it say fragrance,
literally, just fragrance, and how are you even supposed to know what that means or whats
in it, but again no one really questions it.
And surprisingly its Used in nearly 50% of beauty products, and has a LOT of unknown
toxic chemicals that can be potentially harmful.
Both natural and artificial fragrances can irritate your skin.
And According to the Academy of Dermatology Association, fragrances are one of the leading
causes of contact dermatitis, a skin condition in which your skin becomes red and inflamed
after coming in contact with the skin irritant.
Some research also shows that fragrances are the most common cause of allergic reactions
to cosmetic products, so it's best to choose products with no scent, especially if you
have sensitive skin.
So in the meantime if you want to avoid them, opt for products that are labeled as fragrance
free.
Number 4: Alcohol.
Alcohol is used in many skincare products for different purposes.
It may be used as a preservative, or to help products dry more quickly on your skin.
If youre looking at your toners and cleansers, it's used there to help tighten the skin and
to reduce the appearance of pores.
Ethanol, isopropanol, and propanol are denatured alcohols and are most irritating for the skin
as they are harsh and can over dry your face and damage your natural skin barrier making
it harder for the skin to stay hydrated.
And if your going through your skin care ingredients and find denatured alcohol as one of the top
ingredients, it's likely to be very drying and may cause damage to your skin.
But on the flip side: fatty alcohols such as stearyl, cetearyl and cetyl are safer for
the skin as they are less irritating and can be beneficial to the skin since they act as
emulsifiers, which means that they help keep liquid and oil together in products.
Hence why you find them in moisturizers and sunscreen.
Number 5: Triclosan.
Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that you find in personal care products.
You can find it in hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps.
And it has been linked to having an impact on the thyroid and reproductive hormones in
animal studies, which is why it’s banned in several countries.
And The US has moved to ban it as well from antiseptic soap, but you might still find
it showing up in deodorant, mouthwash, shaving cream, and toothpaste.
Even though it was first used in hospital cleansers decades ago, the FDA says there
is little evidence that the antimicrobial effects of Triclosan provide any additional
benefit over just using regular soap.
And it even Might contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs which are all
bad.
SO thats something to be aware of as well.
Number 6: Teflon.
The same ingredient used to make non stick pans?
Yeah.
Pretty much .a recent study conducted by the Environmental Working Group or the ewg, found
that a number of beauty and skin care products contain Teflon, the brand name for polytetrafluoroethylene
or PTFE and/or other fluorinated chemicals known as per- and polyfluoralkyl substances
or PFAS’s and its added to cosmetics to improve the texture by working to have oil
and water repellency.
Waterproof mascaras and eyeliners, for example, are common makeup items that may use PFAS
chemicals.
And One simple way to identify them is to look at your product labels for the term “fluoro,”
which may appear in a longer name, such as perfluorononyl dimethicone or perfluorodecalin
or simply PTFE.
Absorption of these chemicals through skin is not really expected to be a significant
route of exposure but some might argue that.
However, it also says that the absorption may increase if applied around the eye area,
where the skin is a little thinner, and depending on the type of PFASs in products, the absorption
may vary.
So yes, a lot to take in.
Especially because PFAS compounds were found in nearly 200 products from 28 brands.
And number 7: Talc.
Talc is a natural mineral—the softest mineral on record—and is used in everything from
paints to textiles to drugs to, cosmetics.
Talc is very water absorbent and has been used for centuries to help the skin in areas
of moisture and to help prevent skin break down and inflammation."
The powder is also well-known for its ability to absorb oil and reduce shiny appearances.
And Talc started becoming controversial when Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $72 million
in damages to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer after 35 years of using
talcum powder for feminine hygiene.
Yet there's no definitive answer as to whether talc can be harmful in cosmetics, most brands
continue to use the mineral to this day even though its very difficult to guarantee there
is no asbestos in them, especially if youre products are coming from overseas.
I personally avoid supporting brands that use talc because there is a danger for talc
miners or other workers who come in contact with natural, asbestos-contaminated talc fibers
to mine them for our day to day usage.
If youre looking for alternatives, you can try out corn starch or oat flour, because
there is a higher chance that there wont be asbestos in them.
So there you go guys, theres 7 ingredients right there that you should be conscious of
as an informed consumer so you can make better health decisions, because in the end knowledge
is power and you can feel good about taking steps to better understand exactly what you’re
putting on your body.
If you want to see me continue this list, lets get to 100 likes and ill make a part
2 and possibly a part 3 of ingredients that you should avoid if you guys want to see more.
I hope this video was insightful to you guys and hope that it can be a good starting point
for choosing your products and brands more wisely.
Like this video if you enjoyed it, and subscribe to stay up to date with more videos.
Until then, ill see you guys on the next one.