Toxic Chemicals in Skincare

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26 Seconds. That's how quickly the chemicals in your skincare products enter your bloodstream. Scary! The skincare products used by most everyone are packed with hormone disrupting ingredients - but, unfortunately not everyone is aware of these toxic monsters hiding in our products. Listed below are the most common and most toxic chemicals that can be found in your bathroom (and even food) - right now!

1. BHA & BHT: Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used as preservatives in a variety of personal care products. Both of these chemicals are also used as preservatives in foods. These chemicals are linked to several health concerns including endocrine disruption and organ-system toxicity.

- Found in: Lip products, hair products, makeup, sunscreen, antiperspirant/deodorant, fragrance, creams.

- Health Effects: Endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cancer and irritation.

2. Coal Tar Dyes ("CI"): Coal tar is a known carcinogen derived from burning coal. It is a complex mixture of hundreds of compounds, many of which are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [1,2]. Coal tar is used in food, textiles, cosmetics and personal care products. Experimental studies have found that application of and exposure to coal tar produce skin tumors and neurological damage.

- How it's labeled: Coal tar solution, tar, coal, carbo-cort, coal tar solution, coal tar solution USP, crude coal tar, estar, impervotar, KC 261, lavatar, picis carbonis, naphtha, high solvent naphtha, naphtha distillate, benzin B70, petroleum benzin [3,4]

- Health Effects: Cancer and organ system toxicity.

3. DEA: Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) are key examples of ethanolamines—a chemical group comprised of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and alcohols. They are used in a wide range of applications including cosmetics and personal care products.