Chemicals in Skin Care

The very reason we do what we do at JOLI. 

When we talk about chemical free skin care there are often others out there who comment: “Chemical free skin care is impossible because everything is a chemical”.  So let us clarify, yes water is a chemical H2O, as is Olive oil - composed of mixed triglyceride esters of oleic acid and palmitic acid and of other fatty acids, along with traces of squalene (up to 0.7%) and sterols (about 0.2% phytosterol and tocosterols).  These are not the type of chemicals we are referring to.

When we say “chemicals in skin care” we are referring to the 1000+ synthetic, man made, hazardous, know skin irritant, toxic and even lethal chemicals used in modern day skin care.  And many more are being introduced every year.  (I should point out that only about 10 of these 1000+ chemicals are used in European skin care because the laws are more strict in European countries.  Must of the skin care we are using in Australia today is banned in Europe due to all the additional chemical additives.)  Chemicals such as the following (also known as the Dirty Dozen):

1. Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol

2. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

3. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolaniine) and TEA (triethanolamine)

4. Sodium Hydroxide

5. Triclosan

6. DMDM & Urea (Imidazolidinyl)

7. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), PEG-100 Stearate

8. Liutane or Propane: Alcohol

9. Isopropyl (SD-40)

10. Mineral Oil

11. FD&C Color Pigments

12. Fragrances

But it doesn’t stop there.  There are so many more chemicals you need to keep an eye out for.  Here is a more comprehensive list.  Now I know people don’t enjoy the idea of reading through all their skin care products looking for these long winded words that appear on the labels.  None the less it is a very worth while thing to be doing – particularly for your baby’s and children’s personal skin care products.

1. AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) the skin is exfoliated chemically (via acid) instead of mechanically via abrasion, dries and increases skin aging.

2. Acetamide MEA

3. Acetone

4. Alkyl-phenol-ethoxylades

5. Ammonium laureth sulphate

6. Aluminum, i.e. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

7. Alcohol

8. a-Pinene

9. a-Terpineol

10. Bentonite

11. Benzaldehyde

12. Benzene

13. Benzyl acetate

14. Benzyl alcohol

15. Benzyl violet

16. Camphor

16a. Coal Tar derivatives many kinds of shampoo designed to treat dandruff and flaky scalp contain it. Disguised with names such as FD, FDC or DF&C colour.

17. Cocamide DEA

18. Cocomidopropyl Betaine

19. Carboner 9ds34, 940, 941, 960, 961C

20. DEA (Diethanolamine)

21. Dibutyl phthalate

22. Dimethylamine

23. Dioform many toothpastes and other tooth whiteners contain it, damages your teeth enamel and weakening their protective shell.

24. Dioxane also called 1,4 Dioxane.

25. Disodium EDTA

26. Hydantoin DMDM causes dermatitis.

27. Elastin supposed stop improve the elasticity of the skin when applied topically, but there is no proof it's true.

28. Ethanol On EPA hazardous waste list.

29. Ethyl acetate

30. Ethylacrylate

31. FDC-n (FD&C)

32. Fluoride

33. Formaldehyde sometimes hidden under the name DMDM hydantoin or MDM hydantoin, trade name is formalin. Released by diazolidinyl urea.

34. g-Terpinene

35. Imidazolidinyl Urea

36. Lauramide DEA

37. Lead Acetate

38. Limonene

39. Linalool

40. Mercury

41. Methylene chloride

42. Mineral oil petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging up pores, interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne, eczema, resulting in premature aging, can be absorbed through skin contact.

43. Mono sodium glutamate (MSG)

44. Nitrosamine

45. Parabens trade names are benzyl, butyl, ethyl, isopropyl, methyl, propyl (alkyl-p-hydroxybenzoates).

46. Para-phenylenediamine (also tetrathydro-6-nitroquinoxaline).

47. PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid) mainly used in commercial sunscreens.

48. Phenylphenol banned in Europe.

49. Phenoxyethanol

50. Phosphoric acid

51. Phthalates

52. Petroleum distillates

53. Polysorbate-n (20-85) can cause contact sensitivity and skin irritation

54. Polyquaternium

55. Potassium dichromate

56. Propylene glycol one of the most widely used chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care products. 

57. Selenium Sulfide

58. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)

59. Sodium laureth sulphate (SLES)

60. Sodium PCA (na-pca) PCA = pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.

61. Sodium Cyanide also known as sodium slat of hydrodyamic and cyanogran.

62. Sodium oleth sulphate

63. Styrene monomer

64. Talc

65. Toluene

66. Triethanolamine (TEA)

67. Triclosan an antimicrobial

These are just a few of the 1000+ chemicals in use today - the mind boggles.

Chemical List sourced from "here"