Many people decide to follow a healthy, clean and natural lifestyle by changing their diet. However, skin products can be just as harmful as the food you eat. Cosmetics, both for men and women, contain potentially dangerous or toxic chemicals. If you are concerned that they will be absorbed by the skin, find out how to buy products that are free of them.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Avoid Cosmetics Containing Chemicals
Step 1. Buy your cosmetics at health food stores and herbalists instead of supermarkets
In your city, you will certainly find at least one store specializing in completely natural, organic and chemical-free products.
- Many supermarkets and hypermarkets have departments entirely dedicated to organic and natural products. Look for them to see what they offer.
- You can order natural and chemical-free cosmetics online as well.
- However, while shopping at a health food store, remember that you should still read the labels.
Step 2. Find out which are the safest brands
Many companies produce natural, chemical-free cosmetics. Some are available only in organic food stores, others also in supermarkets or hypermarkets of large-scale distribution. Learn about the most trusted brands.
Some of the most popular natural and organic product brands include Biofficina Toscana, I Provenzali, Omia, Lavera, Burt's Bees, Aubrey Organics, and PuroBIO
Step 3. Look for chemical-free cosmetics
Some of the most famous cosmetic companies are marketing products that are free of certain ingredients. These items may be labeled as "phthalate-free", "sulfate-free" and "paraben-free".
However, remember to always look at the ingredient list, or INCI. Check it at least twice: although one or two harmful substances have been eliminated from a product, it is still possible that it contains other dangerous ingredients
Step 4. Avoid certain features
It can be difficult to remember the names of all the chemicals to avoid. You could start memorizing them by taking a list of the offending ingredients with you. However, if you leave it at home or are just starting out, you can learn some keywords and general characteristics, so you can quickly and easily choose the right cosmetics. If you can't remember all the ingredients to steer clear of, the following tips may help:
- When buying a hand sanitizer, choose a product that contains 60% ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Avoid triclosan-based ones.
- Do not buy sunscreens with an SPF greater than 50 or containing insect repellent substances. Avoid aerosol or powdered sunscreen. Instead, go for those based on zinc or titanium dioxide.
- Limit the use of permanent black hair dyes and chemical straighteners.
- Avoid all cosmetics containing fragrances and perfumes.
- Avoid products containing parabens and triclosan.
Step 5. Make your own cosmetics
The results given by many commercially available products can be achieved using natural and DIY alternatives. On the internet you will find numerous recipes for making completely natural cleansers, face masks, hair products and scrubs.
- Try using honey, oil, or oats to cleanse your face.
- You can make a body scrub with sugar and oil or ground coffee.
- You can treat your hair with eggs, honey, mayonnaise, and even vinegar.
- You can also prepare make-up, perfume and hand sanitizer.
Step 6. Use fewer cosmetics
The fewer products you use, the fewer chemicals will come into contact with your body. Consider which cosmetics you can forgo and stop using them to avoid exposing yourself to the chemicals they contain.
- For example, ask yourself questions about the products you use. Can you give up the foundation? What about aftershave? Do you need styling products?
- Make a list of the products you can delete and stop buying them.
Method 2 of 3: Become an Informed Consumer
Step 1. Read the labels
This is one of the first steps to take when choosing natural cosmetics. Even if you don't know how to decipher an INCI, you prefer products that have few ingredients in general or at least few ingredients that you can't even pronounce.
- Knowing which products to avoid can help you read labels better.
- The ingredients are listed on the label in an order from highest to lowest concentration. If you need to buy products containing chemicals, make sure they are at the bottom of the list.
Step 2. Find out which ingredients to avoid
Eliminating chemicals completely can be difficult, but it is possible to buy cosmetics that contain fewer toxic or dangerous ingredients. If you know what to look for while reading a label, it will be easier to make a wise choice when buying. There are substances that should be avoided at all costs. If you can't learn or remember everyone's names, print a list and take it with you to the store. Avoid the following:
- BHA or BHT;
- Coal tar dyes, indicated by the terms p-phenylenediamine, Cl (followed by a number) or Blue 1;
- DEA, MEA or TEA;
- Butyl phthalate;
- Diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea or methenamine;
- Parabens;
- Perfumes or fragrances;
- Petrolatum;
- Siloxane or methicone;
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate or lauryl sulfate;
- Triclosan;
- PFC, PFOA, PFOS or perfluoro;
- PABA;
- Octinoxate or oxybenzone;
- Silica;
- Toluene;
- Lead diacetate;
- Boric acid.
Step 3. Learn to decipher the language used by companies
The packaging of a cosmetic can carry various information. It can indicate that it is a natural, organic, vegan product; in short, it will promise you numerous benefits. However, the words you see on the outer shell do not necessarily correspond to reality.
- Often it is purely marketing and there are no precise indications in the legislative field. Products that claim to be completely natural can still hide chemicals. Check the ingredients list to make sure. Do not forget, however, that some natural substances have apparently chemical names, just think of sodium chloride.
- Organic products do not have to be 100% organic to be indicated as such on the label. The percentage may vary. In general, a cosmetic can be defined as organic if the ingredients it contains are at least 95% organic.
- A chemical-free product is not necessarily organic or vice versa.
- A vegan product does not contain ingredients of animal origin, but it can still contain chemicals.
Step 4. Use safe cosmetics
Many websites offer databases that allow you to check the reliability of a product. They also allow you to do specific research on potentially dangerous chemicals and find lists of products that contain them.
Try taking a look at the Biodictionary and Biotiful
Method 3 of 3: Understanding the Risks of Chemicals
Step 1. Learn about the link between cancer and cosmetics
Some products have in fact been associated with the onset of diseases. Talcum powder has been linked to ovarian cancer, while antiperspirants and parabens to breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, there is no overwhelming evidence for this.
Both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute suggest using cosmetics free of these chemicals for those who don't feel like doing otherwise
Step 2. Find out about concerns related to endocrine disruptors
Many cosmetics contain chemicals believed to interfere with the proper functioning of the endocrine system, having a negative impact on humans and animals. They are also thought to have negative consequences on the female reproductive system.
- Some of the more well-known endocrine disruptors include the following: BPA, DEHP, phthalates, and parabens.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the consequences of exposure to phthalates are not currently known, but some research has reported that they have adverse effects on laboratory mice. However, it has been suggested that further research be carried out to obtain more precise information.
Step 3. Remember that the skin absorbs chemicals through its pores
The epidermis has a porous texture, so it absorbs everything that is applied, including chemicals from cosmetics. The skin can also absorb dyes, fragrances, toxic chemicals and allergens.
- Choosing products with fewer chemicals can help you get fewer carcinogens. Using natural cosmetics can also avoid the risk of causing developmental problems in children.
- When it comes to chemicals, toxins aren't the only cause for concern. They can also cause allergic reactions, with the risk of dermatitis, rashes or blisters.
