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Label Lingo

You avoid processed foods, synthetic fragrances, cleaning with harsh chemicals, breathing secondhand smoke, doing whatever you can to lead a healthy lifestyle. But are you aware that while you're trying to stay away from certain carcinogens, irritants and pollutants you may be exposing yourself to these very things in your daily beauty and grooming routine? Using them to wash your hair, slathering them on to moisturize your skin or applying them every time you touch up your lipstick...

On a positive note, Health Canada carefully monitors skincare ingredients, prohibiting any that have been proven health risks. But what about ingredients still being studied or not yet under scrutiny? Turning to experts in natural skincare, many recommend avoiding the following ingredients as a precaution.

The Not-So-Top 10: Here's a glossary of 10 common, and not-so-good-for-you, ingredients to watch out for on any beauty product's label list. Also offered up are some natural alternatives.

1. Parabens. A para-hydroxybenzoic acid from chemical manufacturers. These synthetic preservatives are potential endocrine disrupters that can affect hormone levels, meaning they can lead to cancer, weight gain and other serious risks. They can be found in many baby lotions, among other products. Natural alternative ingredient: Buttermilk.
2. Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin. These are greasy, non-renewable, hydrocarbon byproducts of crude oil that contain potentially dangerous impurities. Sometimes used to stop corrosion on car batteries. Natural alternative ingredient: Beeswax.
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Harsh cleansing agents that can potentially damage the lipid layer of your skin and cause irritation. By stripping the skin's natural oil levels, which act as a first-line barrier, viruses can more easily enter into the body. This ingredient is also commonly found in industrial cleansers to clean garage floors. Natural alternative ingredient: Safflower Oil.
4. Chemical Sunscreens (Oxybenzone). These synthetic sunscreens get absorbed into the skin and can potentially disrupt hormone balances. They are also suspected to cause free-radical production. Natural alternative ingredient: Titanium Dioxide.
5. Glycols. Think of these petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals as magnets. They are thought to be able to draw other chemicals into the bloodstream. Natural alternative ingredient: Glycene Soja (Soybean) Oil.
6. Phthalates. Some scientists believe these synthetic fragrance compounds to be potential toxins. Natural alternative ingredient: Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil.
7. Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA). These are foam- and viscosity-boosting ingredients that can interact with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a known carcinogen. Natural alternative ingredient: Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax.
8. Synthetic Polymers (PVP/Acrylates). These synthetic stabilizers may contain residual PAHs (plycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), thought to be the most widespread organic pollutant. Natural alternative ingredient: Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract.
9. Formaldehyde Donors (DMDM Hydantoin/Diazolidinyl Urea/Methylisothiazolinone). These are preservatives that degrade over time, potentially releasing formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. They have been linked to skin irritation, and are also know as 1,3-Dimethylol-5, 5-Dimethyl Hydantoin. Natural alternative ingredient: Honey.
10. Ethoxylated ingredients (including Sodium Myreth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEGs or PPGs). Ingredients that are made in part with petrochemical ethylene oxide can result in a trace contaminant that is classified as a possible carcinogen. Ethoxylated ingredients are the accidental byproducts of the ethoxylation process so unfortuntately, they are never listed on an ingredient label. Natural alternative ingredient: Glycerin.

Seem a little overwhelming? Start off looking for just one or two of these ingredients when you're checking labels. And remember, the same goes for beauty products as with beauty - it's what's inside that counts.

For our full listing of all our green products, check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

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