Main Concerns
- Benzyl Alcohol: Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity
- Petrolatum: Organ system toxicity
- Lactic acid: Cancer, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Phenoxyethanol: Allergies/immunotoxicity, irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), organ system toxicity
- Peg-30 Glyceryl Stearate: Organ system toxicity
- Dimethicone: Organ system toxicity
- Sodium Hydroxide: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity
Reaction
I have been using this product on a daily basis for many years now. I am just now reading about the ingredients of this moisturizing cream, and I have noticed that I cannot even pronounce some of them. What is Peg-30 Glyceryl Stearate? I have never even heard of this.
It seems like a majority of the ingredients cause organ system toxicity or some sort of irritation. Reading and learning about what these ingredients cause really discourages me from using this product, knowing that I am putting these ingredients on my face and body.
Product #2: Carmex
Main Concerns
- Oxybenzone: Biochemical/cellular level changes, developmental/reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies /immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity
- Propylparaben: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies/immunotoxicity
- Phenol: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), organ system toxicity
- Octinoxate: Biochemical or cellular level changes, developmental/reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies/immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity
- Diazolidinyl Urea: Cancer, contamination concerns (formaldehyde), allergies/immunotoxicity
Reaction
I have been using this lip balm ever since I was a little kid! I always have it with me everywhere I go, and I probably apply it multiple times a day. It is alarming to see the overall health concerns associated with this product.
I know that parabens are commonly used as preservatives in food and cosmetics. Research suggests that parabens may alter hormone level and increase the risk for certain cancers. In turn, hormone changes may impair fertility.
Why is this even on the shelves at drug stores? Knowing that this could cause developmental/reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, and even cancer is shocking! I have so many laying around in my house...I feel like throwing them all away. I'm sure there are much safer alternatives for lip balms.
Isn't it crazy you could be such a loyal user of a product without knowing of its negative side-affects? It's odd because as a consumer you become a marketer for it, and you opinion does matter to the people you surround yourself with. It makes it hard to discern the difference between when it's okay to accept a certain low level of toxicity, or when we should avoid it all together.
ReplyDeleteI guess it all comes back to being a conscientious consumer and being active in learning what's inside of the products we choose to use. The situation mirrors that of food. It is so much easier to eat healthy, organic food when you have the monetary means and access to it. Not all consumer have the ability to purchase healthier personal care products.
Love all of your reactions!
I wonder if you felt the same way i did after discovering all of these chemicals in your everyday personal and household products, which was feeling slightly irresponsible using them on your body knowing the potential affects. For example I also use dawn which is awesome for animals which is a strong influencer as to why I purchase it, but then when you look at something like lip balm which seems fairly innocuous but actually pretty toxic does it make you rethink your use of it? It seems there are very few options for "clean" items and those which are, are usually more expensive which can create access issues for low-income communities.
ReplyDelete