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Written by Dorothy Okoth | In the skin care industry, there is a fine line between safe ingredients and potentially harmful ingredients. Like any other industry, the cosmetic industry’s number one goal is to make money. Inorganic manufacturers and organic manufacturers often dispute over what is safe, and you, the consumer, are caught in the middle. Swearing solely on organic or natural products does not give you a free pass. The terms “organic” and “natural” are blurry in meaning and have been reduced to mere marketing strategies, especially in recent years. As the consumer, you are obligated to know exactly what you put on your face. Ignorance can be dangerous, which is why we’ve prepared a list of 12 skincare ingredients to be wary of:
1. Mineral Oil and Petroleum
The debate on this is quite heated. Nonetheless, mineral oil blocks the skin’s pores, disrupting normal skin activities such as perspiration. Initially, it was thought to moisturize the skin. However, mineral oil merely sits on top of the skin and does not get absorbed. Therefore, mineral oil and petroleum should be substituted for natural body oils such as jojoba oil and coconut oil.
2. Fragrances
Both natural and synthetic fragrances (phthalates) can be irritating, particularly for women who have sensitive skin. Avoid using skin care products with fragrances on your face and delicate areas. As for the rest of your body, some women can get away with using fragranced products. The safest bet is to stick to body sprays and colognes. ingredients ingredients
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This ingredient is present in most detergents and is said to be one of the reasons detergents are considered drying. Prolonged use of products with this ingredient can irritate the skin and cause rashes and other serious problems such as eye cataracts.
4. Parabens
Parabens are one of the most common preservatives used in skin care products. Granted, these products do need preservatives. However, parabens have been caught in the middle of much controversy and are even responsible for the age old yet inconclusive claim that deodorants can cause breast cancer. The truth is studies have shown that parabens have low estrogenic activity, which can make users more prone to breast cancer. However, the same studies also claim that small quantities of parabens are harmless.
5. Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is actually a nanoparticle that has been shown to be somewhat harmful to the skin. Nanoparticles are extremely minute particles added to skin care ingredients for easier application and absorption. Titanium dioxide can be toxic to the skin because it can combine with oxygen in the atmosphere to release free radicals that can irritate the skin. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid products with titanium dioxide, or combine products containing the compound with antioxidants such as vitamin E.
6. Zinc Oxide
Like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide is also a nanoparticle. It was initially used to treat diaper rashes. Zinc oxide, which is now being added to sunscreen, has become a subject of debate. Doctors still maintain that it is safe for treatment of diaper rashes if the concentrations used are no more than fifteen percent. As far as sunscreen goes, studies have claimed that, like titanium oxide, it can combine with oxygen to release free radicals that can irritate the skin and even cause skin cancer. This is especially likely on exposure to ultraviolet rays. However, zinc oxide can be safe for use if antioxidants are used as well. Its safety or toxicity is a conditional situation.