Patti and Tamey’s Top Six to Avoid

We couldn't narrow it down … so instead of the top five you have our top six ingredients to avoid in personal care and cosmetics.

We highlighted 6 ingredients that are we are avoiding for their carcinogenic links (cancer causing) or their hormone disrupting properties. You may have a different top five (or six) list, depending on your specific concerns.

We still are looking at all the ingredient in our products – preferring less to more, shorter names to unpronounceable ones, natural to synthetic.

Remember cosmetics are defined as: products which cleanse, improve or alter the complexion, skin, hair or teeth. Which include beauty preparations, like make-up, perfume, skin cream, nail polish and grooming aids like shaving gel, soap, shampoo.1

Many chemical ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products have not been tested for safety.

Formaldehyde
Probable human carcinogen.

Paraben
Methyl-, propyl-, ethyl- and butyl- parabens
Known endocrine disruptors, as they mimic the female hormone estrogen.
Effect of daily low level exposure and cumulative effect combined with other hormone disrupting chemicals is unknown.

Petrolatum
Possible human carcinogen.
Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union.
Depletes a non-renewable resource.

Phthalates
Dibutyl-phthalate (DBP) , Dimethylphthalate (DMP) and diethylphthalate (DEP)
Hormone disruptors, possible reproductive and developmental effects.
Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Common skin irritant.

Triclosan
Common antimicrobial.
Dioxins, a carcinogen, are formed during manufacturing.

For the full list visit our Ingredients to Avoid list.

1 Cosmetic Regulations, Health Canada, retrieved from website, May31, 2007