Do you ever touch something silky this time of year, only to have it snag on your dry skin? In winter our hands, heels, elbows (not to mention lips!) can all chap and appear rough and flaky. Over-dry skin can even become cracked and irritated. Not a good feeling—or a good look.
Bring on the lotion! Bust out the lip balm! Where’s my hand cream?! But wait.
Before slathering your skin with a potion that smells nice and feels good, let’s take a quick peek at some of the ingredients that you may be inadvertently encouraging your body to absorb.
1. Petroleum and mineral oil
Petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, is derived from oil, an unsustainable source. And even the most refined, purest grades of these oils and jellies may still be cause for worry, sometimes containing trace contaminants from the manufacturing process that can penetrate the skin. In fact, the Journal of Women’s Health reported in a 2011 study “strong evidence” exists that “mineral oil hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminant of the human body, amounting to approximately 1 g per person.”
Instead, choose products that contain USDA certified organic ingredients to protect and restore moisture.
2. BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
These compounds are synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives in lip balms, cosmetics and in a variety of packaged foods. The evidence isn’t conclusive, but they have been linked to respiratory irritation, endocrine disruption, cancer, organ-system toxicity and developmental and reproductive toxicity.
Instead choose products that contain Vitamin E. It does the same job as BHA and BHT, and it’s safe in small doses.
3. Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben and other ingredients ending in “paraben”)
Parabens are used as preservatives in many cosmetics, but due to their ability to mimic estrogen they can potentially disrupt the endocrine system. According to breastcancer.org, “Parabens can penetrate the skin and act like a very weak estrogen in the body—potentially turning on the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers.”
Your best bet? Look for products that are labeled “paraben-free.”
4. Undisclosed fragrances and flavors
In order to protect “trade secrets,” cosmetic manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients that make up their fragrances and flavors. Unfortunately, synthetic fragrances often contain high levels of phthalates, strong hormone disruptors linked to decreased sperm count in men, reduced female fertility, brain development problems, diabetes, asthma and obesity. Phthalates can also cause allergy and asthma symptoms to worsen.
Opt for products labeled “phthalate-free” or “free from synthetic fragrance” or those that are “scented with essential oils.”
5. Synthetic colors and dyes
Food, drugs and cosmetics (“FD&C”) color pigments are the most common synthetic colors used in hair dyes and cosmetics (including many lipsticks, lip balms and body lotions). Derived from coal tar (another petroleum byproduct), FD&C color pigments contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, sometimes causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Some coal tar dyes have also been shown to be carcinogenic—something you definitely want to be aware of before coating your lips or skin with them!
Watch out for FD&C colorants in skin care products (as well as in your foods and beverages).
Do you read the labels of your body care products to know what is in them? What kinds of things do you look for, and why? We’d love to hear your thoughts; just drop us a line in the comments below. Resources:
I’m IN LOVE with the new Norwex Body Balm for these very reasons!! We don’t NEED any of those chemicals in our products! We can have products that work well and smell amazing without hartmful chemicals, he body balm is proof of this!
I can’t wait to try out the Norwex Body Balm for these very reasons!!
Great tips, I find the EWG website is a GREAT resource to check ingredients when buying beauty and skin care products!
Such a great layout of the chemicals we need to be aware of in our cosmetics and lotions! It’s scary that companies are allowed to leave some ingredients out! LOVE that Norwex has a solution to even these problems!
I have recently started reading labels on my body products! I agree that EWG is a good resource for checking ingredients. I would love to see Norwex products listed on that site so as a consultant I can point to it quickly showing its safety. Entering those long ingredient names (that sometimes look scary to an everyday ‘Joe’) can be cumbersome.
I’m glad that Norwex gives us safer. effective options!
April, thank you for your recommendation. We agree, EWG is one of many good resources to help understand personal care ingredients, and one we tap into regularly. We will take your suggestion into consideration.
I have been reading the Ingredients’ Labels in ALL products I am to purchase and have been greatly disappointed!
This is one of the reasons I gladly became a Norwex Independent Sales Consultant, and I believe so strongly in this new business of mine.
I am currently using the new lip balms and the body balm and I am so happy and tranquil that they won’t harm me or my loved ones. Plus, these products work! Since I have been using the body wash, there has been no skin irritation, no itchiness! The body lotion, even not very thick, helps lock moisture and does not harm my skin!
Also, my Customers love the hand cream – they actually say it has helped them with skin problems – and they keep purchasing because they understand the value and the integrity all of these products carry.
Great info
Now I am looking at the ingredients on my products.
Great information.. looking forward to this challenge.❤️❤️
Yes, l read all the ingredients. Sometimes when it gets overwhelming and ingredients l can’t even pronounce l simply pass it by. There are too many good products to settle for a harmful one.