Often the first thing we do in the morning, and the last thing we do at night is lather our skin with beauty products like cleansers, toners, moisturisers, the list goes on! But how many of us really understand exactly what we’re applying, and how these products affect our day to day health?
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it is porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. So it’s incredibly important to understand exactly what we’re applying and how to avoid chemicals in beauty products.
Is the beauty industry regulated?
Sadly, federal regulations on personal care products have barely changed since the 1930s. In Australia, products are not required to undergo any form of testing or approval before hitting the shelves, so investigating chemicals in your beauty products is essential.
Scott Faber, vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group states “Cosmetics are sort of the last unregulated area of consumer products law. I can’t overstate how little law is now on the books. The FDA virtually has no power to regulate the products we use every day.”
Fortunately, a nonprofit health advocacy group called the Environmental Working Group are on a mission to gain more clarity over chemicals used in beauty products and to educate the public on this through their Skin Deep database which allows consumers to look up personal care products to learn what chemicals they contain, and whether those chemicals are associated with any health risks.
According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of 12 products a day, containing 168 different chemicals. Men use fewer products, but still put 85 chemicals on their bodies. Teens on average use 17 personal care products a day, according to the group, which tested 20 teens’ blood and urine seven years ago to find out which chemicals from these products were ending up in their bodies. They said they found 16 hormone-altering chemicals, including parabens and phthalates.
Products containing harmful chemicals can include:
Body Wash
Face cleanser
Moisturiser
Makeup
Sunscreen
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Deodorant
Shaving cream
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hair products (especially hair dye, dry shampoo and hairspray)
And so much more
Generally, if your products are not certified organic, there is a likely chance that some or all of the ingredients are synthetic (artificial) and potentially detrimental to your health. With little research on the health effects of a lot of ingredients, it’s impossible to know exactly what effect they are having on your hormones, or how your liver is able to process them. It often takes years before the symptoms of certain products begin to show up and it’s almost impossible to pinpoint the root cause, but every ailment has one so we believe it’s better to avoid exposure to anything that may pose a threat, and do our best to detoxify as often as possible. How to protect yourself from chemicals found in beauty products. The simplest way is of course to avoid these products as much as possible. These days, there are natural alternatives to almost every mainstream product on the market, including natural mineral-based makeup brands, organic skincare, haircare, even plant-based hair dyes. All of these products contain ingredients that actually benefit the skin by providing nourishment from essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients imbued by the plant kingdom. They feed the skin, rather than strip it. What to look for?
Visit your local health food store or search online for products that are certified organic, plant-based, cruelty-free and sustainable. Yes, these products will cost you more initially as plants take time to grow and harvest (versus lab-made chemicals) but they will potentially save you in medical expenses later down the line. A very cheap alternative to avoiding chemicals found in beauty products is to make your own! There are so many amazing, super simple recipes online that are often made out of a few simple ingredients you likely have in your kitchen pantry. We recently shared some tips for making your own natural cleaning products! How to remove stored toxins from years of exposure to chemicals in beauty products. If this information has come as a shock to you, don’t panic! There are fast and effective ways to eliminate toxins from your body starting today.
Download our free ebook ‘5 Secrets to Detox’
Visit our website for products like Byron Bay Detox Greens, Meals for Healing recipe book, detox supplements, tools and more.
Join us for one of our upcoming group retreats or a one-on-one personalised retreat for a full body detox and reset. We hope that this information has inspired you to make conscious decisions that protect you from encountering disease so that you can live a long and healthy life.