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8 Toxic Beauty Ingredients That Should Never Touch Your Skin

“I like to use products full of fake ingredients that disrupt my hormones and are toxic to the planet,” said no one ever.

By GLAUX CHEM®Published 5 years ago Updated 2 years ago 6 min read
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Times are changing and the consumer demand for natural, organic, and sustainable products like the natural oils of GLAUX CHEM® are going strong, with no sign of slowing down.

The days of companies keeping you in the dark about what fake ingredients, or as we like to call them “nasties,” that are in your beauty products are a thing of the past thanks to the labeling requirements mandated by the FDA.

Contrary to popular belief, the chemicals in the cosmetic industry are hardly regulated. Companies to this day still make products full of compounds that are harmful to you and our precious planet. Sad but true, which is why we are relentlessly passionate and vocal about this topic.

The all too common use of synthetic chemicals in skin products is a bad beauty move and health risk to you. It’s time to stay informed and start reading the labels on beauty products that you purchase!

If you find any of these eight ingredients in your beauty products, you need to stop using them instantly and switch to a non-toxic and eco-friendly formula that is good for you and the planet.

Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most common human-made alcohol additives you will find in cosmetic products like moisturizers, body washes, shampoos, and concealers.

Companies use this compound as a preservative to help stabilize formulas and prevent your products from growing bacteria.

Unfortunately, using products that have phenoxyethanol causes more harm than good — especially if you have chronic skin conditions like eczema.

This nasty alcohol irritates and dries out your skin by exacerbating the flakes, water loss, disrupting your natural fat levels, and may even cause you to break out in hives.

Thanks, but no thanks.

EDTA

EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) is a fully human-made compound and does not occur in nature.

This chemical is commonly found in water-based formulas and acts as a preservative by binding to metal ions like magnesium. Water, especially hard, naturally has different metals like calcium and magnesium that make your soaps less foamy and bubbly.

Just like the rest of your body, your skin needs metals like zinc, magnesium, and selenium for important jobs like healing wounds, fighting inflammation, and balancing oil production.

Stripping your skin of these necessary salts by using products with EDTA may trigger flare-ups, flakes, inflammation, and redness, if you already have eczema or other chronic dry skin conditions.

Your body deserves better.

BHT

Also known in nerd-speak (which we are fluent in) as butylated hydroxytoluene. Another synthetic nasty added to help preserve products by preventing oxidation of the ingredients.

You typically find this gross ingredient in moisturizers and creams since it mixes with both water and fatty things.

Studies show BHT can cause issues with your liver, thyroid, and reproductive system, acting like a typical hormone disruptor.

The warning label also states this chemical is extremely toxic to marine life with long-lasting effects and that you should handle with gloves to protect your skin. Errrrr, that seems counter-intuitive for a skin product.

You totally wear gloves when applying products to your skin, right?

TEA

Not to be confused with the tea your drink.

TEA stands for triethanolamine. You can typically find this chemical in your like skin moisturizers, cleansers, and gels.

This nasty is a skin and eye irritant, carcinogen, and can even damage your liver, kidneys, and brain.

What’s ludicrous, but not surprising, is that TEA is banned in Europe, but not here in the US.

You must do due diligence and read the ingredient labels to make sure TEA is not on your products before you put them on your body.

Be exxxtra careful and double-check your products for this nasty if you battle inflammatory skin conditions, kidney or liver disease, or thyroid disease.

Benzoic Acid

Benzoic acid is made from the toxic compound called benzene—a good rule of thumb is to just plain AVOID using a product with any ingredients that start with b-e-n-z.

This wannabe is added into cosmetic formulas as a stabilizer to prevent the pH changes and spoiling of your products by oxygen, light, or free radicals.

Skin and severe eye irritation, redness, and pain are common reactions you can experience when using products that have this compound.

Repeated and daily application of this ingredient to your skin may also trigger the onset of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.

Save yourself from a skin nightmare.

Benzyl Alcohol

Sticking with the trend of synthetic, unsustainable, and bad for you and the earth, there are those four letters again, b-e-n-z.

This aromatic sweet-smelling compound is used as a fragrance, preservative, thinning agent in skin products and commonly found in lotions and creams.

If you have sensitive skin then chances are your skin gets all red and itchy when you use products that have fake (or real) fragrances.

The warning labels for this compound read, harmful if swallowed or inhaled, causes serious eye irritation, and to avoid release into the environment.

Oy vey.

Dimethicone

This silicone-based compound is as a fake moisturizer and acts as a lubricant to make products feel smooth and hydrating.

The good news is there is no real bodily harm in using products that contain dimethicone.

The bad news is this ingredient does not offer your skin any real benefits as omega fatty acids do — like strengthening your barrier, aiding skin repair, fighting inflammation and damage from free radicals, to name a few.

In the battle against fake versus natural, natural always wins.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is one of the many compounds used in skin products made from petroleum.

Use of this ingredient in cosmetics requires a lot of chemical modifications and leads to the production of by-products that are harmful to you and the environment.

This fake oil mimics the feel of fats and grease masking as a moisturizer and does not give your skin any real benefits that omega fats do, like balancing your oil production levels by activating your endocannabinoid system or strengthening your barrier by increasing the amount of keratin in your skin’s outer layer.

Really, just another snake oil.

What We’re Saying Is…

*Gets on our soapbox*

You need to say NO to synthetic nasties! They masquerade as preservatives, antioxidants, and moisturizers in mainstream products, but really only serve to damage and dry your skin even more, so you'll keep coming back.

Natural ingredients from plant oils truly nourish your skin and provide real long-term benefits by enhancing the levels of natural fat in your skin’s layers, locking in water, strengthening your barrier, and restoring your natural luster.

Take a stand against using nasties, embrace your natural beauty, and use products that are good for you and the planet.

We challenge you to make the switch to a greener life today.

*Mic-drop*

P.S. Ingredients Your Skin Really Needs

GLAUX CHEM® believes that nature has a solution for every need, including your skin. The skin is the largest organ in your body and needs the proper levels of fats, water, vitamins, and minerals to look and feel its best and fight damage.

Plant seed oils, like hemp and pomegranate, contain abundant levels of repairing and ingredients like omega-3 and omega-5 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, chlorophyll, and metals like zinc and magnesium.

Thes real ingredients nourish your skin by enhancing the levels of natural fats in your skin’s outer layer, locking in water, strengthening your barrier, and brightening your skin tone.

Who doesn’t want toxin-free skin that is silky smooth to the touch, with a healthy plump feel and noticeable dewy glow?

skincare
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About the Creator

GLAUX CHEM®

Our mission is to help those with skincare needs by developing natural products that are inspired by Mother Nature. Learn more at https://www.glauxchem.com.

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