Toxic Ingredients to watch out for!

In pursuit of cleanliness and beauty, we buy approximately $20 billion worth of personal care products every year. Unfortunately, many ingredients in these potions and lotions have the opposite effect on the planet—and some of them are linked to damaging effects on human health. And unlike the pharmaceutical industry, the government does not require safety testing for these products before they go to market. Updating "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, " we've culled a list of the worst of the worst, twelve chemicals you do not want on your skin.

1. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS)
Used as a foaming agent. It is found in 90% of commercial products. It was originally developed to clean and degrease garage floors as an industrial cleaner. It is an extremely harsh cleanser. The Cosmetics Ingredient Review (CIR), a panel of cosmetics-industry experts established to safety-test ingredients (cir-safety.org), reported that SLS also causes "severe epidermal changes" to mouse skin, a finding that "indicates a need for tumor-enhancing activity assays." This year, after review of over 250 existing SLS studies, the CIR concluded that SLS is not cancer-causing. However, Samuel Epstein, M.D., says he is not convinced and recommends avoiding SLS. SLS has also been linked to permanent eye damage especially in young developing eyes. Don't be fooled by Sodium Laureth Sulfate, as it only has a compound added to anesthetize or numb the eye so that it doesn't sting and therefore appears gentler.

2. METHYL AND PROPYL AND BUTYL AND ETHYL PARABEN
A petroleum based preservative. Used in underarm deodorants, sunscreens, shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, lotions, etc. Parabens have recently been found in tissue samples from human breast tumors according to a study published in the Jan/Feb 2004 Journal of Applied Toxicology. The estrogenic activity of parabens may be linked to the development of breast cancer, since estrogen is "a major aetiological factor in the growth of human breast cancer" according to an editorial accompanying the study.
o Methyl Paraben: Allergies/immunotoxicity, non-reproductive organ system toxicity, irritation (skin, eyes or lungs), biochemical or cellular level changes.
o Propyl Paraben: Developmental/reproductive.... toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies / immunotoxicity, and non-reproductive organ system toxicity.
o Butyl Paraben: Developmental/reproductive.... toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, non-reproductive organ system toxicity, and biochemical or cellular level changes.
o Ethyl Paraben: Allergies/immunotoxicity, non-reproductive organ system toxicity.

3. ANTIBACTERIALS
Found in cleansers, deodorants and other cosmetic products, antibacterial agents such as Triclosan encourage the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, according to a studies in the April 1999 Journal of Biological Chemistry and the July 13 2000 Nature.
4. COAL-TAR COLORS
So-called coal-tar chemicals are found in many "FD&C" or "D&C" colors used in makeup and hair dye. FD&C Blue 1 and FD &C Green 3 are carcinogenic, and impurities in other colors -- D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Yellow 6 -- have been shown to cause cancer when applied to the skin.
5. DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA)
Widely used in shampoos, DEA is a suspected carcinogen, and its compounds and derivatives include triethanolamine (TEA), which can be contaminated with nitrosamines -- compounds shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Contamination is more likely if the product also contains Bronopol (see above).


6. FORMALDEHYDE
Found in eye shadows, mascaras and other cosmetics, formaldehyde is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," according to the National Toxicology Program's "Ninth Report on Carcinogens" (January 2001). The EPA classifies it as a probable human carcinogen.
In its liquid state, formaldehyde, present in the ingredients DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15, can be absorbed through the skin and nails. As a volatile organic compound, or VOC, formaldehyde evaporates when the product is wet; levels drop sharply once it's dry. Consumer concern has led many manufacturers to remove it from their nail polishes. Quaternium-15 causes more dermatitis complaints than any other preservative, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Bronopol, often listed as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3....-diol can contribute to the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines, according to the FDA. It can also break down to produce formaldehyde.

7. GLYCOL ETHERS
Widely used industrial solvents found in nail polish, deodorant, perfumes and other cosmetics, some glycol ethers are hazardous to the reproductive system. Other effects of overexposure include anemia and irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat. Avoid those listed on labels as EGPE, EGME,EGEE, DEGBE, PGME, DPGME and those with "methyl" in their names.

8. PETROLATUM (Vaseline, petroleum jelly)
Commonly used in cold creams, lipsticks, lip protection, baby creams, eye shadows. Petrolatum can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Furthermore, since it is a petroleum product, its use depletes a non-renewable resource.

9. PHENYLENEDIAMINE (PPD)
Found in many hair dyes, PPD is linked with skin irritations, and respiratory disorders. PPD is mutagenic and reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, and has been banned in Europe. Also called oxidation dyes, amino dyes para dyes, or peroxide dyes.

10. PHTHALATES
Used widely in fragrances, deodorants, nail polishes, hair products and lotions, the oily texture of phthalates acts like a moisturizer and helps lotions penetrate skin. Various members of this family of chemical plasticizers have been found to produce cancer of the liver and birth defects in lab animals. Since, phthalates often "hide" behind the term "fragrance;" choose products labeled "fragrance-free" or that are scented exclusively with pure botanical or essential oils.

11. TOLUENE
This solvent found in nail products can cause liver damage and is irritating to the skin and respiratory tract.

12. SYNTHETIC FRAGANCES
Neurotoxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and miscellaneous concerns. 84% of chemical ingredients in synthetic fragrance have never been tested for safety. Because of proprietary laws, manufacturers are not required to list or disclose ingredients of their fragrance products.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
This website is a great tool! Type in any ingredient and the website will rate the ingredient on a scale of 1-10 for safety.