12 ingredients to avoid in cosmetics because they are harmful.

Harmful components that are very common in beauty and similar products.

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

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

12 ingredients to avoid in cosmetics

Some chemical components of cosmetics are so aggressive that they have been banned in some countries, but in many others they are still on the market and we must know them to avoid buying products that include these 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. some of these chemicals that we should avoid applying on our skin, as some of them have proven to be harmful with continued use and in some cases have been shown to promote cancer.Some of them have proven to be harmful with continuous use and in some cases it has been demonstrated 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, so many cosmetic brands use them.

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

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

2. Diethanolamine

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

They are widely used to make products creamier or foamier, some sensitive people show skin and eye irritability. The worst risk posed by these three compounds is that, when added to other components, they enhance hair growth. added to other components, they potentiate carcinogenic effects (although the danger (although 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, they are suspected of altering hormone functions and causing liver toxicity. cause liver toxicity.

If your beauty products are labeled with Cyclomethicone or any compound ending in "siloxane", then that product contains ingredients that are best avoided in your regular beauty care or treatments.

4. Aluminum

Aluminum is used in antiperspirant deodorantsIt 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 right, 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 lipsticks are products that are used very frequently, we can realize that we have been very exposed to lead.

The recommendation is to check the lipstick label and if it contains lead, discard that cosmetic product, as it is harmful.

6. Ammonia

Although this ingredient is one of the least aggressive among 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 of the scalp.

7. Polyethylene Glycol Compound (PEG)

This ingredient is used for cream bases and has been found to be related to nervous system damage. linked to nervous system damage..

If the label reads ingredients such as "ethyl" or "glycol" then it is a product containing harmful compounds.

8. Silicones

Mainly found in make-up, but also in many shampoos and shampoos.but many shampoos and conditioners also contain them. They are not toxic, but prolonged use damages our skin, scalp and hair surface.

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

9. Formaldehydes

Chemically they are among the simplest aldehydes in existence. They are flammable volatiles and are used in cosmetics to fix 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. Formaldehyde is one of the harmful ingredients in cosmetics that should definitely be avoided.

10. Phthalate

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

At one time it functioned as a substitute for formaldehyde, as it was also used to fix lacquer varnish in to fix the lacquer of nail varnishes.. However, given these findings, it is best to check if the label contains phthalate as a cosmetic ingredient and if so, avoid using it.

11. Pfelendiamine

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

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

12. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

It is used as a cleaning agent to make foam, 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 when found on the label it is best not to use it.

Bibliographical 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.