in , , ,

Harmful ingredients in cosmetics

We exfoliate, we cream and we style. Personal hygiene is a daily routine. But whether you really do your body a favor depends on the products used.

Unhealthy ingredients in cosmetics

"There is increasing evidence that ingredients can lead to serious health risks."

Thousands of different substances are used as ingredients in cosmetic products. Some are harmless, but some are not. These are considered allergy triggers or are even suspected of causing cancer. So they are actually harmful!

Risky hormone cocktail

For example, for the group, the so-called hormonally active chemicals, there are loud Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany eV (BUND) "more and more evidence that they can lead to serious health risks." The World Health Organization WHO even referred to hormonally active chemicals as a “global threat” in 2013. This group includes parabens as preservatives and certain chemical UV filters. The substances penetrate the body through the skin and are particularly harmful to fetuses in the womb, toddlers and adolescents. Hormonally active chemicals in cosmetics are associated with a decrease in sperm quality and number, certain hormone-related cancers such as breast, prostate and testicular cancer, premature puberty in girls, and behavioral problems in children.

The group of chemicals that are hormonally active (and therefore harmful) includes around 550 chemicals that are suspected of having a similar effect to hormones. The most commonly used hormonally active substance is called methylparaben and is a preservative. With the aim of regulating such substances, the EU Commission has recently laid down criteria for the identification of hormone poisons in its 2017/2100 ordinance in accordance with the Biocides Ordinance. This has been applicable in all member states since June 7, 2018. However, experts do not believe that the fabrics will disappear from the shelves. There are still "too many loopholes in the rating system" through which dangerous substances can get through, says Josef Köhrle, President of the German Society for Endocrinology. And BUND consultant Ulrike Kallee says: "From the BUND's point of view, unfortunately, these criteria will hardly help to ensure that hormonal pollutants are quickly recognized and withdrawn from circulation in the future." The detection hurdles for classifying such substances as hormone toxins are too high. After all, the proportion of hormonally active substances in cosmetics has already decreased from 2013 to 2016 (see info box).

Other harmful ingredients in cosmetics

In addition to hormonally active chemicals, many cosmetics also contain aluminum chlorides, which are considered carcinogenic, allergenic fragrances or harmful surfactants. Also Paraffin and Polyethylene (Microplastics) are among the harmful ingredients in cosmetics. Various substances are hidden behind it. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), for example, is one of the most important ingredients in synthetic cosmetic products. They are found as a surfactant in shampoos and shower gels, but also as an emulsifier in toothpastes, creams or lotions. Environmentally harmful palm oil monocultures are very often used in production and ethylene oxide is required for the production, which produces harmful 1,4-dioxane and, according to experts, can even reach the end product in minimal traces. The biggest problem with the application is the skin irritating effect of SLES. With normal consumption, the skin reacts with excessive regreasing. That means: Only a (synthetic) shampoo can help - a vicious cycle.

The industry sets the tone

That the manufacturers are still allowed to process harmful ingredients is noisy CULUMNATURA Managing Director Willi Luger on the strong lobby of the producers: “In the cosmetics industry, it is the industry that sets the tone. Large corporations are lobbying to try to influence legislation in their favor. Ultimately, everything is taken over as the industry 'sells' it to us. "

The list of ingredients in cosmetics (and in general) is often long and confusing. As a consumer, it is therefore difficult to keep an eye on things. "The table of contents (INCI) is incomprehensible to the mass of end users in Latin or with English technical terms," ​​says Luger. But consumers are only on the safe side if they deal with the ingredients and take a close look at cosmetics. Ultimately, however, the legislator is required to ensure clear content information in terms of public health. In any case, it is an alternative Natural cosmetics.

INFO: Harmful ingredients in cosmetics
A study by. Shows that pressure from consumer protectors can have positive effects Global 2000 from 2016: 11% of the toothpastes examined and 21% of the body lotions examined contained hormonally active cosmetic ingredients. This means that the proportion of products containing hormones in toothpastes and body lotions has halved since the first cosmetic check in 2013/14. Global 2000 attributes this decline to its own campaign as part of the cosmetic check. “We are particularly pleased that since our first cosmetic check two years ago, Austria has become a European pioneer in the absence of hormonally effective cosmetic ingredients.

Product check via app
To protect consumers, the BUND has developed an app that checks all products for hormonal chemicals: ToxFox is available for free in the App Store. Simply scan the product code and the app will tell you if hormonal substances are present:
www.bund.net/chemie/toxfox

Shopping Help
On the website of CULUMNATURA you will find a shopping guide as PDF for download, as well as printed by your natural hairdresser. In it listed are questionable and harmless ingredients, their function and effect: www.culumnatura.at

Here's the topic of natural cosmetics!

Photo / Video: Shutterstock.

Written by Karin Bornett

Freelance journalist and blogger in the Community option. Technology-loving Labrador smoking with a passion for village idyll and a soft spot for urban culture.
www.karinbornett.at

Leave a Comment