A Dirty Dozen For Your Skin

   Yes, you read that right.  We all know about the EWG's Dirty Dozen shopper's guide to pesticides in produce (if you're unfamilliar with it click here) but did you know there's one for our skin?  Well thanks to the amazing David Suzuki (remember him?), there sure is!

   You already know how I feel about using natural products on my skin and hair so it's no surprise that I'm in love with this list.  And I'm thrilled to share it with you. 
The Dirty Dozen...

1. BHA and BHT

used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. 

2. Coal tar dyes

P-phenylenediamine is used in some hair dyes; other colours are used in a number of cosmetics.

3. DEA

Used in some creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos.

4. Dibutyl phthalate

Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. 

5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics.

6. Parabens

Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives.

7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)

Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as "unscented."

8. PEG compounds

Used in many cosmetic cream bases.

9. Petrolatum

Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers.
10. Siloxanes
Look for ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten.

11. Sodium laureth sulfate

Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath.

12. Triclosan

Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants.

To download the PDF version of this list and to learn more, click here.
Worried that you won't be able to remember those ingredients?  Don't be!  Purchase products with as few ingredients as possible and as close to natural as possible and you'll be fine.
Keep it simple and love the skin your in.

Love,
Ves xx