Beautiful packaging, design, and promising descriptions are all things potential buyers consider when purchasing natural cosmetic products. To ensure you are getting clean cosmetic products in a store, you have to pay attention and learn what safe products really are . Now it has become very fashionable to buy products without preservatives or parabens, although few people understand what they are talking about, and why you suddenly need to buy cosmetics without these ingredients. Marketing has always worked very well, so we don’t think about what really hurts our skin and potentially our health. Due to lack of regulation on beauty products we are left to education ourselves.
To begin with, we will analyze those elements that buyers are most afraid of and help you with selecting clean cosmetic products:
Preservatives
They extend the life of all cosmetics, increasing the shelf life, provide a uniform consistency and reduce the risk of microbial infection, since microbes reproduce very well in a natural environment. Buying products without them means you use the ones you have up first prior to buying a whole array to ensure they are free of preservatives, unless they are plant based natural ones.
Parabens
(Ingredients: Methyl Paraben, Ethyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Butyl Paraben, Isopropyl, Isobutyl, Pentyl, Phenyl, and Benzyl Parabens)
Although parabens are used to stop the growth of microbes in cosmetic products, you should avoid parabens in facial cosmetics and household detergents, and any other personal care products that you use.
Petroleum Jelly And Paraffin
These components do not provoke comedogenicity (a property of emollients (skin softeners) and various products that disrupt the microflora of the skin). They soften and protect the skin from the negative effects of the environment. Yes, they do create a film, but do not interfere with water and gas exchange in the skin. But a natural or plant based toxin free product is more ideal for a clean beauty routine.
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Now let’s talk about the really harmful ingredients in cosmetics.
Ethyl alcohol (Alcohol, Alcohol Denat, Ethanol)
Ethyl alcohol is used as a preservative for skincare components. It can also be the reason for skin problems.
Products containing this alcohol will indeed have a drying effect, but not a healing approach. What happens to the skin afterwards? Ethyl alcohol is able to lead to the growth of free radicals of the skin, then it stimulates the nerve endings, causes irritation, which further leads to the active production of sebum, which forms new inflammatory elements and disrupts the natural microflora of the skin.
It is important to understand where alcohol is in the composition. If at the beginning it is a negative effect on all skin types. If in the end, then this is not critical, and the skin may not respond. Products that are free of this with the approach of hydration and healing with natural ingredients is a better bet.
SLES (sodium laureth sulfate – laureth sulfate) and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate – lauryl sulfate)
90% of your cosmetics for hair, body, face, as well as household chemicals, contain sulfates. This is a group of chemical, aggressive components (cheap surface-active substances (surfactants)) that have strong detergents, cleansers, foaming and fat-dissolving properties.
The most dangerous of the sulfate group:
- Sodium lauryl (laurel) sulfate (Sodium lauryl sulfate) or sodium lauryl sulfate. Other names: sodium dodecyl sulphate, sodium PEG lauryl sulphate, monododecyl ester, sodium PEG lauryl ether sulphate. This product is often mislabeled as being obtained from coconut oil or simply from the coconut itself.
- Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES). These are sodium salts, very cheap. Perhaps one of the most dangerous and caustic components of cosmetics that aggressively affect the skin and health in general.
SLS cleans oxidation of the surface, including the skin, leaving a film on it. This film can irritate the skin, cause itching, peeling, redness, allergies and, with prolonged use, skin diseases. This component destroys the hydrolipidic defense of the skin – it reacts with lipids and degenerates them. Thus, we can conclude that categorically it is not necessary to use cosmetics for face and body with sulfates in its composition.
TEA (Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine (DEA) / Monoethanolamine (MEA)
These chemicals are used as foaming agents and emulsifiers inside shampoos and conditioners.
Triethanolamine and diethanolamine are pure carcinogens. Causes irritation, itching, allergies, dermatitis. In combination with other components can form nitrates. Especially dangerous in combination with SLS (SLES). Diethanolamine easily penetrates the skin and settles in various organs, it can be dangerous for the brain, kidneys and liver.
Mineral oil – mineral oil (technical)
This is a petrochemical product. Mineral oil reduces the protective functions of the skin, dehydrates it. Slows down cell growth. It forms a film on the skin, which prevents it from “breathing”, and prevents the elimination of sweat, water exchange, and gas exchange. It is an emollient, and gives a “first-effect effect”. Applying mineral oil will create smooth and well-groomed skin. Clogging of the pores may occur as inflammatory and allergic reactions may also appear.
When choosing cosmetics, first of all, pay attention to the composition, and not to the brand and attractive advertising. Properly selected care will prolong the youthfulness of your skin and relieve it of problems, otherwise the product may aggravate the situation or worsen its normal condition. Love yourself and treat your skin with care and care!
