Skincare is something that should be tailored to the individual. You may have seen so many skincare products on the shelves in your local supermarket or mall but there are a few things to think about before you pick something up. While it is important to take care of your health by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, you have to be aware of what you are putting on your skin as well.
It can be a little confusing to go through ingredient lists in skincare as there are so many terms that we don’t recognize. This can further make deciding on a product difficult. Not all the skincare products you see on the market and in online retailers will be approved by the FDA. So you should educate yourself about the ingredients that are good for the skin and what you should avoid.
You can see some of the harmful ingredients that are avoided in their own skincare products when you check out this website. One of the first things you should avoid especially when it comes to the face is artificial fragrance. So many skincare products carry artificial fragrance and it doesn’t have a beneficial effect on the skin. Fragrances can include allergens and some can be hormone disrupters. And with constant usage, it can lead to allergic contact dermatitis.
Phthalates are used to make the fragrances in skincare products stick to the skin. They can also improve the pliability of the product. However, many studies show that these ingredients can disrupt your endocrine system. Phthalates are harmful to body organs and increase the risk of birth defects. You can find phthalates in artificial fragrances and many scented products such as nail polish, body lotion, deodorant etc.
It is recommended to stay away from skincare products that contain formaldehyde as it is a known carcinogen. It has also been linked to developmental toxicity, asthma and is considered a general irritant to skin and eyes. These can be found in body wash and shampoo. Parabens are used to prevent bacteria growth in skincare products but evidence points towards these chemicals acting as endocrine disrupters. They are also considered allergens. You can find parabens in body lotion, facial cleansers, body wash and foundation.
BHA and BHT can extend the shelf life of your products but they are likely carcinogens and there is more research to be done on their effect on the liver. You can find these ingredients in many cosmetic products such as lipsticks. SLS or sodium lauryl sulphate is a foam booster that can be found in boy wash and shampoo. But it can cause irritation to skin and eyes. In certain cases, it can also trigger allergies.
You can find triclocarbon and triclosan acting as antimicrobial agents in many skincare products but these ingredients can lead to irritation in skin, eyes and lungs. These are generally found in toothpaste, liquid soap and soap bars. Coal tar is something you will see in anti-dandruff shampoo but this is a known carcinogen and an allergen to the skin. This can also be seen in certain hair dyes.
