Facts about Cosmetics

Red-Light Ingredients

1. Fragrance- Various chemicals used to make a product smell a certain way. There is no regulation for it. Many contain neurotoxins and allergens.
2. Phthalates- chemical group used to add flexibility and dissolvability to other ingredients. Common in perfumes, hairspray, and nail polish. They are a hormone disruptor.
3. Parabens- extremely common type of perservative. Extend shelf life of shampoos, lotions, toothpaste, hand soaps, ect. Four types: methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, and propylparaben. Hormone disruptor.  Usually listed on the label.
4. Petroleum- Contains a contaminate known as BAHS which is a possible carcinogen. Put in lipsticks, moisturizers, sunscreen, ect.
5. SLS (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates)- Foaming agent. Cause Skin irritation.
6. Mercury- Effects the human nervous system. Still find it in products like lip liners.
7. Formaldehyde- Shows up in eye shadow, mascaras, and nail polish. Known human carcinogen.
8. Skin Whiteners- Hydroquinone. Is a known animal carcinogen and toxic. Allowed in US but not Europe. Found in facecreams, lipsticks, ect. Anything that "lightens" the skin.
9. Lead- Allowed in cosmetics. Possible human carcinogen.

Snow, Sara. Sara Snow's fresh living: the essential room-by-room guide to a greener, healthier family, and home.. New York, N.Y.: Bantam Dell, 2009. Print.