Are we taking good care of our body?

An average person is using some 20-25 types of cosmetics and toiletries products which can contain up to 200 ingredients! Most of them come into direct contact with our skin, others are also inhaled. What do we know about possible health effects of these chemicals?

Cosmetics like shower gels, deodorants or toothpaste are an integral part of our everyday lives. It is important that they are safe for daily use, as they are in direct contact with the skin and mucous membranes, and some ingredients can pass through the skin, into our bodies. Some products are used as sprays or aerosols and could also enter the body via inhalation.

There are a multitude of products for hair, skin cleansing and body care. Even if most cosmetic ingredients are listed on the packaging with their technical terms, safe products are not immediately recognizable. The labels are often hard to read and can be confusing for the consumer. Some ingredients can have irritating or allergenic effects or are suspected of being endocrine disruptors (endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the hormone system and can cause tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders) or carcinogenic (causing cancer).

Regular contact with harmful substances, for instance when using cosmetic products on the skin may lead to their absorption into the body. The more chemicals that are absorbed the more likely it is that they might impact our health. Therefore, it is useful to reduce contact with hazardous chemicals in e.g. cosmetic products, if possible.

• Shampoos and bath additives: Shower gels may contain the sodium lauryl sulphate which may dry out and irritate sensitive skin. They may contain preserving agents and fragrances which are potentially allergenic, hormonally active or carcinogenic.
• Lotions, creams and oils: Skincare products often contain synthetic mineral oils that can accumulate in the body and be damaging to your health. Allergenic fragrances are problematic as well: You can find a list under “Avoid harmful substances”. Preservatives like parabens can disrupt the hormone system. Many day creams supposed to protect the skin from UV damage may contain chemical UV filters which can accumulate in the body and disrupt the hormone system
• Deodorants and perfumes: Deodorants act against the bacteria responsible for odour development using preservatives like formaldehydes or formaldehyde releasers and alcohol. Alcohol can irritate and dry out sensitive skin and some odour covering fragrances are allergenic. Musk compounds are persistent, i.e. they can accumulate in the environment and in the body. Deodorants and perfumes can contain endocrine disrupting phthalates which are used as denaturants and don’t have to be listed on the label.
• Sunscreens: Sunscreen provides protection from UV radiation that can cause skin cancer. In sun lotions, chemical filters and mineral pigments are responsible for that protection. Some chemical filters like benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone) disrupt the endocrine (hormone) system and accumulate in the body. Caution is advised with mineral UV protection containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide be present as nanoparticles because the possible health effects are not yet fully known.
• Toothpaste and mouthwash: Toothpaste contains mechanical abrasives and surfactants, fragrances, flavors, sweeteners and preserving agents, as well as fluoride which supposedly prevents cavities. Preservatives are used to prevent dental plaque; but the potentially harmful substances are triclosan or chlorhexidine. Also mouthwash can contain preservatives and alcohol.

At present, it is mandatory that  26 allergenic fragrances are listed individually on the packaging with their INCI names. However, it is not required to indicate that they might be allergenic chemicals.

Men, women and children are directly exposed to hazardous chemicals in cosmetics – through skin, inhaling and even ingestion. Some ingredients have irritating or allergenic effects or are suspected of being endocrine disruptors, or have been linked to cancer. Reddening, blisters and itchy skin areas can be first signs of an allergic reaction to a cosmetic ingredient. Some of these hazardous chemicals may end up in the environment, accumulate there over time and cause potential damage to living organisms.

Preservatives

Parabens (e.g. Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben)

Estrogenic effects, disrupts

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil; deodorants & perfumes

Preservatives

Phenoxyethanol

Irritating after prolonged exposure, neurotoxic, allergenic

Shampoos & bath additives; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil; deodorants & perfumes

Preservatives

Chlorhexidine, Digluconateor Cetylpyridinium Chloride

Irritating, can cause allergies and lead to tooth discoloration

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste; lotions, creams & oil

Preservatives

Formaldehydes and formaldehyde releasers (e.g. benzylhemiformal, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, diazolidinyl urea, Imidazolidinyl urea, Quaternium-15, DMDM Hydantoin)

Irritates mucous membranes and skin, can cause hypersensitivity, carcinogenic (nasal pathway)

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil; deodorants & perfumes

Preservatives, antiseptic

Triclosan

Can cause allergies and bacterial resistance

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste; deodorants & perfumes

Surfactants, detergents

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS, Sodium dodecyl sulfate; Sulphuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium salt; Sodium salt sulphuric acid; Monododecyl ester sodium salt sulphuric acid), Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide

Irritates and dries out the skin

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste

Surfactants, detergents

Ethylene oxide, 1,4 Dioxane (by-product of SLS, myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, oxynol)

Probably carcinogenic to humans, toxic to the brain and central nervous system, kidneys and liver. It is also a leading groundwater contaminant

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste

UV-filters

Benzophenone-3(oxybenzone)

Biochemical or cellular level changes, disrupts the endocrine system, accumulates in living organisms (e.g. breast milk) and in the environment

Sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil

UV-filters

3-Benzylidene camphor(3 BC)

Disrupts the endocrine system, accumulates in living organisms (e.g. breast milk) and in the environment

Sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil

UV-filters

4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC)

Disrupts the endocrine system, is persistent and accumulates in living organisms (e.g. breast milk) and in the environment

Sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil

UV-filters

Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC, Ethylhexyl-methoxycinnamate, Octinoxate)

Disrupts the endocrine system, accumulates in living organisms (e.g. breast milk) and in the environment

Sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil

UV-filters

Octyl-Dimethyl-para- Aminobenzoic-Acid PABA(OD-PABA)

Biochemical or cellular level changes, multiple additive exposure sources, can cause photo allergic reaction

Sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil

Nano titanium dioxide,nano zinc oxide

Indications for toxic effects in cells, accumulation in the body – health risks are currently unknown

Toothpaste; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil

Perfume, scent

Fragrances, musk compounds,parfum

Allergy risk, irritate the skin, accumulates in the environment, the body & breast milk, some can disrupt the endocrine systemNB! These compounds if they are not from natural sources can contain solvents and denaturant agents e.g.  Phthalates, which have no labelling obligation. These substances disrupt the endocrine system, potentially sensitising

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil; deodorants & perfumes

Mineral oils

Paraffinum liquidum, wax

Not broken down by the human body. Accumulates in the lungs, liver and lymph nodes

Shampoos & bath additives; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil; deodorants & perfumes

Chelating agent

EDTA (Disodium EDTA)

Accumulate in the body and in the environment

Shampoos & bath additives; toothpaste; sunscreen; lotions, creams & oil; deodorants & perfumes

*INCI name – International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients

Important sources for this table: Dutch Environmental organisation, Dutch State institute for Healthcare and environment, SINlist Chemsec, a new Dutch institute for Food and Consumer products