Pay attention: harmful elements in cosmetics

Many ingredients are absorbed into the skin and enter the body in cosmetic products. Therefore, you should carefully consider what you apply to the skin.

GoBeauty Blog advises using the “trust but verify” rule of thumb and reading the composition before using the product. Here are 5 ingredients to avoid.

Parabens

These are preservatives that can be found in everything. They are easy to determine on the label, because harmful substances will necessarily end with “paraben”, for example, methylparaben, propylparaben, isopropyl paraben and isobutyl paraben. These substances are known as endocrine disrupters. They mimic estrogen in the body and can lead to hormonal imbalances and, possibly, to breast cancer.

Artificial Fragrance/Parfum

Almost every ordinary cosmetic product (even “odourless”) contains artificial flavours. Manufacturers are not required to disclose what is actually in their fragrances. Therefore, you will see Fragrance or Parfum in the list of ingredients, although it may be a mixture of carcinogens, allergens, endocrine disorders and irritants.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

SLS and SLES are foaming elements used in a variety of personal care products, including skin care products and cosmetics, shampoo and toothpaste. These are surfactants that can cause skin irritation or allergies.

Phthalates

This is a plasticizer that is added to plastic so that it does not become brittle. Phthalates are used in cosmetics mainly in fragrances, and can also be found in other personal care products such as hair spray and nail polish. Examples include DBP, DEHP, DEP and others. Like parabens, phthalates are endocrine disrupters and can cause hormonal and reproductive problems.

Diethanolamine

It is a known carcinogen and toxin for the respiratory tract. Despite this, it is still used in bath foam, shower gels and shampoos. On cosmetic labels, it is often written as DEA.