We are exposed to chemicals in our daily hygiene, makeup, and cleaning routines that have a profound impact on our health.  The cocktail of chemicals we are breathing in, metabolizing, and absorbing, are in our everyday products that we use daily and we expect that they are safe, and they should be safe. I keep seeing product labels that say “Safe and Gentle” or “Non-Comedogenic” and “Dermatologist Tested”, however, in the extensive list of ingredients, I am seeing a concoction of carcinogens, teratogens, skin irritants and organ toxicants, reproductive toxins, and endocrine disruptors; even in these so called “safe and gentle” formulas.

I had the privilege of speaking at the North Toronto Mom’s group last week and was inspired by this supportive, smart, and passionate group of women who care about their families and their community.  I shared  some foundational information on the Chemical Body Burden and have had quite a bit of feedback and interest on the topic, so I have decided to include some facts and resources in this post regarding this topic for all of you.

Known Toxic Chemicals

Did you know that the average female is in contact with an average of 200 toxic chemicals in her morning routine? From a sample of 1,029 people studied by the FDA, every person tested positive for phthalates in their blood or urine.

Below is a list of a few common ingredients to be cautious of. Here is a Pocket Reference for Toxic Chemicals in Body Care & Cosmetics that I’ve created, and you can print for yourself and your friends and family, to help guide you through those extensive ingredients lists on products and help you purchase safer and less toxic options.

Click here for a detailed list of Toxic Chemical Ingredients and how they affect your health, in my post “Chemicals in Your Makeup Bag”.

Legislation

Each ingredient has it’s own adverse health effects, but Health Canada and the FDA do no require companies to test the combinations of chemicals that they are putting together to create their formulas. Health Canada makes it clear that we need to protect ourselves, I quote, “We provide tools for Canadians to protect themselves” and they have a “Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist” of ingredients to be aware of. They ask that companies self-regulate their product’s safety, and if they use ingredients in the hotlist, they are to test their own formulations and reduce the amount of the chemical to a safe level.

Why Are These Toxins Still Used Today?

1. They increase absorption rates, enter the bloodstream quicker

2. Enhance texture, creamier, thicker, desired consistency

3. Synthetically stabilize, preserve, increase shelf life, mass manufacturing, increase revenues

4. Cheaper filling options

5. They are available and legal. Many left over chemicals after WWII were introduced into fertilizers and beauty products and they revolutionized the cosmetic industry. 62,000 chemicals were grandfathered into the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (the American legislation that Canada also refers to) without any required testing; to this day, many of those chemicals have never been tested.

Be an Informed Consumer

There are safe options out there but it’s your job to protect your family’s health!

• Know that there are limits to the laws!
• Read ingredients labels
• Use the “Resources” section on my blog to check product recalls/news articles etc
• Use the Skin Deep Database to check your products for safety (look up products, ingredients or companies)
• Stay informed through the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
• Research Companies and their practices
• Choose truly organic options whenever possible

Here’s a quick guide to the common cosmetic chemicals that you will find in conventional makeup and body care products in Canada and the US. Click here for a mini  Pocket Reference for Toxic Chemicals in Body Care & Cosmetics that you can print for your wallet and share with your friends and family and start using healthier and safer products.

Beauty Tip:

For glowing, healthy & young looking skin, avoid chemicals altogether! Your skin, like the rest of your body needs minerals, vitamins, and nutrition, not chemicals. Your skin is equipped to care for itself, to clean and protect itself from outside contaminants if we let it. Chemicals create a pH imbalance of the skin, often change the natural sebum production (stopping it or creating more of it), creates cracking and drying of the skin, may cause DNA and pigment damage, and many have addictive properties. Whenever possible, choose products with truly organic ingredients made from plants, flowers and essential oils. Click here to see a couple of my favourite safe skin care and makeup companies.

Chemicals in Your Makeup Bag: What to Avoid & Why

1. Parabens

• in 75-95% of products in the west; in all kinds of makeup, foundations, cleansers, toners, moisturiers, fragrances, etc.
• Act as preservatives; they are readily absorbed by the skin
• Look for ingredients ending in the word “paraben” (methyl, propyl, butyl etc)
• Found in breast cancer tissue in studies in England and B.C.
• Methylparaben is banned in the European Union & regulated in other markets
• They are fat soluable so they have difficulty excreting the body
• Methylparaben has been linked to hormone disruption. It has also been found to react with UVB rays, increasing DNA damage, damages pigment, leads to increased skin aging & increased cancer risk

2. SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate); SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate)

• Degreaser in garages; creates a bubbling action
• “Laureth“means it’s been processed with ethelyene oxide; it’s been “ethoxylated” and is contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which is linked to cancers and allergies
• Found in most soaps, cleansers, shower gels, shampoos
• Damages outer layer of the skin and eyes, is a suspected carcinogen, doesn’t easily degrade

3. Phthalates

• Oily substance in perfumes; makes the smell linger; in wood finishes; softens plastics
• Found in many soaps and scented products
• In a study by the FDA of 1,029 people, every one tested positive for phthalates in their blood or urine
• Mimics estrogen in the body; endocrine disruptor, hormone & reproductive & developmental toxin; may cause birth defects
• ie: dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in nail polish & creams, aids in texture, creaminess & shine

4. Fragrances

• Combinations of hundreds of hydrocarbons
• Many trigger allergies; associated with cancer & neurotoxicity
• Considered “trade secrets” and the cocktail of chemicals does not legally need to be listed in the ingredients

5. Petroleum derived ingredients

• Addictive properties; the skin stops producing it’s own sebum.
• Ie: Mineral Oil, vaseline, isopropyl alcohol (causes miniature cracking and allows bacteria to enter the skin)
• Coal Tar (dyes that are often a 5 digit #); recognized carcinogen, often contaminated with low levels of heavy metals that are toxic to the brain
• PEG’s (PEG#) – thickener in creams and penetration enhancer.

6. Oxybenzone

• Chemical sunscreen blocker
• Associated with photoallergic reactions, immunotoxicity, bioaccumulation; endocrine disruptor.
• Absorbed through the skin in significiant amounts

8. Formaldehyde

• Many preservatives release formaldehyde over time in the bottle
• ie: Quarternium-15 purposefully releases formaldehyde to kill bacteria and it is a penetration enhancer
• Found in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo along with 1,4-dioxane (carcinogen) in the “No More Toxic Tub” Report.
• Greatest offenders were: Johnson & Johnson, Sesame Street bubble bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby wash, Huggies Naturally
• Was found again in Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo in “The Tub is Still Toxic” Report in 2011. Johnson & Johnson committed to removing harsh chemicals by 2013; now they have a new commitment to remove them by 2015, read most recent news article.

9. Triclosan

•  An active anti-bacterial agent and preservative; mainly found in antiperspirants, cleansers, hand sanitizers. Also found in garbage bags, toys, linens, mattresses, toilet fixtures, clothing, furniture, laundry detergent, facial tissues, and a variety of cosmetics
• Suspected to interfere with hormone function
• Was detected in urine of 2517 people tested
• Irritating to the skin and eyes; very toxic to acquadic organisms
• React with dioxins which bioaccumulate
• The Canadian Medical Assoication called for a ban on consumer products with these anti-bacterial agents

10. Other Contaminants

• There are a variety of contaminants that are not listed on product labels. This is because they are part of the manufacturing process rather than an ingredient that has been added to the product.
• ie: The process of “ethoxylating” with ethylene oxide to make the other ingredients feel “less harsh” on the skin creates a biproduct called 1,4-dioxane which is a toxic chemical that is completely banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden and regulated closely by the European Union.
• Heavy metals are also contaminants that are not purposefully added. Coal tar is often contaminated with heavy metals and lead. Lead is a common contaminant in lipsticks. See the levels of Lead in Lipsticks Report (and which were the worst offenders) from the FDA here under Resources.

For additional cosmetic chemical details, read this post and scroll down to see my Summary Chart of the Report: Dirty Dozen Summary Chart researched by the David Suzuki Foundation.

Customize Your Lip Balm: Personalize Ingredients Based On Your Needs

There are many ways to personalize your lip balm. You can choose your favourite nourishing oils along with your favourite natural scents from essential oils to make it feel and smell just how you want it! I will list my recipe below for you to try. You can also choose ingredients that suit your needs better than what any company can. If you have super dry or chapped lips, you might want to add a higher concentration of emollients such as coco butter, beeswax, or sweet almond oil, to soften the skin and prevent the loss of moisture. Coco butter is high in fatty acids that are quickly absorbed and has beautiful softening properties. If you have peeling or cracking lips, you might want to add a higher concentration of soothing and healing ingredients, such as coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, or rosehip seed extract. Apricot kernel oil soothes skin conditions and is high in vitamins A and C and is great for aging skin. Rosehip seed is also fabulous for it’s nutritional benefits, high in vitamin C, A, B3, and stimulates cell renewal; it is also rich in fatty acids, naturally tones, prevents scaring, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and helps heal broken capillaries. Pure rosehip seed oil is my favourite ingredient especially in moisturizing serums and I’ve been using it as a stretch mark prevention as a moisturizer for my baby belly.

The Process: How To Make Lip Balm

You’ll be happy to know, it’s very simple!

Step 1: Pre-wash your little containers and have them ready so that you can pour the warm liquid into them immediately before any hardening may take place. I disinfect my containers beforehand with boiling water and let them dry fully before using them.

Step 2: In a small or medium size sauce pan boil water and leave on simmer. Then use a glass or stainless steel bowl to make it into a double boiler. Put all your ingredients in the bowl above your hot water and stir with a whisk until smooth.

Step 3: Fill your lip balm jars immediately while the liquid is warm.

Step 4: Let your filled jars cool and voila! You’ve done it!

 Healing Honey Mint Lip Balm Recipe

I am a terrible example when it comes to recipes… I’m kinda like Chef at Home Michael Smith… I’m the chef without a recipe. I usually know my proportions and then improvise using my favourite natural ingredients… However, here is a receipe for you to follow for your first time. Feel free to improvise. If it calls for almond oil, don’t be afraid to substitute with rosehip or apricot or whatever you prefer. If you prefer it a little harder, add more coco butter or beeswax.

2 tsp. beeswax

2 tsp. coco butter

1 tsp. shea butter

8 tsp. apricot kernel oil

2 tsp. jojoba oil

2 tsp. caster oil

1 tsp. lanolin

1 tsp. pure vitamin E

1 tsp. honey

12 drops peppermint essential oil (or lemon, orange, mandarin, grapefruit, vanilla etc)

Customize Your Receipe

4-5 tsp. solid emollients

14 tsp. liquid nutritious oils

1 tsp honey

10-12 drops essential oil

Make it more solid: add greater proportions of your solid emollients.

Make it more glossy: add greater proportions of your liquid oils.

Make it coloured: Use pure loose minerals (mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides). You can use the loose eye shadows from bella pierre cosmetics or other brands with just pure minerals to add a tints to your lip gloss.

1. Coat the base of the lashes – side to side motion

2. Roll up from the base to the tips of the lashes

3. Use the top of the wand, with the extra product on the end, placing the extra mascara across the base of the lashes

5. Roll up from the base to the tips again, reworking the extra mascara.

6. For a little extra length and continuous colour on the top of the lashes, gently feather the top of the lashes with mascara as well

7. Finish by separating any lashes using the tip of the wand

Here are my Top 3 Healthy Must Haves

#1. Zuii Organic Flora Liquid Foundation

Why is it so great? It has a smooth texture, always very creamy but also can provide a beautiful full coverage. It has a pump top which doesn’t allow air to go into it and it stays fresh for about 1 year. It’s a large tube and if you use it everyday, it will still probably last you about 8 months! I would compare this foundation to other top conventional brands and this has zero chemicals which is so impressive! All the Zuii Organic flora cosmetics also have a natural floral scent because of the natural ingredients they use.

Application Tips: After applying your moisturizer (The Skin Essence Organic Nourish Moisturizing Serum is a perfect “primer” or if you have acne prone skin, their Light Moisturizing Serum is great as a foundation primer). For a full coverage allow your moisturizer to absorb and dry for about 3 minutes. Afterwards, use one squirt of the liquid foundation, thin it out on multiple fingers and apply a thin layer over entire face including eye lids, then blend well in a downward motion because of the fine hairs all over the face. You can apply with a foundation brush, sponge, or your fingers, that’s all personal preference.  Apply a second thin layer for a full coverage and extra around darker area around eyes. For a medium coverage and a natural dewy look, apply the moisturizing serum and immediately apply liquid foundation.  If you match your foundation appropriately you will not have to use any on your neck.

#2. ZuZu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation

Why is it so great? I use to only use loose powders, like pure mineral powder or the silken earth powder from Aubrey Organics. They stopped making this or at least they stopped selling it in Canada sadly. I loved the loose powder made of silk.  Mineral powders were alright however I didn’t find I got a very natural looking nor day long coverage. Now I have a new favourite powder and I never would’ve thought I’d be returning to pressed powder!! This is so silky and soft that it applies like my loose silk powder but it’s pressed in a compact. I love that you can buy refills so it’s eco-friendly and you don’t have to throw away your old compact. There’s even an extra hidden pouch below that opens to store your sponge applicator which is convenient for those little touch ups later in the day or night when you’re out! It gives you a nice matte finish and helps hold your cheek colour in place all day.

Application Tips: Brushes make a big difference. Use your favourite big powder brush for the best application. (I love the iBeauty brushes from Winners made of bamboo and super soft synthetic fibers). If you want it to last all day, it’s all about layering. After your liquid foundation, apply the pressed powder all over with your powder brush. Then apply your cheek colour and bronzer. For a matte look, finsih with a reapplying some pressed powder to the t-zone and a little under the cheeks to seal your colour and help it last all day.

#3. “The Mascara” by ZuZu Luxe

Why is it so great? This mascara is the only mascara I have found with all plant based ingredients (free from coal tar, parabens, petroleum ingredients and harmful dyes), that has a great workable consistency, it’s super glossy and is not dry at all. You actually get quite a bit on your wand. It’s easy to actually work the lashes and move the mascara around to coat your lashes from top to bottom. The tube lasts a perfect 3 months (after 3 months it’s best to throw away mascara due to the bacteria that could be developing in it). I would compare this mascara to my old favourite which was the ultimate mascara from Mary Kay. This mascara comes off well with just washing your face with a safe natural Gentle Cleanser and then I use some grapeseed oil on an organic cotton pad.

Application Tips: In order to get a full set of lovely lashes you must make sure to coat them directly from the base of the lashes. Start with holding the applicator right at the base of the lash line, slowly and subtly move the wand side to side, then roll the brush all the way out to the tips of the lashes. Repeat until you’re satisfied. You can also lightly coat the top of the upper lashes, feathering the top of the lashes then the bottom part of the upper lashes for a natural even look. For more dramatic lashes, I always use the tip of the applicator, where a soft glob of the mascara is at the tip of it, holding the wand vertically, move the tip of the wand along the base of the lashes. Then you will have extra product to work with. Then turn the wand back horizontally and work the lashes as you normally would until it’s even and lashes are separated as desired. You usually only need to dip the wand once per eye. Unless you’re adding colour below your lower lashes, stick to keeping your mascara to just the upper lashes for a younger and ‘awake’ look.

I am passionate about only using healthy alternative products since our skin absorbs nearly everything that is applied to it and there are so many ingredients causing cancers and terrible illnesses! So now I have found a way to get natural alternative products for all of you as well.  I order natural cosmetic products 1/month for my clients from Zuii Organic, ZuZu Luxe, Gabriel, and No Miss nail care and polish. If you would like anything, you can contact me directly: ladykennedy03@yahoo.ca. If you would like any Skin Essence Organics, email me and I can email you a discount code so you can get a better deal through their website (skinessence.ca).

Many of you are becoming more aware of the lack of regulations in the cosmetic industry and are learning what’s really in your personal care products. To review some basics, this video gives you a brief head’s up on a few of the things that are in our every day products while surveying the public. Have you ever noticed the fine print on baby products (like “Mr. Bubble – Gentle Formula with Aloe”) that say “Excessive use or prolonged exposure can cause irritation to skin and urinary tract “? Thanks for watching! Feel free to list your comments below.

Also, if you haven’t already seen the other video with more details on chemicals used in products and a background on the cosmetic industry, please do watch this one too! This is my favourite video! It’s in my previous post, What’s In Your Personal Care Products – Take a Look, click here to watch this one or click on the picture below. They review the ingredients in a best selling common shampoo that most of us purchase just about anywhere in North America. Enjoy!!

Feel free to leave your comments below!

This video helps you get to know the ‘toxic 12′ ingredients and contaminants in personal care products. Do you know where these chemicals come from and what they are normally used for? Did you know that at least 1/3 of all personal care items have various glycols (ethylene glycol, butylene glycol, propylene glycol) in them? Do you know how this affects the liver, kidneys, and immune system? This video is totally worth the few minutes, check it out!

Video: Get to Know The Toxic 12 & Where They Come From

What do you think about this? Post your comments and discussions below.

Here are some typical ingredients from a lotion. What do you think about them?

Studies have shown that on a daily basis the average woman is exposed to 50 mg or more of the Dirty Dozen chemicals thanks to body care, fragrances, and cosmetics. A recent online study showed that 60% of consumers are looking for “safer” products however they still continue to use products with chemicals in them. The truth is, most people don’t know what to look for when reading ingredients lists. Secondly, we don’t have strong enough laws around safe ingredients and cosmetic labelling.

Cancer Risk & Other Adverse Health Effects

It disturbs me even as I write; I am sad to write these facts.  So many “normal” chemical cosmetic ingredients are linked to cancers and other adverse health effects. Many of the dirtiest chemicals are found in our everyday personal care products, affecting human health, children, aquatic life, and the ecosystem. These chemicals have been linked to the following illnesses: various cancers, allergies, thyroid and kidney problems, lung function, blood coagulation, increased skin aging, skin cancer, breast cancer, neurotoxicity, endocrine (hormone) disruption, harmful affects in the developing fetus, female and male fertility, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, asthma, eye and skin irritations, systemic toxicity and genotoxicity. I’ve connected the dots below in my chart as to which ingredients cause which health problems. Make yourself aware of the Dirty Dozen chemicals so that you can protect your health and use safer products.

Breast Cancer

The Mother Nature Network describes breast cancer trends:  ”The rate of incidence among women has risen from 1 in 22 in the 1940s to 1 in 7 in 2004, and breast cancer is also on the rise in men.” Parabens are the most widely used preservative in cosmetics made from petrochemicals. It’s estimated that at least 75-95% of cosmetics contain parabens. Parabens easily penetrate the skin and they are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors. Methylparaben has been found in breast cancer tissue and has been banned for use in personal care products in the European Union. I recently took a look at the bottle of Proactiv Cleanser that the little girl had that I take care of. I was shocked to see a list of, not just one paraben, but 4 parabens including methylparaben and propylparaben! Also, in the Human Toxome Project by the EWG, they found methylparaben in 28 of the 28 people tested in the study.

The Dirty Dozen

The David Suzuki Foundation has classified what they believe as the 12 most toxic ingredients that are linked to cancer. Here’s a summary that I’ve made into a chart form for easier reading. Here is a copy of the full report: Dirty Dozen Report.

Stay informed and learn practical ways to stay away from toxic chemicals. Follow my blog or follow me on Twitter.

I receive the regular email updates from the EWG and I always enjoy checking out their newest research and development. This year they are working on compiling a database of chemical cleaners that are super toxic and why. This guide will help the public know which cleaners are the most hazardous so that we can keep them out of our homes.  I am so glad that they’ve given us an early release of their database (official release date is fall 2012)! Below I will include the link so that you can download the Official Sneak Peak of the Cleaners Hall of Shame Guide! It’s colourful and easy to read too.

My House & Good-bye to Endocrine (Hormone) Disruptors!

It’s important to me to be cautious of what I’m eating and absorbing through my skin, and I find myself pretty careful about which cleaners I buy, but maybe I should take a second look! About a month ago I fully got rid of fragrances, fabreeze and scented candles because of the chemical that has hormone altering properties (endocrine disruptors).  We have an escarpment of nasty chemicals right now in our homes, under the sink, in our laundry rooms and in our cabinets. This guide is a handy resource and you can download it for free!

Here are some shameful facts that they outline in the guide, including pictures and lists of products that are worst offenders: Green Washing, Banned Abroad, Drain Cleaners that can Burn and Blind, Oven Cleaners that Omit Toxic Fumes, Mystery Mixers, Fatal if Inhaled, Fatal if Swallowed, High Hazard Ingredients, Combating Static with Toxic Chemicals, Spray Cleaners with Asthma Causing Ingredients, 100+ Hidden Chemicals, Undisclosed Chemicals in the Air, Dead Zone Detergents.

Green Tips

I really like that they offer a bright side and give us a “Green Tip” after each section to help us! I hope that this resource can make your home greener and cleaner too! Feel free to include your feedback below in the comments section.

Click here to view the sneak peak of the guide: Cleaners Hall of Shame – EWG 2012

 Here is an example of the chemcial ingredients in one Fabreeze product tested by the EWG:

There are 87+ chemicals in Febreze Air Effects, listed in order of their toxicity to humans  (Sourced directly from: The Sustainable Baby Steps Website)

• BHT – Known as a neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, immunotoxicity, non-reproductive organ system toxicity, skin eye and lung irritator
• Acetaldehyde – Known to cause cancer, toxic to reproduction and development, immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin, skin, eye and lung irritator
• “Fragrance” – One of the three ingredients actually disclosed, it’s a neurotoxin, immunotoxin and allergen
• Propylene Glycol – Causes cancer, allergies, toxic to immune system, accumulates in the system, non-reproductive organ system toxin, is classified with “enhanced skin absorption” and irritates the skin, eye and lung
• 1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol – Carcinogenic (causes cancer)
• Limonene – Allergen, immunotoxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Methyl pyrrolidone – Toxin to reproduction and development, allergen and immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Alcohol denatured – Also disclosed in the ingredients of Febreze, it’s linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Butylphenyl methylpropion al – allergen, immunotoxin and and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Ethyl acetate – linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, organic system toxicity and and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Geraniol – Linked to allergies, immunotoxicity, organi system toxicity and and skin, eyes and lung irritation
• Linalool – allergen, immunotoxin, and and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Benzaldehyde – neurotoxin, and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether – non-reproductive organ system toxicity
• Ethylhezanol – developmental and reproductive toxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator
• Hexyl cinnamal – allergen, immunotoxin and skin, eyes and lung irritator

A general rule of thumb is to select colours that are on the opposite side of the colour wheel. By doing this, it will make your eyes pop rather than blend. This way the attention will be drawn to your bright blue eyes and they will be irresistible!

• 
• Here are some colours that work great on every shade of blue eye:
• Golds, peaches, browns, greys, and plums. Even oranges can work for you. You can get away with seafoam green and fun colours but I still prefer metals and gold hues for blue eyes since it brings so much focus to your natural eye colour.
• Right now the trends are a little more bold so rather than just doing a plain brown shadow creating a natural look, why not have fun and add use some gold or a rusty peach to make a statement?
• Check out these pics, like Taylor Swift! Her blue eyes are unbelievably addicting with this gold shadow!
• When it comes to eye liners, for the most part, I would suggest black for a nice bold statement but it you’d like to play it a little more neutral then a brown or taupe will always work with blue eyes and still bring definition and attention to those baby blues!

Colours That Look Beautiful on Blue Eyes

I’ve selected the colours below from an all natural makeup line that I really like called ZuZu Luxe. If you put your cursor above the picture it will list the name of the eye shadow colour. For a makeover or colour matching email me at: marcella@bbinsideout.com

*Do you have blue eyes? What colours have you found work great on you? Share your ideas below!