Are your personal care products damaging your health?

When it comes to taking responsibility for your own health it is very important to be mindful of the personal care products you use on your body day in day out. This includes products such as toothpaste, shampoo, household cleaning products, make-up products, and more.

All these products are filled with a multitude of toxic and hormone-disrupting chemicals which could be damaging your skin or nervous system and adversely affecting your body and mind. One such example is the presence of xenoestrogens in such products which can reduce testosterone levels.

One might pose a question here as if these chemicals are dangerous or harmful how could they make it to the ingredients list of the products? From my personal point of view, the reason is the same as that for food items. Most packaged food items will have warnings such as “Do not consume more than X amount” however these are so subtly hidden that consumers pay no attention to them. In defense, the brands say that the presence of these items/chemicals is not significant enough to produce adverse effects. But hello, they say that for ONE piece of THEIR OWN product. Do they know/care how many of that thing are you going to consume? Or how many other products have the same compound you are going to consume in a day?

Take Sugar for example. Many companies adding sugar to make their items more tasty and addictive will argue that the sugar content in their item is under the recommended dosage set by regulatory authorities. However, is it possible that a consumer ONLY consumes their product once a day and is disciplined and wise enough not to consume sugar from other sources? I hardly think so.

With that being said I really hope, you the reader, are at least aware by now that the responsibility of your health falls on your shoulders and not solely on the companies selling you products using marketing gimmicks to hide dangerous substances.

In this article, we will look at some of the ingredients you might find hiding in your personal care products that are damaging your body and mind. Before we begin, please note I have done my best to make the information as easily absorbable as possible and not going sciency. However, make sure you do not skip reading the item names or description if the names seem complicated because that is how companies are able to get away with these toxic chemicals in the products.

Some common toxic compounds present in personal care products

Artificial Fragrances
- Whenever you see “Fragrance” or “Parfum” in the ingredients list be alert. This item is formulated by chemists using over three thousand chemicals some of which are derived from petrochemicals which are known allergens and hormone disruptors. Companies are not asked to disclose the chemicals used in making this “Fragrance” as they are deemed trade secrets by the US Food and Drug Administration.
- Some common items which may have artificial fragrance are Air Fresheners, Scented Candles, Perfume, Body spray, Body wash, soap, Facewash, and Makeup removers.
- Now let’s say you use all the above-mentioned products in one single day and all these products have the toxic chemicals used in making this “Fragrance” under the limit. You can very well see how your exposure can far exceed the safe limit.
- The International Fragrance Association, or IFRA, is a self-regulating industry body that sets standards for fragrance manufacturers and houses. It has published a list of more than 2000 ingredients currently used in fragrance. The list includes problematic ingredients, including cancer-causing compounds like styrene, naphthalene. To date, the IFRA has only banned 150 ingredients.
Phthalates
- Various types of phthalates are used in personal care products to improve their fragrance. These are known hormone disruptors and may contribute to certain types of cancers, reproductive damage, obesity, and other issues.
- These are commonly found in: Lotions, deodorants, hair spray, perfume nail polish, and more.
- Sometimes phthalates are also hidden under the “fragrance” ingredient.
- One study found that women with high levels of phthalates are more likely to give birth to children that develop behavioral disorders as these harmful toxins can accumulate in fat deposits in the body where they are stored and later released into the breast milk of women.
Toluene
- Toluene is a toxic chemical used in nail products and hair dyes. It is a clear liquid with an aromatic color and is used to dissolve other substances.
- It is sometimes mentioned on that label as Benzene, methylbenzene, phenylmethane, and toluol.
- Dangers of toluene range from headaches, dizziness, cracked skin to reproductive damage, and respiratory issues.
Petroleum
- A highly refined derivative of the oil industry, petroleum/petroleum jelly/mineral oil is found to have toxic hydrocarbons which are one of the greatest contaminants of the human body as per researchers.
Parabens
- Parabens are used as preservatives in personal care products.
- The issue with parabens is that they can mimic estrogen in the body which leads to hormone imbalances and could increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Common products that contain parabens are deodorants, shampoos, soaps, lotions, makeup, etc.
Aluminum
- Aluminum is known to be toxic to the brain and also known to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.
- Common products containing aluminum are Deodorants, lipstick, toothpaste, and makeup.
Synthetic Colors
- They are used to make cosmetics “pretty”.
- They are labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6.
- Synthetic colors are known to be cancer-causing (carcinogenics) and should be avoided at all costs.
PFOAs, PFCs and Teflon Chemicals
- Multiple animal and human studies have linked fluorinated compounds like PFCs, PFAs and PFOs with issues such as cancerous tumors, kidney disease, liver problems, immune system dysfunction and reproductive damage.
- Look for ingredients which have “fluoro” in them and avoid them.
- Products that contain these chemicals include: makeup, shampoo, sunscreen, moisturizers and shaving cream.
Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate or Retinoic Acid)
- Retinyl Palmitate is the synthetic version of Vitamin A and has been shown to cause faster tumor formation in rats exposed to UV Rays after rubbed with a retinyl palmitate lotion.
- The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) have cautioned that skincare products with vitamin A can increase birth defects when used before or during pregnancy.
Polyethylene Glycols and Polysorbate (PEGs)
- PEGs are used in skin care products to soften and lubricate the skin, to help water-based and oil based ingredients mix properly and to help deliver other ingredients deeper into the skin.
- The problem is that PEGs are found to be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane both of which are possible human carcinogens. Moreover, as they open skin pores to help other ingredients reach into the skin, any toxins or toxic chemicals present in the product also reach deeper into the skin and cause more damage.
Triclosan
- In 2017 FDA banned Triclosan in certain products such as hand sanitizers and soaps. This antibacterial ingredient however is still found in products such as toothpaste, body wash and even clothing.
- It also can lead to developmental and reproductive issues.
- Products to watch out for Triclosan include: deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, lotions, and makeup.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)
- MIT is a synthetic ingredient commonly found in household cleaning products. It is linked with issues such as skin sensitization, and irritation.
- It’s use has been limited by the Government in Europe, Germany, Japan and Canada.

So what to do?

After reading the above list and then looking at your current household and personal care products, I am pretty sure you would want to change your preferences.

What you can do is find herbal and natural alternatives to the current products. Do not just fall for the name or marketing gimmicks of a product. Check the ingredient list! And if any ingredient poses doubt, research into it.

Avoid products containing “fragrance”, “eau de toilette” or “parfum” on the labels, even if they are from a well-known brand. You do not want to impress others by risking your own health.

Next time, before you buy a personal care product make sure to look for its 100% natural alternatives. For example, one search of “natural deodorants” on Amazon can give you a good chunk of options for deodorants made from coconut oil and essential oils. Make sure to read the whole ingredient list and ask for it before purchasing as some brands do not provide the full ingredient list over Amazon.

Here are some products I have recently switched to and recommend:

India

Soap: Speaking Tree Exfoliating Coffee Handmade Soap With Refreshing Aroma For Perfectly Clean, Brightening Skin (100 g)

Toothpaste: DABUR Meswak

Canada

Body soap: Keika Naturals Charcoal Black Soap Bar for Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Face, Body, Men Women Teens with Oily Skin, 5 oz. (Charcoal+, 1-Pack)

Toothpaste: Himalaya Herbal Healthcare Neem and Pomegranate Fluoride-Free Natural Toothpaste, SLS-Free

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Wish you a healthy life.

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