Walking down the cosmetic aisle is always an adventure to find the best products that will get you bold lips, smoky eyes, plumped up eyelashes and show stopping nails. It all sounds so exciting until reading the labels of cosmetic products became just as important as reading your food labels. Why? Because cosmetic products are LOADED with toxins that can have a HUGE impact on your body, especially the reproductive system. Some products have “xenoestrogens” which mimic estrogen in the body and can disrupt your hormone balance leading to infertility.
Although, many cosmetics are loaded with toxins, buying them doesn’t need to be a thing of the past. More and more companies are developing amazing products that are safe and toxic free.
**Believe it or not, our skin can absorb up to 60% of the beauty products we apply.**
Below is a list of the top 3 xenoestrogens to look for next time you are out shopping for cosmetics.
- Parabens
Parabens can easily enter the skin and are known to disrupt hormone function due to their similarity to estrogen. Parabens are found in MOST cosmetic products as a preservative and can be hidden in fragrance ingredients. Ultimately, parabens have a negative effect on hormone balance in women. Look for similar ingredient names such as methylparaben, butylparaben, etc.
- Phthalates
Phthalates are also found in many cosmetic products and can cause a variety of health effects similar to parabens. For example, they can affect the liver or kidneys, cause birth defects and declined sperm count. Phthalates are most commonly used in nail polish but have also been used in lotion, shampoo and body wash.
- Bispenhol A or BPA
BPA is a common chemical in many plastic products such as containers, water bottles and cans. You may not realize but BPA also coats some coffee cups, soda pop cans and paper receipts! It is a known hormonal disruptor and is associated with breast and prostate cancer. Stay away from BPA by purchasing glass or stainless steel water bottles and heat all food in glass containers.
Before you go shopping check out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) www.ewg.com. They have a large database with products and have given each a rating based on how toxic they are.
Connect with Dr. Samina Mitha, ND
Her profile: https://www.thesageclinic.com/samina-mitha-nd/
Blog: http://saminamitha.com/
References:
“12 Ways To Avoid Hidden BPA”. David Suzuki Foundation. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 July 2016.
Okamoto, Yoshinori et al. “Combined Activation Of Methyl Paraben By Light Irradiation And Esterase Metabolism Toward Oxidative DNA Damage”. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 21.8 (2008): 1594-1599. Web. 13 July 2016.
“Phthalates”. Fda.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 July 2016.