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The products that make you look all pretty have a dark side as well. That is one of the greatest reasons to switch to natural skincare.
We have always harped on for promoting the use of natural products and natural procedure for treating skin problems. The reason for that is many people experiencing skin irritation because of harsh chemicals in conventional skincare products which result in more acne.
The best way to heal your skin can be avoiding all sorts of beauty products that contain chemical beauty. These products include:
- Anything that you apply on the face such as acne treatments, cleansers, concealer, anti-ageing products, moisturizers, toners, exfoliants, foundation, mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, bronzer or blush, lipgloss, lipstick and chapstick.
- Shampoo and conditioner.
- Hair products like styling gel, hair spray, curling cream, perms, hair dye, and straightening treatments.
- Body wash, shaving cream, body lotion, waxes, self-tanners, and depilatories.
- Deodorants
- Sunscreen
- Nail polish and nail polish remover
- Cologne and perfume
Why Avoid Chemical Filled Beauty Products?
If they are so harmful then why they do not stop manufacturing these products? The truth is that the cosmetic industry is poorly regulated not only in Pakistan but all over the world. The industry giants can put anything in their products and there is no one to question them. And, their choices are not about safety, it’s about style and beauty.
We use all or some of these products every day. Despite what you think, some of these chemicals are pretty harmful. They may not have short term harm, but if you expose your skin to them every day and that from several different products, they can damage your skin big deal.
Many of the chemicals used in beauty products are carcinogens i.e. cancer-causing. And, many of the products are endocrine disrupters that mess with your hormones. There are several other harmful chemicals that can cause a whole array of different health problems such as birth defects and depression.
“But they don’t get inside the body, right?”
We all seem to think that there is a lot of disconnect between what we eat and what we put on our bodies. Our skin is not a think rubber suit that we think it to be. Many ingredients and chemicals in the skincare products absorb through our skin and into the body. Getting harmful chemicals into the body like that can be worse than digesting them because our digestive system and liver process have certain bodyguards that either kill or filter out harmful substance.
Let me make it clear that not all chemicals used in the product are harmful. Many of them are harmless that get out of your body through the excretory system.
Some of the chemicals don’t even work.
The reason we recommend natural, homemade skincare is because many of the beauty products are often irritating and lead to acne, allergic blotches, dull, rashes, and lifeless looking skin. A lot of these products cause premature ageing as well.
Many conventional hair care products damage your hair and make them dry, lifeless, limp, split or oily.
Some Bad Chemicals used in beauty products
This list doesn’t contain all of the harmful chemicals so it’s no way conclusive. Here are a few of the very bad chemicals found in your favourite beauty products.
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Aluminium Salts:
They are antiperspirants and neurotoxin. They can cause Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.
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1,4 Dioxane
It is a high-risk carcinogen. It is actually a byproduct which means cosmetic companies do not label it at all. It is found in about 22% of personal hygiene products.
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Fragrance
They are a cocktail of chemicals. Cosmetic companies do not have to tell which fragrance they use due to trade law secrets. They are found in virtually everything. Some of these chemicals are carcinogens and some are hormone disrupters. Fragrances are linked to all kinds of rashes, allergies and skin conditions.
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The Ethanolamine Family
They are famous carcinogens found as foaming agent and emulsifiers in many products. They are often linked to bad skin conditions.
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Parabens
They are used as preservatives. About 70-90% of the products in the market contain this chemical because they are a cheap way to increase the shelf life of the product. They are linked to premature ageing. They are estrogen mimickers meaning they can cause acne and estrogen-related cancers.
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Phthalates
They are not only used in all kinds of fragrances and cosmetic products but also in plastics and pesticides. They are famous hormone disruptors and can cause hormonal acne, PCOS, obesity and other hormone disorders.
