12 ingredients to avoid in cosmetics for being harmful

Cosmetics are items that we use on a daily basis, and unless they cause irritation or an allergic reaction, we rarely stop to review the ingredients.

We choose these types of products for their color, smell, price or any other reason that has to do with taste, but we must begin to review the labels and know what ingredients to avoid in cosmetics.

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12 ingredients to avoid in cosmetics

Some chemicals in cosmetics are so aggressive that they have been banned in some countries, but in many others they are still on the market and you have to know them to avoid buying products that include those components.

Regardless of the price of cosmetic products on the market, many include to a lesser or greater extent some of these chemicals that we should avoid applying to our skin, as some have proven damage with continuous use and in some cases it has been shown that they could favor the appearance of cancer.

1. Parabens

They are used as preservatives as they serve to keep bacteria away. They are very cheap to produce, which is why many cosmetic brands use them.

However, parabens cause alterations in the hormonal functions of the body which is known as endocrine discrutor, which is why in France and Denmark they have been banned.

It is for this reason that parabens are one of the ingredients to avoid in cosmetics.

2. Diethanolamine

DEA, MEA, and TEA are compounds that found in soapy products and cause, among other things, retardation of hair growth.

They are widely used so that the products acquire a creamier texture or are more foamy, some sensitive people show irritability in the skin and eyes. The worst risk posed by these three compounds is that added to other components enhance carcinogenic effects (even though the danger is not very high).

If any of these ingredients appear on the label, it is a cosmetic product to avoid.

3. Siloxanes

Siloxane is used to soften and soften cosmetic products. Although there is no definitive study, it is suspected that they alter hormonal functions and cause liver toxicity.

If your beauty products read Cyclomethicone or a compound that ends in "siloxane" on the label, then this product contains ingredients that it is better to avoid in your care or beauty treatments usual.

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4. Aluminum

Aluminum is used in antiperspirant deodorants, and it has been linked to the development of breast cancer. Unfortunately it is very common to find it in any brand of deodorant even though it is a harmful ingredient that should be avoided.

5. Lead

That's how it is, many lipsticks contain lead. Although the amount they contain is very small, the truth is that the body absorbs it and if we think that lipstick are products that are used very frequently, we can realize that we have been very exposed to lead.

The recommendation is to check the label of the lipsticks and if it has lead, discard that cosmetic product, as it is harmful.

6. Ammonia

Although this ingredient is one of the least aggressive in the long list of harmful ingredients in cosmetics, ammonia causes scalp problems.

It is widely used in dyes and is contraindicated for people suffering from seborrheic dermatitis or eczema on the scalp.

7. Polyethylglycol compound (PEG)

This ingredient is used for the bases of creams and has been found related to damage to the nervous system.

If ingredients such as "ethyl" or "glycol" are read on the label, then it is a product that contains harmful compounds.

8. Silicones

Found mainly in makeup, but also many shampoos and conditioners contain them. They are not toxic, but prolonged use damages our skin, scalp and capillary surface.

These types of compounds are considered harmful ingredients in beauty products because they permeate the skin and hair causing they stop "breathing" so at first you may feel that the appearance improves, with the passage of time they damage it leaving it worse.

9. Formaldehydes

Chemically they are one of the simplest aldehydes that exist. They are volatile flammable and are used in cosmetics to set nail polishes and body lotions.

It is highly allergenic, but what is really alarming is that the WHO considers it a harmful ingredient that can cause cancer. Formaldehydes are one of the harmful ingredients in cosmetics that you should definitely avoid.

10. Phthalate

Its main detrimental characteristic is that it has been shown that acting together with other chemical components can favor the appearance of genetic mutations and affect the function of hormones, causing reproductive problems.

At some point it worked as a substitute for formaldehydes, as it was also used to fix the lacquer of nail varnishes. However, given these discoveries, it is best to check if the label contains phthalate as a cosmetic ingredient and if so, avoid its use.

11. Pphelenediamine

It is a compound derived from anilines. It is used by its ability to color and its low cost which is why it is commonly found in hair dye. It appears as CI and a 5-number code.

This ingredient is harmful in beauty products because in addition to causing irritation it has been shown allergic reactions of asthma and being a compound derived from coal tar, it is highly carcinogenic.

12. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

It is used as a cleansing agent to lather, and its use is frequent despite the fact that it is known to cause cancer.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a harmful component in cosmetics, so since it is on the label it is best not to use it.

Bibliographic references:

• Winter, R. (2005). A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Complete Information About the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients in Cosmetics (Paperback). US: Three Rivers Press.