FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

We bang on a lot about chemicals in personal care products. If you’ve been following our blogs, you’ll be starting to understand the significance of this. What you apply to the skin, gets absorbed through the skin to varying degrees- refer “Where’s my suit of armour?” (09.07.14).

Why should we be conscious of this fact when selecting personal care products? Aren’t these products safe for our use, if they’re available to the consumer? That’s a complicated answer to address, but the simplest one is a resounding “NO!” Many of the chemicals used in commercial products contain considered carcinogens, and “YES”- they are allowed/approved to be used…when used in isolation, or with minimal skin contact time.

The concerning factor with regards to chemicals and the body is that if a chemical is consumed orally, the liver can often break it down and render it harmless. However, when those same chemicals are applied to the skin, they are absorbed directly into the blood stream…bypassing the liver, and directly affecting your cells, tissues and organs.

During the course of a day, the consumer is applying hundreds of chemicals to the skin…without much thought to the ramifications to their health. The average woman applies over 500 chemicals to her face every day through cosmetic use. Not only are many of these chemicals considered carcinogens, further complications come from the accumulative impact of varying substances and products being applied- the chemical in one product then interacts with the chemical in another, that were never meant to be combined. These then become ‘hidden carcinogens’- created through the combination or breakdown of differing chemicals.

So we’ll start with a list of the obvious chemicals, contained in many personal care products (pcp’s), which we believe should be avoided. Refer also to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (02.07.14). We suggest that you scrutinise ingredient listings on all products, and consciously reject those containing the following ingredients.

'TRIPLE P’S' OF CHEMICALS

ALUMINIUM ZIRCONIUM & OTHER ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
Purpose: used to control sweat & odour
Present in: antiperspirant
Problem: linked to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease & breast cancer- probable neurotoxin, respiratory & developmental toxin

BENZYL ACETATE
Purpose: ester/solvent hidden within ‘fragrance’ compounds
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: linked to pancreatic cancer- possible neurotoxin

BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE & BENZETHONIUM CHLORIDE (ADBAC, BC50, BC80) 
Purpose: antimicrobial, deodorant, preservative, biocide
Present in: facial care products, sunscreens, pain relief
Problem: irritant- immune & organ toxicant- hormone disruptor- possible carcinogen

BRONOPOL (2-BRON-2-NITROPROPANE-1, 3-DIOL)
Purpose: preservative, antimicrobial
Present in: body washes & cleansers, moisturisers, makeup removers
Problem: irritant- immune, lung & skin toxicant- hormone disruptor

BUTYL ACETATE
Purpose: solvent used in nail polish products
Present in: nail polish & nail treatments
Problem: causes skin dryness- toxic vapours

BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE (BHT) & BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE (BHA)
Purpose: antioxidant, preservative
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: allergen- immune-toxicant- hormone disruptor- probable carcinogen- neurotoxin

(ETHOXYLATED) CETEARETH-20/PEG COMPOUNDS
Purpose: alcohol, surfactant & emulsifier
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: irritant- alters skin structure- increases absorption rate- neurotoxin

COAL TAR
Purpose: breaks down rough , scaly skin, reduces itching
Present in: shampoos, hair dyes
Problem: known carcinogen, tissue toxicant

COCAMIDE DEA/LAURAMIDE DEA
Purpose: foaming agent, emulsifier
Present in: body washes, shampoos
Problem: irritant- allergen-immune & skin toxicant- induces carcinogenic compounds

DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA, DEOA)
Purpose: emulsifier, humectant, pH adjuster, solvent
Present in: foundations, moisturisers, sunscreens, hair dyes
Problem: immune & skin toxicant- hormone disruptor- neurotoxin- possible carcinogen

ETHYL ACETATE
Purpose: solvent
Present in: nail polish products, mascaras, perfumes, tooth whiteners
Problem: irritant- probable neurotoxin- possible carcinogen

FORMALDEHYDE
Purpose: preservative, disinfectant, fungicide, germicide
Present in: deodorants, nail polish, shampoos, shaving products
Problem: irritant- immune & skin toxicant- carcinogen- damages DNA structure

FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES (QUATERNIUM-15, DMDM HYDANTOIN, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA)
Purpose: anti-microbial preservative
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: as per Formaldehyde

FRAGRANCE/PARFUM
Purpose: masking chemical odours, perfuming
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: irritant- immune-toxicant- possible neurotoxin

HYDROQUINONE (4-DIOL)
Purpose: antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, hair dye, skin bleach
Present in: skin lighteners, facial cleansers & moisturisers, anti-ageing products, sunscreen, hair dyes
Problem: immune-toxicant- hormone disruptor- probable neurotoxin- possible carcinogen

IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE
Purpose: preservative, biocide
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: allergen- immune-toxicant

LEAD & LEAD COMPOUNDS
Purpose: colorant
Present in: hair dyes, lipsticks
Problem: probable carcinogen- toxicant

METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MI/MCI) & METHYCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE
Purpose: preservative
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: immune-toxicant- neurotoxin- mutagenic, changing DNA structure

OXYBENZONE (BENZOPENONE-3)
Purpose: UV absorber & filter
Present in: sunscreens & cosmetics
Problem: immune-toxicant- hormone disruptor-probable carcinogen

PARABENS (BUTYL, ETHYL, METHYL & PROPYL)
Purpose: anti-bacterial, preservative
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: hormone disruptors- skin toxicants- possible carcinogens- possible neurotoxins

PETROLATUM
Purpose: skin softener, emulsifier, skin barrier
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: irritant- possible carcinogen- can contain unknown contaminants

PHTHALATES (DIBUTYL PHTHALATES)
Purpose: ester/solvent, fragrance ingredient, plasticiser
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: immune-toxicant- hormone disruptor- possible carcinogen- probable neurotoxin

P-PHENYLENERIAMINE (PPD)
Purpose: dye
Present in: hair dyes, shampoos, hair sprays
Problem: immune-toxicant- possible neurotoxin

PROPYLENE GLYCOL (2-DIOL)
Purpose: solvent
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: alters skin structure- hormone disruptor- possible mutagenic

SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE/SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLES)
Purpose: cleansing & foaming agent, surfactant, emulsifier
Present in: cosmetics & pcp’s
Problem: irritant- alters skin structure- hormone disruptor

TALC
Purpose: anti-caking agent, bulking agent
Present in: cosmetics, deodorants
Problem: possible carcinogen

TOLUENE
Purpose: antioxidant, solvent
Present in: nail polish, hair dyes
Problem: liver toxin- probable neurotoxin- possible carcinogen

TRICLOSAN
Purpose: anti-bacterial agent, deodorant, preservative, biocide
Present in: anti-bacterial pcp’s, toothpastes
Problem: irritant- hormone disruptor- probable carcinogen

TRIETHANALOMINE (TEA)
Purpose: emulsifier, pH adjustor, surfactant, fragrance ingredient
Present in: body lotions, body washes, shampoo
Problem: immune-toxicant- hormone disruptor- possible carcinogen

1.4 DIOXANE
Purpose: penetration enhancer
Present in: body lotions, sunless tanning products, anti-aging products
Problem: irritant- probable carcinogen

AMEN!