What to avoid in cosmetics and shampoos?

Every day we reach for different cosmetics. These include face creams, body wash gels, antiperspirants, as well as hair and nail care products. On their packaging, we can easily find information about the composition of the products. It is worth reading them and knowing which ingredients to avoid in cosmetics . What are the harmful ingredients in shampoos and creams? Let's look for an answer.

What ingredients should be avoided in face creams?

When choosing preparations for daily care, always use common sense. We carefully observe the reactions of our body to the product. You don't need to be an expert in chemistry to intuitively know what to avoid in face cosmetics ! Let's give up on them if, after the first application, we see redness on the skin, we feel unpleasant burning or itching.

A detailed list of substances prohibited for use in the production of cosmetic preparations can be found in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. What does it mean and what ingredients should be avoided in face creams ? The list of harmful intermediates is long - we can find on it:

• benzene,
• chlorine,
• dioxane,
• phosphorus and metal phosphides,
• dibutyl phthalate,
• nickel oxides,
• benzopyrene,
• amino-nitrophenols,
• fragrance ingredients: benzyl cyanide, cyclamen alcohol, diphenylamine, verbena oil.

A valuable source of knowledge about harmful cosmetic ingredients are also smartphone applications that analyze the composition of cosmetics. These are free programs with a constantly updated database of chemicals. When we do not know what to avoid in face creams and we want to quickly make sure that the product has the right composition, let's check it in the list. The data in the application is easy to interpret and understandable even for a layman, so we do not have to worry about being confused by foreign-sounding Latin names.

What to avoid in the composition of cosmetics for daily care?

The list of substances presented above obviously does not indicate all chemicals that may pose a potential threat to the human body. What substances should be avoided in cosmetics for daily care? Let us pay attention to the list of chemical additives, available in Annex III of Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. The list is long and includes ingredients allowed in strictly defined concentrations in selected types of cosmetics.

Potentially dangerous substances, the excess of which in the composition of cosmetic products may have a negative impact on the condition of the skin, include:

• triclosan (in recent years it has been one of the most controversial ingredients in cosmetics, its carcinogenic properties have not been clearly confirmed),
• hydrogen peroxide (excess causes redness and itching),
• formalhedide (strong allergen with toxic effect),
• 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts,
• sulfites (may cause irritation),
• alcohols (methanol, ethanol) - have a drying effect, accelerate skin aging processes.

What ingredients should be avoided in hand creams?

Hand care creams belong to the group of the most popular cosmetics that we use every day. What should you pay attention to when choosing these products? What to avoid in the composition of moisturizing and regenerating hand cosmetics ? The list of dangerous, harmful additives includes: alcohols, benzene and parabens. It is also worth checking the quality of fragrances and dyes present in the cream.

What to avoid in shampoos

We reach for shampoos and hair conditioners regularly. These are products that come into frequent contact with sensitive scalp. What ingredients should be avoided in shampoos ? The blacklist includes, among others:

• sulfur,
• alcohols,
• parabens,
• polyethylene glycol.

Some shampoos also contain excessive amounts of low-quality foaming agents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). An alternative to SLS are, for example, delicate, amphoteric agents such as Cocamidopropyl Betaine (ROKAmina K30), which at the same time softens and smoothes the hair.

Wrong ingredients in color shampoos

Color shampoos and hair dyes are undoubtedly one of the most dangerous cosmetic products. They contain many allergens. So it's not surprising that they shouldn't be used directly. The actual application should be preceded by a skin test (carried out at least 48 hours before the actual coloring). What substances cannot be included in the composition of shampoos - what to avoid ? Strongly sensitizing effects have, among others:

• 1-naphthol and its salts,
• ammonia,
• Silver nitrate,
• paraphenylenediamine,
• lead compounds,

Harmful ingredients in children's hair shampoos

Unfortunately, harmful substances are often present in cosmetic preparations intended for the care of infants and young children's hair. In shampoos for children we can find SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) - ethoxylated sodium lauryl sulfate. These are sulfates that can irritate sensitive skin.

Other bad ingredients in shampoos for children are, for example, parabens (4-hydroxybenzoic acid, its salts and esters) or artificial fragrances in the form of acid and alcohol esters.

So how do you recognize the highest quality cosmetic products available on the market? Their composition is very simple and short. The quality is also confirmed by ISO, Ecolabel, Ecocert certificates or certificates of the Institute of Mother and Child.