What is really in our everyday products?

When I first went to a Naturopathic Doctor back in 2011, I brought my cosmetics, skin and hair care and cleaning products that I used.  The doctor muscle tested me when holding each product.  What I found out was shocking to me as I thought I was really choosing "healthy" products.  I was wrong.

I did not realize that there were so many synthetic ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products.  Our skin is our biggest organ in our bodies and absorbs anything we put on it, along with any environmental chemicals or pollution.

I also did not realize that what you clean with affects every person in your house and can have either a negative or positive affect.  We all want our house to be clean but at what expense?

When the N.D. had me hold each product and muscle tested me, my body rejected almost every single thing that I had been using on a daily basis. I was so confused as a lot of the products said, "natural" or "approved by dermatologist."  I felt a bit angry as I thought I was picking healthy products for my family.

I made it my mission to find out about synthetic vs. clean products.  Back in 2011, I got on the Internet and researched where I could find out more about these unhealthy chemicals I was using.  I scoured the Internet for any good, reliable information that could help me weed out the harmful products.   I found the EWG (Environmental Working Group) Skin Deep website which has been a great resource in helping me decipher what is good vs. bad for us.  I also sought out a few health stores near me, went there and spent time asking questions and looking at different products. I have been using the EWG Skin Deep website for a long time and am now realizing that some of the products on there that are deemed clean really aren’t. I believe that many organizations pay for the good rating so you really need to know what to look for in products to make sure you choose wisely.

I’ve since turned to colleagues who are also practitioners, chiropractors, Naturopathic Doctors, etc. to learn what products are safe vs what are toxic.

Back in 2011, when I went to a health food store near me called Zerbo's, an employee there gave me a little book called, "Natural Ingredients Dictionary" by Aubrey Hampton.  Aubrey Hampton was the founder of Aubrey Organics, founded in 1967, and shut down in early 2022.

In his book, Aubrey listed 10 synthetic cosmetic ingredients to avoid.  What I found very interesting with this list is that many of these ingredients were in the products that I had been using before finding out how unhealthy they were for me.  One thing to note when become healthier, you must become a label reader.  Just reading the marketing on a product does not give you all the information.  You will be shocked to find what is really in products once you adopt this crucial habit. This is true for anything you put on, in or around your body - become a label reader to protect your health.

Here is the list of the "10 most wanted" - the 10 chemicals Aubrey Hampton wants to see off the labels of natural hair and skin care products (this is a small list, there are so many awful chemicals nowadays that add to the demise of our health):

1. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl paraben - can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes, known to be toxic.
2. Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) - can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin, toxic if absorbed into body over a long period of time.
3. Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea (two trade names for these are Germall II and Germall 115) - widely used preservatives, the American Academy of Dermatology has found them to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis.
4. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (can be disguised as "comes from coconuts") - cheap, harsh detergent used in shampoos, causes eye irritation, scalp scurf, skin rashes and other allergic reactions.
5. Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) - no nutrient value for the skin and can interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing abilities (causing dryness), unbelievably cheap for manufacturers to use.
6. Propylene Glycol- can cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema.  Related synthetics are PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol).
7. PVP/VA Copolymer - used in hairsprays, styling aids and cosmetics, can be considered toxic since inhaled particles can damage the lungs.
8. Stearalkonium Chloride - ammonium compound used in hair conditoners and creams, can cause allergic reactions and is toxic.
9. Synthetic colors - synthetic colors and synthetic hair dyes should be avoided at all costs, they will be labeled as FD&C or D&C followed by a color and a number.  Many synthetic colors can be carcinogenic (causes cancer).
10. Synthetic fragrances/parfum - this is a BIG one and in so much! It can cause headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation, just to name a few.  Don't buy a cosmetic that has the word "fragrance" on the ingredients label - it’s so toxic.

Here are some more than I wanted to add that I learned about when I became an Integrative Health Practitioner.

11. Polythylene Terephthalate - linked to cancer, infertility, hormonal disruptions, and damage to body organs; found in eye shadow.
12.  Methylisothiazoline - neurological damage in fetus, irritation, possible eye damage; found in shampoo.
13. Polymenthyl Methacylate - allergies, linked to cancer; found in lipstick.
14. Phthalates - linked to hormone disruption, fertility issues, linked to cancer and problems in developing babies; found in nail polish.
15. Octinoxate, Isophthalates - allergies, hormone disruption, irritation to eyes, nose and throat, changes in cell structure; found in hairspray.
16. Aluminum Zirconium, Isopropyl Myristate - organ irritation, hormone disruption; found in deodorant.
17. Polymethyl Methacrylate - disrupts immune system, allergies, links to cancer; found in foundation.
18. Benzaldehyde, Toluene - sperm damage, linked to cancer, organ irritant, hormone disruption; found in perfume, which has an average number of 250 chemicals!

And more (broken down by category)

Toothpaste and Mouthwash:

• Fragrance/Parfum

• Triclosan

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

• Artificial Sweeteners

• Fluoride

• Propylene Glycol (mineral oil)

• Diethanolamine (DEA)

• Microbeads (these are plastic beads!)

• Chlorhexidine

• Alcohol

• Hexetidine (oraldene)

• Methyl Salicylate

• Benzalkonium Chloride

• Cetylpyridinium Chloride

• Methyparaben

  Make Up:

• Fragrance/Parfum

• BHA and BHT

• Coal tar dyes: p-=phenylenediamine and colours (listed as "CI" followed by a five digit number)

• DEA-related ingredients

• Dibutyl phthalate

• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

• Parabens

• PEG compounds

• Petrolatum

• Siloxanes

• Sodium laureth sulfate

• Triclosan

  Moisturizers:

• Resorcinol

• Hydroquinone

• Petrolatum

• Xylene

• Toluene

• Mineral oil

• Liquid Paraffin

• Methylisothiazolinone

• Oxybenzone

• Parabens

• Synthetic colors

• Fragrance/Parfum

• Phthalates

• Triclosan

• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/ Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

• Formaldehyde Tolune

  Laundry:

• Fragrance/Parfum

• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/ Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

• Sodium dodecyl sulfate

• Sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium salt

• Sodium salt sulfuric acid

• A13-00356

• Akyposal SDS

• Aquarex ME

• 1, 4-dioxane

• NPE (nonylpphenol ethoxylate)

• Phosphates

  Shampoo:

• Sodium Laurel Sulfate

• Fermaldehyde

• Triclosan

• Dioxane

• Diethanolamine

• Phalthates

• PCBS

• Parabens

• PEG-6

  Baby/Children’s Products:

• Aluminum

• Parabens

• Steareths

• Triclosan

• Propylene Glycol

• TEA and DEA

• Artificial colors & dyes

‍ ‍Home/Office:

• Air Fresheners

• Cleaning products

• Dryer sheets

• Synthetic perfumes or fragrances

• Lead paint

• Paint fumes

• Varnishes

• Urethanes on floors

• Vinyl’s

• Polyurethane

• Synthetic insulation

• Smoke (candles, cooking, etc.)

• Mold spores

• Mildew

• Dust mites

• Synthetic carpet outgassing

• Pet dander/allergens

• Flame retardant particles

• Fabric outgassing

• Natural gas

• Carbon monoxide

• Construction materials

• Chlorine vapors

• Car garage solvents & fumes

• Oil & gas fumes

‍ ‍ Water:

• Tap water to avoid toxins such as fluoride, aluminum, drugs

• Bottled water with “natural flavors”

‍ Deodorant:

• Aluminum

• Parabens

• Steareths

• Tricolsan

• Propylene Glycol

• TEA and DEA Artifical Colors & Dyes

‍ ‍ Cookware:

• Aluminum

• Teflon

• “Non-stick”

With all of these chemicals we are exposed to every single day, people still don’t understand why so many of us are sick and develop dis-ease over time! Once I learned about the onslaught of all of the chemicals in our everyday products, food, house, environment, vaccines, etc., it all made so much more sense to me. Our bodies literally can’t keep up with detoxing all of these chemicals by itself so we need to reduce and remove the toxins or they will accumulate and cause all kinds of health issues.

One way I have been doing that for the past few years is by running an at-home hair and saliva bioenergetic test for myself and my family every few months. This test will check to see if there are any chemicals that are driving down your system. Another way to avoid these toxic chemcials is to read all the labels and choose products that are clean and toxin-free. Here are our favorite products where I have done all of the work for you! I suggest looking at this page on a laptop or computer as it’s much easier to view that way.

To YOUR Health!

Jen

The information presented on this blog is not intended to take the place of your personal physician’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  It is for informational purposes only.