The 10 Most Popular Toxic Ingredients You Can Find In Your Everyday Products

   Sadly the majority of us have little to no idea what we put in or on our bodies. this is a shame considering how easy it is for our hormones to be thrown out of whack which can render us incapable of being our best selves. Here is a brief description of the most common toxic ingredients that can found in your products.

1.Parabens

Parabens are a type of chemical preservative that was first introduced to the public in the 1950s. The main purpose of parabens in our personal care products is to prevent the products from perishing for days, months, or even years. Unfortunately, parabens have been linked to hormone disruption, which is also linked to breast cancer for women and lowering testosterone and the sperm count in men.

2.Sulfates

Sulfates are chemicals that are commonly used as cleansing agents found in our shampoos, face products, and household cleaners. First introduced in the 1930s, sulfates are a cheap and aggressive detergent responsible for the foaming we associate with cleanliness today. However, sulfates are too aggressive and can damage your skin and hair follicles and cause stress, irritation, swelling, and even hives.

3.Phthalates

Phthalates are a family of chemicals most commonly used to soften plastics and as solvents in our personal care products. First used in the 1920s, phthalates are used in hair products to prevent hair stiffness and are also found in fragrances to help the scent linger longer. However, phthalates have been linked to interference with testosterone and a low sperm count. Phthalates exposure has been linked to genital abnormalities and infertility.

4.Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is widely known as the chemical used in morgues to preserve corpses. You’ll be surprised to find that the same chemical is used in personal care products in order to prevent micro bacterial growth. Formaldehyde has been linked to cancer, asthma, skin and scalp irritation, and hair loss.
 

5.Fragrance/Parfum

Fragrance/ parfum is an umbrella term used to describe the chemicals found in our products that produce scent. The chemical used to make fragrances have been classified as carcinogens, allergens, and irritants. Fragrances have been linked to hormonal imbalances and have been known to seep into blood and breast milk.

6.Mineral oil

Mineral oil is primarily used in products to help skin retain its moisture. Mineral oil is also a by-product of petroleum. As such is cheap, but it is hard to identify how refined the mineral oil in your product is. The more unrefined mineral oil is, the more carcinogenic it is, which can lead to irritation, acne, inflammation and has also been liked to skin cancer. 

7.Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

BHT is a synthetic preservative found in our food and personal care products, specifically moisturizers and exfoliants. BHT has been known to disrupt hormones and cause allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to BHT has been linked to kidney and liver failure in mice. Research is still being conducted to learn to what extent BHT can affect humans.

8.Aluminum

Aluminum is primarily found in deodorants and antiperspirants. Aluminum is used to block your armpit sweat ducts and inhibit sweat-eating bacteria in the same area. Studies have found that the application of aluminum over a long period d of time could be linked to cancer and Alzheimers. 

9.Coal tar dyes

Coal tar dyes are used in our food and cosmetic products as colorants. Coal tar dyes are considered a class one carcinogen and have been linked to cancer development. Also, it has been labeled as a neurotoxin.

10.PEG compounds

PEG compounds or polyethylene glycols are petroleum-based compounds found in skincare products. These compounds are most commonly used as solvents, thickeners, softeners, and moisturizers. Depending on the manufacturing process that the PEG compounds undergo, they can be contaminated with a known human carcinogen named ethylene oxide. Additionally, PEG compounds have been proven to have some genotoxicity if used on damaged skin and can cause irritation and inflammation.