Between hair care, moisturizers, makeup, soaps, and countless other beauty products that get consumed everyday, those who use mainstream products are unknowingly applying harmful toxins and chemicals that often do more harm than good.
Here we take a (shallow) dive into the world of mainstream beauty to calculate the real cost of convenience and unconscious consumerism. It’s an (alarming) eye opener!
Before we get into details, you should know something key about cosmetics: in the United States, there are very few regulations surrounding these products. There are even fewer ways to make sure companies are using ethical ingredients. Have you ever heard of the class action law suits against large corporations for using ingredients that have been known to cause cancer or other diseases? Well, this is more common than you may realize, and it’s not just the big guys using these questionable chemicals. Many brands do. Why? Often, because they’re cheaper.
Your skin is your largest organ and should be treated with respect accordingly. It’s alarming how many people are concerned with the products they put on their faces, but don’t uphold those same regards for their body. A good rule to abide by is: if it contains ingredients you can’t pronounce, don’t put it on your skin. (Latin names of plant derived ingredients are excluded here, those can be tricky! You’ll likely know the common names though, so double check those ingredient lists.)
If you can’t pronounce the ingredients on your beauty products, stay clear.
Here are just *some* of the toxic ingredients that are used in many of the cosmetics on shelves today:
- Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates: they disrupt hormones, may damage the reproductive system, can exacerbate allergies and asthma, and alter hormone levels. These phthalates are often found in lab-created or artificial fragrances used in candles, perfumes, cleaning products, and cosmetics.
- Diethyl phthalate, used in perfumes, candles, and in cosmetics (such as gloss or eyeliner) is authorized by European cosmetic regulation because it is considered “less toxic”, but they can still be toxic- especially to those who are sensitive or have autoimmune conditions.
- Formaldehyde: a known carcinogen (which contribute to cancer)
- Paraformaldehyde and Methylene glycol: 2 types of formaldehyde
- Quaternium 15: an agent that releases formaldehyde
- M- and O-phenylenediamine: used in hair dyes, these irritate skin and have been linked to causing cancer
- Isobutyl and isopropyl parabens: hormone disruptors which harm the reproductive system
- The long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS: known to be linked to cancer
- Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, nickel, mercury and cadmium (often found in candle wicks)
- Petro chemicals: are endocrine-disrupting chemicals derived from petroleum that may interfere with hormonal function and can increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infertility. Petrochemicals are often found in lip balms or anything containing vasoline, soaps, detergents, and anything that comes in plastic packaging.ase, and infertility
These chemicals enter the body through inhalation, ingesting, skin application and even internal use.
Now consider that your regular beauty routine involves multiple steps including (and not necessarily limited to): cleansing, moisturizing, washing and styling your hair, sunscreen, makeup application in the form of primer / foundation / mascara / lipstick / highlighter / bronzer / eyeshadow / eyeliner, makeup removal at the end of the day, night time cleansing and moisturizing, facial oils, deodorants, perfumes, hand creams (and various versions of this process). That’s a LOT of products that contain a LOT of harmful ingredients that - if you haven’t adopted an all-natural beauty routine yet - are being applied to your skin and being inhaled on a daily basis.
Yikes!
SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?
The great news is that the solution is a simple one: make the switch to natural skincare and products that actually benefit your skin and support your wellness. Train yourself to recognize the list of harmful ingredients. Make sure you buy products that are free of parabens, phthalates, artificial preservatives, artificial or lab created fragrances and colors. Buy from brands that are transparent in their ingredient lists- this can often be a challenge, but it’s worth it. If you have questions, ask the company! If they don’t want to answer in a clear manner, avoid them. Products that are cruelty-free and vegan are also recommended, wherever possible, but can be difficult to find, especially makeup products.
If you find of these products are beyond your means, consider making your own (we will be making more blog posts about our favorite swaps and DIY recipes, so subscribe to our mailing list) or swapping the products you use most often to a safer alternative. There are many very affordable swaps you can make- and most of them you likely already have in your home. For example: diluted vinegar is an amazing cleaning agent, baking soda has a multitude of uses and can be used to remove film from bath tubs, and olive oil is a wonderful hair oil and can be used as a makeup remover.
When you begin using natural products, you may find many of your skin issues fading away, meaning you’ll need fewer products than before. This makes it easier to splurge on a few good products.
This is one of the reasons why Kalme Co. makes multi-use products - to help make clean and natural products more accessible. Our products may be more expensive than brand’s you’ll find on the shelves of most major retailers, but that is because we craft in small batches and use high-quality ingredients to ensure you’re getting the very best. We care about your health and wellbeing, and the health of the world.