Toxin Exposure in Cosmetics
/Toxins Exposure in Beauty Products
Many more people are starting to question what we eat and how it may impact our health, the health of future generations, as well as the environment. However, the question of what we are putting directly on our skin and scalp every day is also one worth exploring, as the skin is our largest organ and another potential avenue of toxin absorption. The CDC states, “Dermal absorption is the transport of a chemical from the outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the body.” If a chemical successfully penetrates through to most superficial layers of the skin, it therefore has the potential to enter our bloodstream and cause systemic damage or toxicity away from the site of entry.
Many people claim that the skin is an impenetrable barrier that protects certain chemicals from being able to enter the bloodstream. However, an article on Ursa Majors site states that “Absorption of chemicals into the skin depends on factors like skin integrity (damaged vs. intact), skin temperature, concentration of a chemical on the skin surface, length of time exposed, and perhaps most importantly, the area of your body exposed. Skin absorption rates vary greatly among different parts of the body; for example, the chemical absorption rate on your forehead and scalp is about four times greater than the absorption rate on your forearms.” The CDC states that chemicals can penetrate through the skin in 3 different ways- intracellular permeation, intercellular, or transappendageal- meaning, through hair follicles or sweat ducts. Products sprayed on, such as perfumes, can also enter through inhalation and be absorbed into our bloodstream via our lungs. And of course, small amounts of products applied to our lips can also be ingested. This especially poses an issue as some lipsticks have been found to contain heavy metals like lead. In fact, a study done in 2011 by the FDA found 400 lipsticks that contained lead, even amongst popular brands like Maybelline, L’Oreal , Covergirl, and Dior. The FDA has insisted that the levels of lead were not high enough to cause harm (even at some levels such as 7.19 parts per million) however several The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Personal Care Products Council have both challenged these statements. Mark Mitchell, co-chairman of the Environmental Health Task Force for the National Medical Association, said in the group’s statement, “Lead builds in the body over time, and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels.” Is any amount of lead truly safe?
It is also worth noting that the United States has relatively low standards compared to other countries like Europe. Talc, parabens, and, to an extent, phthalates are all restricted in Europe, where more than 1,300 cosmetic chemicals are banned. However, in the United States, out of 10,000 chemicals used to formulate cosmetics only 11 chemicals are restricted by the Food and Drug Administration. Cosmetics and personal care products are also less way regulated than one would assume. An article from the Environmental Working Group states, “Personal care products companies do not have to register with the FDA, provide the FDA with ingredient statements, adopt Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs, report adverse events to the FDA, or provide the FDA with access to safety records.”In addition, loopholes exist in which companies aren’t required to fully disclose individual ingredients. For example, the FDA doesn’t require companies to list ingredients used if it falls under the category of a “fragrance” which is considered proprietary. This frequently allows for the use of phthalates, known endocrine-disrupting chemicals, in several beauty care products. Below, we break down a list of ingredients to avoid and why!
Xenoestrogens- a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic estrogen, which lead to a build-up of estrogen and causes estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance is a common hormonal imbalance that can cause a slew of chronic health issues such as tender breasts, thinning and loss of eyebrows and hair, mood swings, irritability, low libido, weight gain, and infertility. It is also a key component of conditions such as PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, as well as linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Parabens: a type of xenoestrogen and popular preservative used in shampoos, conditions, creams, gels, moisturizes, shave-gel, make-up and more.
How they show up on labels: Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Benzylparaben
Pthalates:another known xenoestrogen and a substance added to plastics to increase their flexibility. They are often found in glues and adhesives, nail polish, liquid soup, hair spray, make up, and perfumes. Recently, several phthalates have been classified as reproductive toxicants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Some studies have shown that they can cause early puberty and reduced sperm count. One article written in the Frontiers in Endocrinology states, “ These toxic effects can lead to premature ovarian failure, anovulation, infertility, and decreased steroidogenesis (104–107). Thus, exposure to phthalates can disrupt normal ovarian function by several different mechanisms, leading to reproductive and non-reproductive abnormalities.”
How they show up on labels: diethylphthalate (DEP), butyl benzyl phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-isobutyl phthalate,di-n-butyl phthalate, di-isodecyl phthalate, dimethylphthalat (DMP), dibutylphthalate (DBP)
Synthetic Fragrances: often laden with pthalates, and used as an umbrella term as companies aren’t required to disclose specific ingredients if it falls under the category of a fragrance.
How they show up on labels: fragrance, parfum
Triclosan: a type of xenoestrogen that is used as an antimicrobial or “odor-fighting” agent in skincare and personal hygiene products. Aside from being not so friendly to our hormones, triclosan has also been found to disrupt the health of our gut’s microbiome.
How it shows up on labels: triclosan, triclocarban
BPA- Bisphenol A, which is a known xenoestrogen as well. It was banned for use in cosmetics in 2006, but it still used to coat plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and aerosol sprays.
How it shows up on labels: bisphenol-a, #7 plastics, #3 plastics, #6 plastics
PFA’s- Otherwise known as Teflon. You knew it was used to coat non-stick pans… but it’s also in your beauty products! PFA’s are used in cosmetic products, including lotions, cleansers, nail polish, shaving cream, foundation, lipstick, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara. PFAS are used in cosmetics to condition and smooth the skin, making it appear shiny, or to affect product consistency and texture. PFA’s are known to cause several types of cancer.
How they show up on labels PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane, perfluorononyl dimethicone, perfluorodecalin, and perfluorohexane.
Oxybenzone- A common chemical most often used in sunscreens, or make-up and chapstick containing SPF. The Environment Working Group (EWG) states that oxybenzone is a weak synthetic estrogen, a moderate anti-androgen, and associated with altered birth weight in human studies.
How it shows up on labels: oxybenzone and benzophenone-3
If you’ve never examined your beauty products before, this can look like a long, overwhelming list of things to avoid. We recommend slowly swapping things out and shopping clean beauty and skin-care products, like our favorites- YINA, H2A, MeiZen, au naturale cosmetics, juice beauty and Jane Iredale. Start with products that remain on a large portion of your skin the longest (such as moisturizer and foundation). Transitioning slowly can make it feel less intimidating.
If you are curious about the products you already have, an awesome resource from the Environmental Working Group lets you check popular personal care products to see their safety rating (https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has a list of products considered safe as well (https://www.madesafe.org)
Blog Written by: Samantha Kloss, L.Ac.
Sources/ Links:
https://www.ursamajorvt.com/blogs/the-blog-cabin/37974081-how-do-toxics-enter-our-bodies
https://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/regulations/us-laws/lead-in-lipstick/
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
https://dceg.cancer.gov/research/what-we-study/pfas
https://www.ewg.org/californiacosmetics/toxic12
https://www.vogue.com/article/toxic-beauty-documentary
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/23/are-chemicals-in-beauty-products-making-us-ill
https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/toxic-beauty
https://www.beautycounter.com/the-never-list