With all the free time we’re spending at home, it’s a great opportunity to clean out our cluttered drawers—specifically our beauty cabinet. Thanks to the help of the EWG (Environmental Working Group)—an organization Kourt got involved with after having Mason when she started to more closely examine the products she uses on herself and children—we’re sharing the top five ingredients to avoid in beauty products.
If you watched our IG Live today with Kourt and Steph Shep where the duo detoxed their makeup and beauty essentials, then you got a sneak peek at EWG’s list to steer clear of. In case you missed it, we wanted to keep the list here so you can bookmark it once you’re ready to go through and inspect your everyday items. Scroll on to read the list of ingredients to look out for while cleaning out beauty products. For more information on how your skincare and makeup rank, be sure to check out EWG’s SkinDeep Database.
Parabens – These hormone-disrupting preservatives are in many types of products. Avoid products with propyl-, butyl-, iso-propyl, and iso-butyl parabens.
Phthalates – A growing number of studies indicate that the chemical family of phthalates damages the male reproductive system. Pregnant women should avoid nail polish containing dibutyl phthalate. Everyone should avoid products with “fragrance,” which indicates a chemical mixture that may contain phthalates.
Isothiazolinones – These preservatives can cause serious skin rashes and are banned in other countries, yet they are still in products—even those advertised as “hypoallergenic.” Look for and avoid products with “methylisothiazolinone” or “methylisochlorothiazolinone” on the label.
Formaldehyde releasers – The preservative ingredients can cause skin sensitization and allergies. Ingredients include DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, among others.
Fragrance – The term “fragrance” is shorthand for a complex mixture of scented ingredients and ingredients that make a scent last on skin. Some ingredients are irritating or allergenic, and others can disrupt the body’s hormone systems. Although some forward-looking companies are starting to disclose ingredients in their fragrances, for many products, shoppers don’t know what’s hiding behind the label “fragrance.”
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