Secret Harmful Chemical In Your Hair Products

Let’s face it, most of us choose a specific hair product because we believe what it claims to do wonders for our hair? …AND, if it’s says “natural” it will most definitely give us that extra push to purchase this magical hair potion. However, more often than not these words are just “marketing-fluff” and you will need to read the ingredient lists. This goes for natural products too, as more times that not that “green tea extract” is 100th on the ingredient list!

Harmful Chemical In Personal Care Product

I know, I know, you don’t have time to read through the 40 chemicals listed on the back on a product. This is why I am here! You really only need to scout the label for a few products and the main one is called “cyclopentasiloxane“.

Harmful Chemicals In Personal Care

 What Is “cyclo-penta-siloxane”?

Cyclopentasiloxane is part of the “siloxane” chemical family. However, this one in particular is also referred to as “D4” by health Canada. Another harmful siloxane to watch out for is called cyclotetrasiloxane (D5)..but this one isn’t found as frequently in products.

Why Avoid Buying Products With Cyclopentasiloxane?

Not only is this chemical prohibited on Health Canada’s Cosmetic Hot List, but has been found to be carcinogenic in multiple scientific studies.

The European Union also has classified cyclopentasiloxane (D4) as an endocrine disruptor, based on evidence that it interferes with human hormone function,[i] and a possible reproductive toxicant that may impair human fertility.[ii]  Additionally, Environment Canada is in the process of restricting siloxanes, but it could take years to do the screening. Best to just avoid these products all together.

Where Else This Chemical Be Found?

Personal care products are just one of many products that contain cyclopentasiloxane. The chemical can also be found in deodorant creams, cosmetics and facial moisturizers…yikes!

Reference


[i]DHI Water and Environment. Study on Enhancing the Endocrine Disrupter Priority List with a Focus on Low Production Volume Chemicals. Revised Report to DG Environment. Hersholm, Denmark: DHI, 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/endocrine/documents/final_report_2007.pdf

[ii] European Commission. Regulation (EC) 1272/2008, Annex VI, Table 3.2. Sep 2009. http://ecb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/classification-labelling/

Chemicals In Cosmetics

toxic cosmetics The folks at Environmental Defense in Toronto found some pretty disturbing stuff lurking in common cosmetics. Below is a list of the cosmetic products that were found to contain the most heavy metals of all the products testing in each category.

toxic cosmetics

Eyeshadow: The Body Shop Shimmer Cues, Almay Intense i-color Trio, Two Faced Eyeshadow Due (contained lead cadmium, nickel, berrylium etc.)

Powders: Sephora Sculpting Disk Powder Trio (lead, nickel, berrylium, thallium). Foundation: Clinique Stay-True Makeup (cadmium, arsenic, nickel, lead)

Mascara: L’Oreal Bare Naturale and Avon Astonishing Lengths (arseninc, cadmium, lead, nickel, etc.)

Lipstick: Benefit Benetint pocket pal (red) (arsentic, lead, cadmium, nickel, berrylium)

Source: Envirionmental Defence, Heavy Metal Hazard: The Health Risks of Hidden Heavy Metals in Face Makeup. May 2011

If you want to learn more about which products to watch out for, or about the ingredients in your everyday products subscribe to our mailing list below.

Shaving Cream Chemical Shocker

Ever wonder what is in your shaving cream? Most people don’t think about shaving cream much and I don’t blame them. All that seems to matter is the smooth finish left behind after you shave, or that amazing clean smell. Well, you might be shocked to learn what is in these products.

Shaving Cream

There there are a whole slew of potentially harmful chemicals in AFTERSHAVE and SHAVING CREAM you should try to avoid.

The most common chemicals to look for in aftershave are:

Benzyl acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer (may be absorbed through the skin). (2)

Ethyle Acetate: May cause damage to the liver and kidneys, headaches and dehydration of the skin. (2)

Terpineol: Linked to pneumonitis or even fatal edema if breathed into the lngs, central-nervous-system and respiratory damage, and headaches. (2)

If you are one of those guys that is obsessed with your “shaved-look” and want to learn a better/safer way to shave Eco-Savy highly recommends this great e-book called “Grooming Secrets For Men” (Click Here!). What we find so great about this book is that it addresses the following:

grooming

– Helps you determine what skin type you have

Shaving Naturally

– Introduces you to the ONLY ALL NATURAL UNDER ARM DEODORANT THAT  WILL KEEP YOU ODOR FREE for 7 days with just one application. (1)

– Teaches you proper anti-aging techniques to having amazing skin at any age. (1)

– Gives you great tips when buying skincare products. (1)

– Teaches you step-by-step how to still get that super close, smooth shave, with good products and little or no irritation. (1)

-Talks about the 7 most common grooming mistakes. (1)

Click Here!

 

References:

1. 2012 The Stylish Man. Available http://www.thestylishman.com/index.html?hop=ecosavy.. Online: April, 2013

2. Baillie-Hamilton, P. Toxic Overload. Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. (2005)

 

Chemicals to Avoid in Men’s Personal Care Products

Did you know your L’Oreal preference Black hair dye contains 1,4-dioxane and p-phenylenediame? Or did you know that Gillette Foamy Shave Foam was found to contain artificial musk and sodium lauryl sulfate (1). Ever wonder what is in your man’s dreamy-smelling aftershave?  It’s often pthlalates and artificial musks you are smelling. These chemicals were found in a recent investigation by Environmental Defense and are quite harmful to your health.

The personal care products industry is changing – industry is targeting skin and body products for men more and more! In Canada alone, the market is worth more than $690 million dollars, and is growing by 2% every year. It’s time we pay more attention to these products entering our marketplace!

soap bars

There are a few toxic chemicals that do not appear on labels that you should be aware of. Often certain ingredients like “fragrance mixtures” which can contain up to 3000 ingredients are considered an industry trade secret and are listed on the product labels as just “fragrance”. Also, if a product makes a health claim, it is governed under the Food and Drugs Act, and is not subject of he same labelling laws as cosmetics. For exampe, Head and Shoulders shampoo because it claims to treat dandruff, does not have to list its ingredients like other shampoos.
 
Two of the chemicals that don’t appear on labels include 1,4 dioxane and pthalates.
 
1,4 dioxane is a synthetic solvent and often contaminates products. It is a known irritant and suspected carcinogen. Environmental Defence found this in: Pert Plus 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner, TRESemme Shampoo, Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo and L’Oreal Preference Hair Dye: Black.
 
 

Chemical Found in over 99% of Personal Care Products

Do you ever worry about that giant list of chemicals at the back of your personal care/cosmetic products? Sometimes it seems like the chemical ingredients list just keeps getting longer and longer. However, the more you compare the lists on the back of products, the more you will find that there are similarities between the chemicals used. The one to look out for is p-hydroxybenzoic acid, otherwise called “paraben”!

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