Clean Personal Care Products

Our skin is the largest organ in our body. When choosing personal care products avoid products that contain toxic chemicals. Products full of organic, plant based ingredients will reduce your exposure to a host of problems associated with synthetic ingredients. Organic and natural skincare lines will nourish your skin and will help you maintain a healthy glow.

For your information: The FDA does not require regulations or specific tests that demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. Therefore, it’s important to read labels on personal care and food items. It is essential for your health and the health of your family to know what ingredients are in the food you are consuming and the products you put on your body.

Healthy ingredients to look for in skin care include:

• Organic Essential Oils
• Sea Buckthorn Oil
• Vitamin C
• Shea Butter
• Jojoba Oil
• Green tea extract
• Rose Oil
• Aloe Vera
• Sunflower seed oil

Below is a list of some of the toxic ingredients to avoid:

• Aluminum: Hormone disruptors found in antiperspirants.
• Boric acid and Sodium borate: Hormone disruptors
• BHA: The National Institutes of Health and National Toxicology Program classify butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”  
• Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients (including Aminophenol, Diaminobenzene, Phenylenediamine): A human carcinogen, according to the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.  
• Formaldehyde: A human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
• Formaldehyde releasers – Bronopol, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidzaolidinyl urea and Quaternium-15: Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen.
• Fragrance:  Hormone disruptors and may cause an allergic reaction. Avoid synthetic fragrances and chose products scented with organic essential oils or fragrance-free.
• Hydroquinone: The FDA stated hydroquinone cannot be ruled out as a potential carcinogen. It is a skin bleaching chemical that can cause a skin disease called ochronosis, which creates blue-black lesions on the skin.
• Lead: Lead is a neurotoxin.
• Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone: A group that can cause an allergic reaction.
• Mineral oil: obtained from Petroleum
• Nanoparticles: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles are used as active ingredients in sunscreen. Avoid sprays and powders containing nanoparticles that could enter the body and cause a toxic reaction.
• Oxybenzone: Sunscreen agent that can be a hormone disrupter.
• Parabens (specifically Propyl-, Isopropyl-, Butyl-, and Isobutyl- parabens): Parabens disrupt hormones.
• PEGs/Ceteareth/Polyethylene compounds:  A group of chemicals that can be toxic.
• Petroleum distillates: Chemicals obtained from petroleum.
• Phthalates: A group of chemicals used in plastics. They can be endocrine disruptors.
• Propylene Glycol: Chemicals that may cause an allergic reaction.
• Resorcinol: An ingredient found in hair color and bleaching products. Can be toxic and cause skin irritation.
• Talc: The National Toxicology Program found that talc could be toxic when inhaled.
• Toluene: It is used as a solvent. Inhalation can impair breathing and cause nausea.
• Triclosan & Triclocarban: Anti-bacterial agent found in soap and other personal care products. It can cause hormonal disruption and is hazardous to the environment.
• Vitamin A compounds (retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinol): Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, but may be toxic for use on the skin and increase skin sensitivity.
• Animal-based ingredients:  Chose products that do not harm animals and by brands that are labeled organic/vegetarian /vegan or labeled with the PETA and Leaping Bunny logos.