Our friend at Elevate, Cara has found the top
ingredients to stay away from, what they are, why we believe you should eliminate them from your beauty routine.
SULFATES: A cheap ingredient found in common shampoos that creates the commonly known "suds" or squeaky clean hair and scalp. Sulfates are extremely effective at breaking down oil; however, they can disrupt the natural oil production of the scalp increasing either dryness or oil production as well as increased fading in color-treated hair.
PARABENS: A preservative commonly found in cosmetic products that decrease bacteria growth and extend the shelf life of your products. Research has found large traces of paraben in tumors of cancer patients; however, it has not been proven that direct use of parabens causes cancer.
FRAGRANCE: Fragrance is the leading cause of skin irritations. Companies do not legally have to list what ingredients are in their fragrance, which can lead to a large list of unknown irritating ingredients.
FORMALDEHYDE: This ingredient is currently under investigation over potential safety concerns. OSHA has found that many hair smoothing products contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde dissolved in water (called methylene glycol), or other chemicals that can release formaldehyde during use. Using products that contain these substances can result in worker exposure to unsafe levels of formaldehyde.
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL: PEGs are often used in products to create a creamy texture. It has high levels of dioxin which is a carcinogen and a byproduct of the ethoxylation process. PEGs can cause irritations and even systemic toxicity if used on broken skin.
SILICONE: Silicones are typically used in conditioners to give a "silky & soft feel to the hair" As silicone builds up it weighs the hair down with the airtight seal it forms around the hair strand causing long term damage due to the lack of moisture that penetrates the silicone seal. Silicone is hydrophobic which means it not only repels water but displaces and pushes it away.
If you are curious about more please check out Toxic Beauty. Toxic Beauty is a 2019 American documentary film about alleged exposure to dangerous substances from commonly trusted beauty products such as baby powder. Directed by Phyllis Ellis and produced by White Pine Pictures, the film premiered at the April 2019 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
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