Diethanolamine is a chemical found in soap, detergent, and other various hair products designed for children. This ingredient reaps its unsightly effects on the skin almost instantly. Dermatitis, eczema, and general allergic irritation of the skin are among these effects.

Avoid the Carcinogen 1,4 Dioxane

A startling percentage of personal care products currently on the market are contaminated by a highly toxic chemical. The FDA is not doing its part in preventing 1,4 Dioxane contamination in many of the products consumers are using every day.  How can you know if this ingredient is in your household and personal care products?

Recent studies have shown the presence of the carcinogen 1 ,4 Dioxane in 22% of cosmetic products currently listed in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.  It is present in  97% of hair relaxers tested and an unsettling 57% of baby soaps.  Further concern is prompted considering these products are not required to list this toxic substance as an ingredient.  As such, it is almost impossible for consumers to know with certainty whether or not they are being exposed to 1,4 Dioxane through the cosmetics and household cleaners they use.

1, 4 Dioxane is a petroleum derivative.  It is a colorless, transparent, and unstable liquid that dissolves easily in water. This product is mainly used as a solvent in textiles, electronics, varnishes, dyes, resins, lacquers, automotive coolant, waxes, and paints. Sadly, it’s also present in small quantities in many mainstream cosmetic and household products.

1,4 Dioxane has the ability to affect consumer health in several ways. It it known to encourage the formation of tumors with the nasal cavity and liver exhibiting the greatest vulnerability. It is also linked to birth defects, skin and lung irritation, kidney disease and diminished nervous system function.

It is highly unlikely that consumers will develop cancer or other severe health problems as a result of 1,4 Dioxane contamination in a single product. However, because consumers use multiple products each day that may or may not contain this carcinogen, it is almost impossible to calculate the actual level of exposure. 

Until the FDA requires companies to either disclose the presence of 1,4 Dioxane in their formulations or remove it completely, the responsibility of avoiding it falls entirely on the consumer.  Although there is no fully reliable method currently available to consumers, there are certain ingredients more likely than others to indicate 1,4 Dioxane contamination.  Examine the ingredient labels on your shampoos, cosmetics and other personal products.  Avoid petrochemical ingredients, including any with names including PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, oxynol, ceteareth and ingredient suffixes such as oleth, and eth.  If in doubt, research the ingredient further through the cosmetic database.  In many cases, the information provided will indicate the likelihood that the ingredient is linked to 1,4 Dioxane contamination.

Toxic Phthalates in Perfume

In this age of extensive beauty rituals, expensive skin care creams and custom fragrance websites, many people purchase these products without giving much thought to the potentially unsafe substances they are putting on their bodies each day. Your skin is your largest organ, and it is very sensitive to the substances with which it comes in contact. Topical exposure to toxins is often more dangerous than other types of exposure, such as ingestion, due to higher concentration of toxins that will reach the blood stream when absorbed through the skin. Additionally, many personal care products contain penetration enhancers that promote absorption, which expedites the delivery of toxins to the bloodstream. Understanding how your skin functions as a mostly unfiltered delivery system to your bloodstream is crucial to making informed decisions that affect your overall health and wellness.

This is sometimes difficult to do with the significant shortage of laws regulating the disclosure of chemical ingredients in both perfume and cosmetics. Through various animal studies done on these types of products, it has been discovered that the unreported ingredients often have high levels of toxicity and can cause skin and breathing irritations, as well as allergic reactions. Unfortunately for us, but lucky for the beauty industry, many of the chemicals in these mixtures are protected from exposure under the guise of being a trade secret. Companies have the safety of secrecy, while public safety is largely disregarded.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has attempted to get the word out to the public by stating that around 3,000 ingredients, which are mostly synthetic, are used by fragrance producers. Around 900 of these ingredients are considered toxic chemicals. This is a very unsettling fact. These ingredients are not just dangerous or harmful; they are toxic. Toxicity in chemical products is a leading cause of a variety of medical problems, including respiratory problems, skin diseases and several different types of cancer.

Phthalates, an industrial chemical shown to be harmful to animals and humans, are present in many kinds of perfume, cosmetics and other items that we come in contact with every day. While some countries have taken steps to limit the use of phthalates, none have eliminated the use of these dangerous chemicals, and they are still commonly used in dangerously high amounts. The presence of phthalates in fragrance-containing products can cause serious health issues for people in all stages of life, and can be particularly harmful for newborns. Their use also results in an increased risk for a variety of diseases and conditions, including ADHD, breast cancer and inflammatory diseases.

These concerns are well documented; however, governmental agencies responsible for the regulation of the cosmetics and fragrance industry have done little to address these serious issues. Unfortunately, it still seems that protecting trade secrets and increasing profits is more of a priority than ensuring the safety of the products we use. Fortunately, there is a plethora of good information available that allows consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing personal care products.

Chronic Illness & Chemicals

Raising children is one of the most rewarding and most difficult jobs we face as adults. They depend on us throughout their childhood and rely on us to make choices with their best interest in mind at all times. Unfortunately, this job is getting more and more difficult every day with modern advances that are not necessarily healthy for us or them. Our world is now filled with many environmental factors that can cause health issues and illnesses, such as autism, ADHD, hyperactivity, increased cancer risks and a variety of birth defects. Because product labels are not always entirely forthcoming, it is important that we educate ourselves in order to provide the protection and education our children need.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 33 babies born each year in the United States has some type of birth defect.  According to recent studies, these birth defects are the leading cause of infant death during the first year of life. It is also important to note that, according to the CDC, 70% of these birth defects result from unknown causes. As researchers continue studying the potential causes of these problems, their published findings continue strengthening the evidence that environmental factors play an important role.
There are a variety of toxic chemicals in common household products used in most homes every day. Perfumes and cosmetics are only minimally regulated and often contain problematic substances, such as phthalates, which are toxins known to cause increased risk of a variety of cancers and respiratory disease, as well as other wellness issues. The plastic bottle with which you feed your newborn could likely contain this toxic chemical as well. According to research conducted by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, newborns are much more sensitive to this toxin than adults are. Phthalates can also be found in food packaging, hair products like shampoo, plastic products and more.

Many wood products contain formaldehyde, which can cause issues ranging from irritated mucus tissues to cancers in adults and children. Perfluorooctanoic acid is one of the main components in non-stick pots and pans.  Though useful and handy, the trade-off is that after repeated use, toxins can leach into your food and inhibit your child’s development in significant ways. It seems that there are few products that do not contain chemicals that will cause some type of illness. This is why it is so important to be mindful of what you are purchasing and the ingredients used to manufacture it. Do your research to ensure that you are giving your kids the safest childhood you possibly can.

For pregnant women, it is particularly important to be aware of the effects of environmental factors on unborn children. Making informed choices about the personal care products and household products you use can – quite literally – save your child’s life. Birth defects and other issues that can be caused by exposure to toxic ingredients in cosmetics, cleaning products and other household products include autism, ADHD, underdeveloped respiratory systems and a variety of other health concerns that can become evident at different life stages.

Steps are being made to increase awareness of the issues surrounding chemical-laden products in our everyday lives. For example, the President’s Cancer Panel has admitted in statements that the number of cases of cancer caused by environmental factors has not been reported correctly. While this statement does not put an immediate stop to the use of dangerous ingredients, it does show that our efforts to push for accurate data and better regulation are not going entirely unnoticed. Of course, until better regulatory policies and laws are in place, it is still up to us to educate ourselves and to choose healthier products that do not contain components known or suspected of causing health problems.

Learn even more about how dangerous ingredients impact childhood illness.

• Why don’t all companies use natural or plant-based preservatives like Company X?
• What about companies that don’t use preservatives at all?
• Why are preservatives a necessity in hair and skin care products?
• Are there exceptions that make a preservative unnecessary?

Why don’t all companies use natural or plant-based preservatives like Company X?

This question is the result of consumers receiving misleading and false information about the products they are purchasing and preservatives in particular.

Natural preservatives do exist.  The use of plant materials to avoid contamination has a long history and its effectiveness is well documented (think salt-cured ham and pasteurized milk).  However, research into the development of a consistently effective plant-based preservative system for skin and hair care products is ongoing.  The progress made definitely promises a future when man-made preservatives will no longer be necessary – but we’re not quite there yet.  Many manufacturers already use plant materials such as essential oils in tandem with traditional preservatives to protect their products.  This type of system utilizes the concept of Hurdle Technology.  It does not eliminate synthetic preservatives, but it does reduce the amount needed.  This is a definite step in the right direction.

So why the warning that consumers may be receiving false information?  Because most companies marketing their products as naturally-preserved are not referencing this type of preservation system at all.

Naturally-derived preservatives are not a new or cutting-edge concept.  In fact, most preservatives are either derived from plants or are synthetic replicates of components found in plants.  Parabens are actually an excellent example of this concept.  Parabens have characteristics very similar to para-hydroxy benzoic acid, which is found in raspberries and blackberries.  Clearly however, the process of transforming these naturals into parabens not only destroys any original nutrients, but also introduces potentially harmful or toxic characteristics.

Such is the case with most natural or plant-based preservatives used in skin and hair products marketed today.  While “at one time was natural” may be the criteria manufacturers use in labeling their preservatives as natural or plant-based, it is quite clear that consumers are assuming something entirely different.  Two well-known “natural” preservatives that fall into this category are:

• Grapefruit Seed Extract (Learn how and why this works)
• Honeysuckle Flower Extract (Learn how and why this works)

The fact that these and other preservatives are not “natural” by any reasonable standard does not necessarily make them harmful or at all ineffective.  These two preservatives are very effective at destroying microorganisms although both are widely debated regarding safety and health concerns.  The real objection here is that products containing these pseudo-natural preservatives are marketed as something other than what they are.  Consumers are making decisions about products they bring into their homes and use on themselves and their children based on claims that are misleading at best and blatantly deceitful at worst.

What about companies that don’t use preservatives at all?

Currently, there is a very casual climate when it comes to the importance of disclosing product ingredients accurately and completely.  The entitlement many companies seem to demonstrate in keeping their customers uninformed about products ingredients is a growing problem.  Companies that claim their formulas do not require preservatives most likely do so under one of the following circumstances:

• An ingredient assigned the INCI name “Fragrance” is currently used in many products as a preservative.  Because it is officially a fragrance rather than an approved preservative, it is considered a “trade secret” and the manufacturer is not legally required to disclose what it contains or what makes it effective.  Many of the 23,000+ products containing this ingredient appear to be “preservative-free.”  Learn more.
• Many (emphasize many) companies boldly decide against full disclosure of their ingredients, in spite of the FDA requirement to do so.  In other words, they are knowingly deceiving their customers when asked about preservative use.  This is not isolated to companies of a certain size – it goes on across the industry.  These products consistently pass micro tests, in spite of the obvious absence of even one ingredient that could be credited with preserving the formulation.  Unfortunately, the FDA has not dedicated the man-power needed to identify and prosecute companies participating in this practice.
• As dangerous as this is, there is a possibility that a company would bring products to the marketplace that have failed USP and CTFA Challenge Testing and did indeed grow yeast, mold, bacteria and/or fungus quickly.  Companies may opt to sell these products in spite of testing failures.  Most commonly, they insist that their “independent” tests proved them safe enough according to internal company standards.
• It is possible the formula does not require preservatives due to the ingredients used.  Formulas that do not contain water might be able to avoid contamination through the use of antioxidants rather than preservatives.

The company may be using extracts as their preservation system.  Used at the correct percentages, certain ones can be effective.  However, this is typically not a function of the extract itself.  Most likely, a propylene or butyl glycol base in which the extracts are made is preserved with parabens, triclorisan or urea.  In other instances, the extract has been contaminated with chemicals, such as parabens that have anti-microbial properties.  In both cases, manufacturers are not required to disclose these as they are considered “processing aides” or contaminants rather than intentional ingredients.  It is the processing aide or contaminant that should be credited with protecting the product – not the extract.  Learn more about grapefruit seed extract.

Why are preservatives a necessity in hair and skin care products?

Product Stability
Water-based skin and hair care products have either a 3-5 day shelf life or a preservative.  Regardless of what claims a company may make to the contrary, this is factual.  Bacteria require water to grow and cosmetics provide a more than adequate supply.  Add to that the sugars released by many ingredients used in these products and it’s an ideal environment for microorganisms.  Without the intervention of an effective preservative, contamination can occur extremely quickly.

Health Risk
Contaminated cosmetics can cause far more than irritated skin.  These microorganisms have caused illness and disease ranging from a burning sensation to strep, staph infections and even e-coli.  Contamination can occur prior to any visual signs that would serve as a warning to the user.

Insurance
It would be virtually impossible for a manufacturer to find an insurance company willing to provide product liability coverage for unpreserved water-based products.  The likelihood of a lawsuit resulting from disease or injury would be far too substantial.

Legality
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act “prohibits the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of cosmetics that are adulterated or misbranded (Sec. 301). A cosmetic may be deemed adulterated (Sec. 601) for essentially four reasons with the two applicable to this issue being:

1. It may be injurious to users under conditions of customary use because it contains, or its container is composed of, a potentially harmful substance.
2. It contains filth.

The sale of unpreserved water-based products would be illegal according to these two directives of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Are there exceptions that make a preservative unnecessary?

The only safe scenario that would create an exception to the necessity of preservatives would be if the products are:

• Manufactured in extremely small batches and typically only once the order is placed;
• Recommended for refrigeration immediately upon opening;
• Manufactured in a beyond-sterile environment…think “clean room;”
• Unavailable for shipping during summer months due to likelihood of spoilage en route;
• Recommended for disposal within 7 to 10 days;
• Priced at least 300% higher than products containing a preservative due to the cost of meeting the above requirements.

If the products you are using do not adhere to these limitations, they contain one or more preservatives.

__________________________________________

Learn more about harmful ingredients in your personal care products or view references used in this article concerning parabens, natural, and other cosmetic preservatives.

Keeping with the strong tradition of the current product line, the new styling and hair repair products are made with the same high quality naturals, organics, botanicals and extracts that define their shampoos and conditioners.  Free of co-polymers, sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and other ingredients of concern, the entire Salon Naturals hair care line nurtures, strengthens and volumizes safely and gently.

Natural Hold Styling Gel is ideal for styles that look best with subtle volume and soft hold.  This lightweight formula will impart body, bounce and shine without weighing down even very fine hair. 

Ultra Hold Styling Gel is designed for styles that require an extra boost of support and long-lasting hold.  Even “lazy” hair will stay full and voluminized throughout the day – without sacrificing movement and touchability.  This unique formula will never leave your hair feeling sticky, dry or flaky.

Intensive Moisture Conditioner is an excellent repair treatment for dry or damaged hair and is formulated to rehydrate, strengthen and seal the hair cuticle.  It also serves as an excellent weekly treatment for healthy hair to help maintain the elasticity and shine that customers have come to expect from the Salon Naturals products.

Preliminary rankings on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) www.cosmeticdatabase.com have received the same “0″ ranking as all other products in the Salon Naturals line.  The new products should be live available for public viewing within the next thirty days.

As the Salon Naturals line continues to grow, customers can expect a wide selection of solutions designed to fuse healthy, natural ingredients with products that delivery exceptional performance and results.   Currently, four additional formulations are scheduled for launch in October and twelve more will complete safety and performance testing in early 2011. 

Visit www.salonnaturalsonline.com to learn more about these products, the company’s commitment to health and the environment and organizations that benefit from customer purchases.  You are also invited to learn more about the issues that concern you by viewing their extensive ingredient database and their ever-expanding library of articles and tools designed to put consumers in the driver’s seat concerning safe, healthy options for personal care products.

Everywhere we go, we smell fragrances. Everyone we encounter on a daily basis usually wears perfume, cologne, fragrant aftershave, deoderant, or uses scented soaps, hair products such as shampoos and hair gel or washes their clothes with fragrant detergent and uses scented fabric softeners, products that “smell nice”, or so we were brought up as a conventional society to believe.

However, synthetic fragrances found in these products are very harmful to the human body. More than 20 percent of our population experiences adverse health effects when exposed to fragrances. 95 percent of fragrances are synthetic compounds made from petroleum products, not flowers or anything else found in nature. These synthetic compounds include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers – just one perfume can contain more than 500 chemicals. Another common ingredient in scents is toluene. Toluene triggers asthma attacks and is known to cause asthma in previously healthy people.

Negative health effects caused by synthetic fragrances include the following-watery or dry eyes, nose or throat irritation, dry cracking skin, rashes, headaches, asthma, double vision, sneezing and nasal congestion, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, nervous system changes, and swollen lymph glands.

Scented products contain numerous toxic chemicals which constantly vaporize into the air and attach themselves to hair, clothing, and surroundings. Fragrances are one of today’s major sources of indoor air pollution and they are one of the least regulated substances.

Even though you can’t prevent your exposures to synthetic fragrances when you go out in public and are exposed to other peoples’ fragrant products, you can clean up your own environment and in your own dwelling area, you can substitute unscented personal products for scented ones. You can find these products at your local health food or online store. There are many online companies that specialize in unscented or unscented, natural products which is even better for the body.

Many conventional products can be found in a “fragrance free” version. Read the ingredient label and look to see if it says “fragrance.” If it doesn’t list it as in ingredient and if the bottle specifies fragrance free, it should indeed be fragrance free.

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