#BETTERBEAUTY

There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry.-BC

I am an advocate for a healthy lifestyle. I try to break a sweat daily and I eat a relatively clean and balanced diet. I try to focus on my mental health by meditating and practicing yoga even if it’s 15 mins in my closet on my makeshift mat before I start a chaotic day with a toddler. Yet, despite my best efforts—I recently learned that I was making a huge mistake with my body. In all of this detoxing and healthy living, I was “re-toxing,” poisoning and completely ignoring my largest organ— my skin.

Beautiful Photo by @shotbyKmarie

On a daily basis, we use products like sunscreen, lotion and soap that are all created with remnants of chemicals directly linked to Cancer, Infertility, early onset puberty and many other deadly diseases. As toxic as this sounds, they are marketed and sold to us without inhibition.

Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including but not limited to asthma, cancer, and infertility) are on the rise and are due in part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals. Whether it's in the shower, on our commute, when we eat lunch at a local restaurant or while we are cleaning our kitchens at home —we are being exposed to over 80,000 chemicals still on the market today. Many do not include any safety data and this is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry.

Women should KNOW what ingredients and chemicals are being used in the personal care and cosmetic industry are infusing in their products. They are simultaneously marketing them as “healthy” and “natural” for us to put on our bodies and on the bodies of our precious loved ones.

What is worse is that the Food and Drug Administration (the agency that regulates cosmetics in the United States) does not have the authority to remove the harmful ingredients before we place them on our skin and our children. The government seems to have dropped the ball on more than one occasion when it comes to protecting citizens from toxic chemicals that companies are allowed to use. I disagree that they should be allowed to make their own judgements about safety or lack thereof.

In reality we are the only ones that are going to protect ourselves . I deserve better, my son deserves better and my family deserves better. This time, it's personal and instead of getting mad and complaining, I partnered with a company that not only provides high performing products (because I still want to look and feel amazing) but, their ingredients are safe and free from toxic carcinogenic chemicals.

At Beautycounter, we're committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what's required by U.S. law. Beautycounter stands behind their statement that, “We've prohibited the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals through "The Never List™" — all while ensuring our products perform and that they're as indulgent as any other luxe shampoo, lipstick, or oil in the market.”

We are forcing the cosmetic industry to be accountable and disclose the ingredients in their products or simply formulate safer.

"The Never List™" is a quick reference guide for the top used and most dangerous chemicals found in personal care products and cosmetics. I urge you to take a moment to review the ingredients of some of the products you are using daily. I’m not saying you have to switch everything all at once but there is nothing wrong with taking a gradual approach to removing some of the toxic products in your skincare/beauty regimen.

If you need help replacing those products with others that are safer yet still functional —visit my BC website by clicking HERE.

We can help you secure a safer skincare routine. Also! For my mommies, BC has plenty of products catered to our babies and our minis.

TAKE 5 MINS to investigate the ingredients list of some of your personal care products and cosmetics.

Important Neverlist Ingredients

Benzalkonium chloride is a chemical associated with severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and allergies, especially dangerous for people with asthma or skin conditions such as eczema. (Found in many face washes stating to kill acne like Neutrogena)

BHA and BHT-a preservative and stabilizer; U.S. National Toxicology Program, has classified BHA as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. (Commonly labeled as “fragrance” in different cosmetic and personal care products like NYX lipsticks, MAC cosmetics)

Coal tar-is a known human carcinogen used as a thick liquid or semi-solid obtained as a by-product in the destructive distillation ofbituminous coal. In the United States, Coal Tar may be used as an active ingredient in OTC drugproducts. (Commonly found in hair dyes and dandruff shampoos)

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-a common carcinogen used in cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients are widely used and can be found in moisturizers, skin care and cleansing products, personal cleanliness products, bath soaps, shampoos and conditioners, hair dyes, hair bleaches, and many other product types.

Formaldehyde-Despite the considerable health concerns associated with this carcinogen, until recently formaldehyde itself was a common ingredient of nail polish. Consumer pressure has now forced many major cosmetics manufacturers to voluntarily remove this ingredient from their nail products. European health protections now limit the concentration of formaldehyde in cosmetics to 0.2%, and require that body care products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients be labeled with the warning 'contains formaldehyde' if the concentration of formaldehyde in the product exceeds 0.05% Commonly found in OPI nail polish and eyelash glue)

Hydroquinone-This common ingredient in hair color and bleaching product is a skin irritant that is toxic to the immune system and a frequent cause of hair dye allergy. In animal studies, resorcinol can disrupt thyroid hormone synthesis and can produce goitrogenic effects. The federal government regulates exposures to resorcinol in the workplace, but there are no regulations limiting amounts of resorcinol in personal care products. (Dark & Lovely Hair Dye, Clairol Hair Dye, Garnier Nutrisse)  

Parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl-)-Phthalates Studies have shown that many parabens have estrogenic qualities and can mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in the body's cells, and while estrogenic activity is associated with certain forms of breast cancer, parabens have been found present in breast tumors. (Commonly found in products like black opal cosmetics, dermatologica skin care products, Alamay & Loreal cosmetic products)  

Sodium lauryl sulfate and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS and SLES) Contamination concerns, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs); Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) (Commonly Found in Eyeliner, max factor blush, benefit mascara)

To access the entire Never List™ click HERE

To visit the Beautycounter website and discover amazing, high performing products click HERE

#BETTERBEAUTY