The Dirty Dozen

Lately I have been exploring natural beauty products and methods. The main reason for this change is simple: Why would I want to eat healthy and continue to slather chemicals and toxins on my largest organ (the skin)? The answer is simple, I don't! While this realization may have promoted me to consider running to the bathroom and throwing out all my beauty bottles and containers, I stopped myself and decided to do more research and easy my way into the world of natural beauty.


The first step in becoming a natural beauty convert is to understand why you are avoiding these chemicals. This short video will give a good overview:

Please understand that my take on this video is similar to that of eating healthy. Everything in moderation. You are not going to rid your life of chemicals and toxins. We can only do our best to be more informed and make better choices.


For example, did you know...

According to a 2005 survey of 2,300 adults by the Environmental Working Group, the average woman encounters 168 chemical ingredients in her beauty regimen everyday. And let's not forget about the men — they're slathering themselves with an average of 85 chemicals everyday, too.

With 90% of the 10,500 different chemicals used in personal care products never evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for safety, it's impossible to have peace of mind when our skin is potentially absorbing chemicals that might cause cancer, reproductive problems or other health concerns. Plus, some of these chemicals can harm the environment, too.

 Source – Sammy Davis, The Daily Green 

The second step is understanding which chemicals and toxins to avoid and why. Good thing people much smarter then me have done the leg work.

The Dirty Dozen 

1. BHA and BHT. Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number. Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colours listed as “CI” followed by five digits.1 The U.S. colour name may also be listed (e.g. “FD&C Blue No. 1″ or “Blue 1″). Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain.
3. DEA-related ingredients. Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA.
4. Dibutyl phthalate. Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer.
6. Parabens. Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions.
7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance) Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as “unscented.” Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife.
8. PEG compounds. Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters “eth” (e.g., polyethylene glycol).
9. Petrolatum. Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
10. Siloxanes. Look for ingredients ending in “-siloxane” or “-methicone.” Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
11. Sodium laureth sulfate. Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters “eth” (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).
12. Triclosan. Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.

Source – David Suzuki More details on these chemicals can be found here  

Now that you know what you should avoid you can begin to make better choices in the beauty aisle. To help you find products that are natural and free of harsh chemicals and toxins you can visit the EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic data base. I suggest you find product with a 0 - 3 rating. 

Update: To better help you evaluate products check out my post on Non-Toxic Product Identification Tools. 

Simple and Cost Saving Tip: when looking to replace beauty products -- look to your kitchen. Many times the items we put in our bodies for nutrition have similar beauty benefits. Do your research and see which products are multi-functional.