The beauty industry has grown like never before in recent years, and today, store shelves are full of products catering to every skincare or beauty need you could have.
Most of these products are packed with harmful chemicals and preservatives and cause more harm to your skin than good.
The Dreadful Parabens
Parabens are the most commonly found synthetic preservatives- these make it to the ingredients list in most beauty and skincare products out there, and their major role is preventing bacterial growth in the product.
On the downside, using parabens has been linked to cancer growth, suggesting it might be a carcinogen. In addition, parabens have been found to mimic the hormone estrogen in the body, which can lead to hormonal disturbances, developmental and metabolic problems and neurological disorders.
The Oh-So Sulfates
Sulfates are usually added to skincare and beauty products to create a lather. Their use has been linked to eye and skin irritation, and at times, it can even prematurely clear off the dye from dyed hair.
In addition, many environmentalists claim that sulfates can pose environmental risks and cause harm to aquatic life too.
The Scary Formaldehyde
Many beauty products commercially available today also contain synthetic preservatives that release formaldehyde over time. Glyoxal, bronopol and DMDMH are some common examples- they are actually added as antimicrobial agents but release formaldehyde as time passes.
The fact that formaldehyde is a human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) is well known. Today, several studies have shown how the longer these agents are stored in the products, the stronger their health implications are.
Switching to the Better Preservatives
If your beauty product contains water or will come in contact with water (e.g. a mask), it needs protection to prevent microbial growth. This can only be achieved with preservatives.
Creams and lotions contain around 60-80% water and must be preserved with at least one preservative.
Are there better preservatives? Well, yes and no. A preservative is still synthetic and not natural. Some preservatives are more harmful than others. Consumers are now more aware of parabens and other harmful preservatives. Companies have begun using safer preservatives like sodium levulinate, sodium benzoate, or Benzyl alcohol. These are only a few examples of approved preservatives allowed in natural and organic skincare products.