5 Everyday Beauty Products That Can Be Toxic

There’s no doubt about it: Beauty products are an important part of your daily routine.

Whether you’re trying to look and feel your best, or just want a little boost of confidence, finding the right products can make all the difference. 

But there’s also no doubt that there are plenty of toxic beauty products out there. From causing irritation and dryness to much more serious issues like cancer, a lot of common beauty ingredients shouldn’t go anywhere near your skin. 

So, here are five everyday beauty items that often contain toxic ingredients. Keep an eye out for these ingredients, and avoid them whenever possible!

Shampoo/Conditioner

There are a lot of harmful chemicals in a typical bottle of shampoo. Even though it might smell amazing, these toxic ingredients can damage your hair and scalp and can even give you allergic reactions.

A few ingredients to stay away from include artificial fragrances, synthetic dyes, alcohols (like propanol and isopropyl), and formaldehyde.

That last one is particularly bad for you because it’s a carcinogen and can actually be absorbed into your skin! Scary, right?

Companies use it because it helps prolong a shampoo’s self-life, but it’s not worth the risk.

The same thing goes for conditioners – they often contain harmful chemicals that can damage your hair and scalp over time.

For example, steer clear of silicones, which can build up on your hair and prevent vital nutrients from reaching the hair cuticle. Also avoid sodium chloride, which can cause irritation, and parabens, which are linked to breast cancer.

If you want to avoid those questionable ingredients and are feeling creative, learn how to make your own Castile soap shampoo here.

Sunscreen

The right sunscreen can help protect your skin from harmful overexposure to the sun so you can avoid burns and skin cancer. So far, so good.

But certain types of sunscreen aren’t exactly harmless either. For example, some have toxic ingredients like oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor that may also cause cancer. Yikes. 

You’re probably better off finding an eco-friendly sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient; these minerals reflect UV rays rather than absorbing them as chemical sunscreens do.

They also keep you from being exposed to harmful chemicals while protecting you from the sun’s rays!

Deodorant

We’re all familiar with the concept of deodorant. You know, that thing you wear under your arms to make sure you smell nice and fresh? It’s a simple product, but it does have its fair share of risks.

In fact, most deodorants contain harmful chemicals like aluminum, parabens, and triclosan—all of which are linked to cancer. Not great.

Thankfully, there are alternative deodorants that can help you avoid these nasty chemicals. 

Makeup

You may think your eyeshadow is all-natural, but if it’s got a bunch of chemical compounds in the ingredients list, it might not be so great for your skin.

The same goes for other beauty products like foundation, moisturizer, and lip gloss. So how do you determine which products to use? First of all, don’t use makeup that’s been tested on animals.

It’s a cruel practice, and if companies are willing to harm animals as part of doing business, why should you trust that their products aren’t harmful for you, too?

Also, be wary of products that claim to be non-irritating but that contain a ton of ingredients. More likely than not, that long ingredients list doesn’t provide any benefits for your body but can lead to cancer, irritation, etc.

Common ingredients to look out for include parabens, phthalates, and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Your body doesn’t need them, so be a savvy shopper and don’t buy in to misleading marketing claims.

Toothpaste

Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in the environment, but it’s also added to our water supply and used in toothpaste and other products such as mouthwash.

The idea behind this practice is that people who have higher levels of fluoride in their bodies will have fewer cavities.

But actually, there are many reasons to think twice about exposing yourself to this ingredient. For example:

• Fluoride damages the environment when it gets into wastewater systems or natural waterways — and it’s hard for us to avoid exposure because so many public institutions add fluoride to their drinking water supplies on a regular basis.
• It’s bad for your health overall, too. Some studies suggest that high exposure can lead to arthritis or bone disease. You can help reduce this risk by using alternative toothpaste brands that don’t contain fluoride.

Conclusion

Here’s the bottom line: Not all beauty products that look great actually are. So, we hope this article has inspired you to make some changes in your bathroom vanity.

Whether it’s eliminating harmful ingredients from your skincare products or even just talking to your friends about the dangers of certain ingredients, we can all take action to live more naturally and safely.

When in doubt, check the ingredients list. If it’s long and contains things you can’t pronounce, it’s probably not the best thing to put on your body.