Ever hear of the Dirty 30 ingredients?
These are ingredients that you will never find in Pacific Coast Soap Works products
Every day you could be exposed to more toxic ingredients in skin care products than you realize….
How Toxins Get Into Your Body
Even if you live a “clean lifestyle” and buy non-toxic cleaning products, toxic-free clothing, and have water filters throughout your home, you are still likely exposed to thousands of toxins every day. They’re found in the air you breathe, the food you eat, and in the cookware, you use every day. Even your food storage containers expose you to toxic chemicals. Here are three primary ways toxins get in our bodies.
We Breathe them in
People spend an estimated 90% of their time indoors. Considering that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, it’s no surprise that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 environmental risks to your optimal health.
Of course, there’s pollution outside your home as well from environmental pollutants. Toxins can easily build up in your body when you are constantly breathing them in.
We Eat and Drink Them
A conventional diet is full of pesticide treated produce and animals who have been given artificial growth hormones and antibiotics. The National Research Council claims that, in children especially, dietary intake of pesticides accounts for most pesticide exposure.
Since more than half of your body is made up of water, the quality of your water is important to your health. Heavy metals, chemicals from plastic and other pollutants can get into your body through your drinking water, or through your skin when you bathe. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) discovered in a 3 year study that 85% of the population in the US consumes water with about 316 contaminants, most of which are completely unregulated.
We absorb them through our skin
Your skin is your largest organ and your main barrier to the outside world. Substances ranging from the beneficial to the bad come into contact with your skin and can be absorbed into your bloodstream. That includes the chemicals in soap, makeup, lotions, and skin care products.
The Bad Ingredients In Skin Care Products
Your skin is the most important organ in your body. It performs so many vital functions in your body, including protecting your organs, bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels.
Did you know that 60% of what comes in contact with your skin is absorbed? It’s true. That means the skin care products you use affect the health of your skin. As I mentioned earlier, the skin care industry is not heavily regulated in terms of safety. That means any ingredient a company wants to use can be put into your face wash, lotions, and creams.
I understand this can be confusing or overwhelming, and even a little frightening. Don’t worry. I’m going to give you the tools to know the ingredients to avoid in your skincare products. First, here are “the dirty dozen” ingredients to avoid in skincare products
“THE LIST” “THE DIRTY 30” ‘The bad stuff’
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ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM and OTHER ALUMINUM COMPOUNDS
Function: Used to control sweat and odor in the underarms by slowing down the production of sweat. Present in: Antiperspirants. Banned by EU.
Health concerns: Linked to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease; may be linked to breast cancer; probable neurotoxin; possible nervous system, respiratory, and developmental toxin. -
BENZYL ACETATE Function: Solvent; hidden within “fragrance”.
Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels.
Health concerns: Linked to pancreatic cancer; easily absorbs into skin causing quick systemic effects; animal studies show hyperemia of the lungs; possible gastrointestinal, liver, and respiratory toxicant; possible neurotoxin. -
BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE and BENZETHONIUM CHLORIDE Function: Antimicrobial agent, deodorant, preservative, biocide. Present in: Moisturizer, sunscreen, facial cleanser, acne treatment, pain relief. Restricted in Japan and Canada.
Health concerns: Immune system toxicant; may trigger asthma; possible organ system toxicant; animal studies show endocrine disruption and brain, nervous system, respiratory and blood effects; possible carcinogen. - BRONOPOL Function: Preservative. Present in: Moisturiser, body wash, facial cleanser, makeup remover, anti-aging products. Restricted in Canada. Health concerns: Immune system toxicant; lung and skin toxicant; animal studies show endocrine disruption and gastrointestinal, brain and nervous system effects; irritant.
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BUTYL ACETATE Function: Solvent in polishes and treatments, prevents chipping.
Present in: Nail polish and nail treatments. Health concerns: Repeated exposure causes skin dryness and cracking; vapours may induce drowsiness or dizziness; flammable. -
BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE (BHT)/ BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE (BHA)Function: Anti-Oxidant; slows down the rate at which product ingredients change in colour. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Banned by EU. Health Concerns: Immune system toxicant; endocrine disruptor; probable human carcinogen; animal studies show brain, liver, neurotoxin, reproductive and respiratory toxicant.
7. ETHOXYLATED INGREDIENTS: CETEARETH/PEG COMPOUNDS Function: Surfactant, emulsifying or cleansing agent, penetration enhancer. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: Animal studies show brain, nervous system and sense organ effects; irritant; reproductive and skin toxin, alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin and increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream; may contain harmful impurities.
8. COAL TAR Function: Controls itching and eczema, softens and promotes the dissolution of hard, scaly, rough skin, also used in hair dyes. Present in: Shampoo and hair dye. Banned by Canada and EU. Health concerns: Known human carcinogen; skin and respiratory toxicant.
9. COCAMIDE DEA/ LAURAMIDE DEA Function: used as foaming agents in shampoos and bath products, and as emulsifying agents in cosmetics; foaming and cleansing agents for “mouth feel”. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: Human immune system toxicant; forms carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds if mixed with nitro sating agents; animal studies show sense organ effects and skin irritation; may contain harmful impurities.
10. DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA)Function: pH adjuster. Present in: Sunscreen, moisturiser, foundation, hair colour. Health concerns: Skin and immune system toxicant; possible carcinogen; irritant; animal studies show endocrine disruption and neuro developmental, brain and nervous system effects; may trigger asthma.
11. ETHYL ACETAT Function: Solvent. Present in: Nail polish products, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume. Health concerns: Probable neurotoxin; possible nervous system toxin; possible carcinogen; irritant; highly flammable
12. FORMALDEHYDE Function: Disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, preservative. Present in: Deodorant, nail polish, soap, shampoo, shaving cream. Restricted in Canada. Banned by EU. Health concerns: Immune system, repertory, hematological, and skin toxicant; probable carcinogen and cardiovascular toxicant; can damage DNA; may trigger asthma; animal studies show sense organ, brain, and nervous system effects; possible human development toxicant.
13. FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES ( QUATERNIUM- DMDM HYDANTOIN, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA AND IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, DEA, MEA, TEA) Function: Anti-microbial preservative. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: Forms nitrosamines when in the presence of amines such as MEA, DEA and TEA; probable immune system, blood, cardiovascular and skin toxicant; possible carcinogen; animal studies show endocrine disruption, nervous system and organ system effects; may contain harmful impurities.
14.FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)Function: Deodorant, masking, perfuming Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: Immune system toxicant; possible neurotoxin; can contain between 10 and 300 different chemicals, many of which have never been tested for safety; see phthalates. Labelling can be confusing. If uncertain, check with manufacture.
15.HYDROQUINONE Function: Antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, skin bleaching agent, hair colorant. Present in: Skin fading/lightener, facial moisturizer, anti-aging, sunscreen, hair colour, facial cleanser and moisturiser. Restricted in Canada. Health concerns: Immune system and respiratory toxicant; probable neurotoxin; possible carcinogen; irritant; animal studies show endocrine disruption.
16. IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE Function: Preservative. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Restricted in Japan. Health concerns: Human toxicant; possible liver immune system toxin; allergenic.
17. LEAD and LEAD COMPOUNDS Function: Colourant. Present in: Hair dye, hair products. Traces found in some red lipstick. Restricted in Canada. Health concerns: Probable carcinogen; developmental, respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive toxicant; reduced fertility; animal studies show metabolic, brain and nervous system effects; suspected nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skin.
18. METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MI/MCI) and METHYLCHLOROISOTHAIZOLINONE Function: Preservative. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Restricted in Canada and Japan. Health concerns: Immune system toxicant; animal studies show restricted growth of the axons and dendrites of immature nerves, neurotoxicity and positive mutation results; can lead to a malfunction in the way neurons communicate with each other; especially detrimental to a developing nervous system.
19. OXYBENZONE (BENZPENONE-3) Function: Sunscreen Agent; Ultraviolet Light Absorber, UV Absorber; UV Filter. Present in: Sunscreens and makeup Health concerns: Associated with photoallergic reactions and immunotoxicity. Probable carcinogen and endocrine disrupter; Enhanced skin absorption and bioaccumulates to dangerous levels; biochemical cellular changes. Developmental and reproductive toxicity.
20. PARABENS (METHYL, ETHYL, PROPYL AND BUTYL) Function: Preservative and anti-bacterial agent. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: May alter hormone levels, possibly increasing risk for certain types of cancer, impaired fertility, or alteration of the development of a fetus or young child; studies have found parabens in breast tumours; probable skin toxicant; animal studies show brain and nervous system effects.
21. PETROLATUM (PETROLEUM)Function: Forms barrier on skin; makes lipsticks shine and creams smoother; inexpensive skin softener. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Banned by EU Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities, linked to cancer or other significant health problems.
22. PHTHALATES (DIBUTYL PHTHALATES) Function: Fragrance ingredient, plasticizer, solvent. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Banned in EU. Health concerns: Immune system toxicant; developmental and reproductive toxin; respiratory toxicant; probable neurotoxin; possible carcinogen and endocrine disruptor; bio-accumulative in wildlife
23. P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE (PPD)Function: Hair colorant. Present in: Hair dye, shampoo, hair spray. Restricted in Canada. Health concerns: Immune system and respiratory toxicant; probable neurotoxin; eczema; possible nervous system, skin, kidney and liver toxicant; irritant; may trigger asthma and gastritis; shown to cause cancer in animal studies.
24. PROPYLENE GLYCOL Function: Solvent, penetration enhancer, conditions skin, controls viscosity and keeps products from melting in high or freezing when it is cold. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin and increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream; animal studies show reproductive effects, positive mutation results, brain and nervous system effects and endocrine disruption.
25. SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE Function: Surfactant, penetration enhancer. Present in: Many cosmetics and personal care products, read labels. Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream; Irritant; animal studies show sense organ effects.
26. TALC Function: Absorbs moisture, anti-caking agent, bulking agent. Present in: Blush, powder, eye shadow, baby powder, deodorant. Health concerns: Carcinogen; link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer; talc particles are similar to asbestos particles and data suggests that it can cause tumors in the lungs; probable respiratory toxin;
27. TOLUENE Function: Antioxidant, solvent to improve adhesion and gloss. Present in: Nail polish and hair dye. Health concerns: Liver toxin; probable developmental, nervous system and respiratory toxin; possible cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, renal and sense organ toxin; possible carcinogen and reproductive toxin; irritant; highly flammable;
28. TRICLOSAN Function: Anti-bacterial agent, deodorant, preservative, biocide. Reduces and controls bacterial contamination on the hands and on treated products. Present in: Antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, mouthwashes, face wash and cleaning supplies. Restricted in Japan and Canada. Health concerns: Probable endocrine disrupter and carcinogen; easily bio-accumulates to dangerous levels; irritant; animal studies show reproductive and other broad systematic effects; potentially contaminated with impurities linked to cancer and other significant health problems; studies have shown it can actually induce cell death when used in mouth washes.
29. TREITHANOLAMINE (TEA) Function : Fragrance ingredient, pH adjuster, surfactant. Present in: Hand and body lotion, shaving creams, soap, shampoo, bath powders and moisturizer. Health concerns: Immune system toxicant; possible carcinogen; animal studies show endocrine disruption; may trigger asthma; forms carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds if mixed with nitro sating agents.
30. 1,4 DIOXANE Function: Penetration enhancer Present in: Body lotion, moisturizers, sunless tanning products, baby soap, anti-aging products. Health concerns: EPA classifies it as a probable carcinogen found in 46 of 100 personal care products marketed as organic or natural, and the National Toxicology Program considers it a known animal carcinogen. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of 1,4 dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs of humans. It may also irritate the skin.
I am formulating new products yearly. Pacific Coast Soap Works was born in 1994 due to fragrance allergies. Now that you are aware of the Dirty 30, I know that you will be making better choices for yourself and the ones you love. The ingredient base for our soaps is SAPONIFIED OIIVE OIL and COCONUT OIL, ESSENTIAL OILS and HERBS, SPICES and CLAY for color!!!!! YUP THAT IS ALL. My bars are HUGE and look like hockey pucks! They are cured for a minimum of 12 weeks, but usually 24 weeks, so the last FOREVER. My prices are so fare, I truly produce a quality product that everyone can afford.
Check me out. www.pacificcoastsoapworks.com