- Wake up – it’s time to detox your skin care
- Common skincare chemicals that can be linked to cancer and how to identify them?
- Can skincare products really cause cancer?
- What are the natural alternatives to carcinogenic skin care chemicals?
- Frequently Asked Questions on Toxic Skincare Ingredients (FAQs)
Some of the skincare ingredients to avoid are chemicals in skincare, cancer-causing chemicals, and just basically bad skincare ingredients. Do parabens cause cancer? Let’s take a closer look at bad ingredients for the skin – so you can keep an eye out and avoid using them!
Wake up – it’s time to detox your skincare
Imagine this: You have been using a moisturiser for over a month, and randomly look at the back of the product, read the ingredients…you see a chemical name and you’re now scared. Wondering, do parabens cause cancer? Am I at risk? It is a daunting task to ensure your ingredients are safe and cancer-free. But it is an important step to know which skin care ingredients to avoid, which chemicals in skincare can cause cancer, and you will know the chemicals in skincare products you need to strictly stay away from!
Common skincare chemicals that can be linked to cancer and how to identify them?
Ingredients which are cancer-causing chemicals are known as carcinogens in skincare. In the beauty and skincare world, there are some chemicals in skincare products, which could be cancer-causing chemicals. It’s time to learn about skincare ingredients to avoid and bad ingredients for skin, so you can detox your kit once and for all! These are some of the chemicals that are found in commonly used skincare products:
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Coal Tar:
One name or energy source that we’re all familiar with is coal. This carbon-loaded rock is processed into a few by-products, one of them being coal tar. Shampoos, dandruff treatment products, hair dyes, and skin treatment products – most cosmetic brands use coal in making them.
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Parabens:
One of the chemicals you should beware of is parabens. They are present in makeup products, moisturisers, spray-tans, and shaving creams.
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Triclosan:
Just like parabens, this chemical reduces the risk of bacterial contamination in the products. Triclosan is found in toothpaste, body washes, and antibacterial soaps.
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Formaldehyde:
Common in skin and hair care products, with its presence in hair straighteners, nail polishes, shampoos, and lotions being the prominent ones, formaldehyde is a hazardous chemical.
Can skincare products really cause cancer? And do parabens cause cancer?
Yes, some chemicals really can cause cancer, especially parabens – they are the most talked-about toxic ingredients in skincare. Here are the effects of the chemicals we mentioned above:
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Coal Tar:
This ingredient can cause scrotal, lung, kidney, digestive tract, and bladder cancer. Reproductive toxicity is another effect of your body being exposed to coal a lot.
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Parabens:
Do parabens cause cancer? Effects of parabens include breast and skin cancer, and decreased sperm count. They can also disrupt the endocrine system and alter your growth, reproduction, and development.
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Triclosan:
Triclosan affects thyroid hormones, causing germs to grow. The long-term effect of this chemical includes the development of skin cancer.
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Formaldehyde:
This chemical irritates the eyes and has a harmful effect on your respiratory system. It can cause allergic reactions as well.
What are the natural alternatives to carcinogenic skincare chemicals?
Should beauty and skincare come at the cost of your health? Absolutely not. It is time to detox your routine and remove these chemical ingredients. It is time to switch from bad ingredients for skin to natural skincare.
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Body lotion and dandruff solution? Coconut oil!
Welcome to the world of hydration with coconuts! One popular way of using this gift of nature for self-care is coconut oil, the ‘elixir’ of ancient Ayurveda. Coconut itself brings goodness in abundance, but the most common form of using them is coconut oil!Coco Soul’s Extra Virgin Coconut Hair Oil is your secret to voluminous, thick, and bouncy hair all year round. This Ayurvedic coconutty goodness is all the hydration your hair needs. It can be used to keep your mane lustrous and healthy.
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Hair dye? Henna!
We’ve heard our mothers and grandmothers use the word henna to colour their hair for ages. What is this hair dye? It is a nourishing, cooling mixture of sesame oil, curry leaves, beetroot juice, curd, lemon juice, and tea leaves to give you the shade you desire.
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Face mask or pack? Turmeric!
In most Indian kitchens lies a beautiful yellow powder aka haldi as a naturally healing ingredient. This powder is turmeric – a beauty and skincare staple for glowing, rejuvenated skin. Mixing turmeric with curd gives you the all-natural face pack for a glowing face.
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Moisturiser for dry skin? Aloe vera!
Natural ingredients come with several healing properties and get absorbed into your skin like magic! Aloe vera is one such herb, with hydrating properties in the gel extracted from the plant. When you apply aloe vera to dry skin, its light texture moisturises it and makes it smooth.
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Acne solutions? Sandalwood!
Santalum album, or Indian sandalwood – also known as ‘chandan’, is a small tropical tree, which is the traditional source of sandalwood oil. Be it as a powder, paste or oil, it works its magic as a powerful antiseptic, emollient, and anti-inflammatory solution for your skin. You can also try out Coco Soul’s all-natural face wash and face scrub to help reduce acne naturally!
Frequently Asked Questions on Toxic Skincare Ingredients (FAQs)
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How do you know if ingredients are toxic?
If you’re wondering what makes certain ingredients toxic, look out for substances with a chemical structure that changes to toxic once absorbed by your body. The most harmful ingredients are parabens, and most of the toxic ingredients keep your products germ-free but are chemicals that harm your body
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How to start a natural beauty regimen?
It may sound like a daunting task to suddenly switch over to natural plant-derived ingredients, but it rewards you with glowing, happy skin. First, learn about clean formulations, and ingredients easily found in your kitchen, and then, once you determine your skin type, try the soft and natural skincare regimen to treat your concerns.
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How are carcinogenic chemicals allowed in skincare?
While most of them are less common, we are less aware of them – a few carcinogens or cancer-causing chemicals are the ones we’ve heard of. Ingredients like formaldehyde are used in personal care products and the easiest, most important way to avoid them is to read labels while purchasing products – or switch to natural skincare and be kinder to the planet.