12 Ingredients to Avoid in Cosmetics

Have you ever picked up a product in a polished package, with a glossy Organic
label on it and wondered Is this really natural?. How often do you find yourself buying
personal care items just because the words all natural or chemical free are on the front
label? Most people purchase from mainstream brands without ever glancing over the
ingredients list or giving a second thought to the countless chemicals used in manufacturing
their products. Unfortunately, routinely using cosmetics that are filled with preservatives and
other toxic substances has been proven to lead to dangerous side effects over time. Even if
youre choosing a well-known brand, checking to see where the ingredients of your product
were derived from is really not something you should put in the too-hard basket.
I dont have the time to read through labels
It might seem like a real hassle to skim through the back label of a product, let alone
thoroughly read long ingredients list for every single product you buy. The good news is you
dont have to! Lets face it, going from aisle to aisle, reading through lengthy chemical names
that you cant even pronounce is not practical. This is why its extremely important to have
easy access to a collection of organic brands that you know are certified. Its no wonder online
shopping has become so popular over the last few years. You can now find heaps of products
and catalogues that are only a click away. We, at Avana Australia, have created our shop to
make it easier for our customers to gain access and purchase from reputable, certified brands.
We are very adamant about making a change in the current cosmetics industry and you can
rest assured that every single product in our collection is 100% natural, has not been tested on
animals and does not contain any uncertified palm oil or GMO ingredients. So if you dont
have the time to check long labels, then you can always browse through some of our products
which are certified organic and cruelty free.
Im not convinced everyone uses regular drugstore cosmetics
It might seem like your health isnt at risk, since you see so many people buying
products from regular drugstores. But you have to bear in mind that most people in todays
world also struggle with growing epidemics and chronic diseases. A healthy lifestyle doesnt
just mean you eat well and exercise regularly. Most people tend to overlook what they put on

their skin and this can be very damaging in the long run. Skin is the largest organ in the
human body and as much as two thirds of what goes directly on it is absorbed into the
bloodstream1. So, the next time youre applying some cheap makeup, remember that most of
the harmful chemicals you put on your face end up in your blood cells. This is not only
dangerous because it raises toxicity, but also because it puts a strain on your body to release
all the noxious substances. Its also important to recognize that the products available on the
general market are not sustainable, as manufacturing has an overwhelmingly destructive
impact on the environment2. Moreover, most products sold in drugstores and supermarkets
have been tested on animals using cruel and unnecessary methods3.
So what can I do?
Our company truly believes in promoting a healthy lifestyle - one that protects our bodies as
well as the environment around us and it all starts with making well-informed decisions as
consumers. Every dollar we spend can either fund a brand thats harmful to the planet and our
bodies and ensure that it stays in business or put an end to it. If youre interested in becoming
more aware of the what you put on your skin and how to make better choices as a consumer,
then keep on reading for some common tricks used by mainstream manufacturers, as well as a
short list of the dirty dozen ingredients you should avoid at all costs when purchasing your
next beauty or personal care item.
Dont take anything at face value
Have you ever seen a beautiful, lush apple that was rotting from the inside out? This is
exactly what most beauty products on the market are like. There are many tricks in the skin
care industry used to deceive us into believing that what were buying is actually organic,
botanical or all natural. Unfortunately, if you go past the front label and check the list on
the back, its filled with all sorts of nasty chemical compounds. Moreover, a natural
1 http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/2006/ehc235/en/
2 https://www.inlight-online.co.uk/blog/2013/09/20/cosmetics-impactenvironment-study-dr-spiezia/
3
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/cosmetic_testing/qa/questions_answers.htm
l?referrer=https://www.google.ro/

ingredient that is advertised on the front label (usually something catchy, like aloe vera,
lavender etc.) is usually present in the product in a very small amount. The regulations
currently state that ingredients must be listed in descending order by volume or mass,
however ingredients present at less than one-percent may be listed in any order. This means
that it is completely legal to sell products which contain a minuscule amount of natural
ingredients, along with a whole host of chemical toxins (which youll never see advertised on
the front of the product). This also allows manufacturers to use very dilute herbal extracts and
deceitfully present them as a major component of a product. For instance, certified organic
floral waters are heavily used or added to cosmetic products, but they are merely a by-product
of making essential oils.
Taking one small step at a time
These cheap tricks are frequently used by companies to attract us and falsely convince
us that were buying something thats good for us and our health. You have to understand that
simply incorporating the words natural, organic or botanical into the brand or logo does
not mean youre getting a truly natural, chemical free product. It might be challenging and
quite expensive to replace all of your products at once. This is why we recommend that you
change each product at a time as soon as your old one runs out, replace it with a healthier,
safer version that you buy from a reputable brand like Avana Australia or any other organic
online or brick and mortar store. Here is a list of 12 ingredients you should steer clear of when
shopping for your new items.
1. Sodium Lauryl Suflate
This is found in most shampoos, body washes and toothpaste and has been shown to
contribute to skin irritation, eye damage and canker sores4.
2. BHA and BHT
Used mainly in moisturizers and cosmetics, these additives are suspected endocrine
disruptors and may cause cancer. They are also widely as food preservatives5.
3. Coal Tar
4 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---sodium-laureth-sulfate/
5 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---bha-and-bhti/

This is a by-product of coal processing which is found in several hair dyes

and shampoos. It is also a known carcinogen, according to the International Agency for
Research on Cancer6.
4. Polyethylene/PEGs
Found in makeup, scrubs and toothpaste, these synthetic chemicals are noted skin irritants
and cannot be filtered by our sewage systems which means that they travel into waterways 7.
5. Siloxanes
These ingredients are generally used in deodorants and hair products and have been found
to cause hormonal disruptions and, consequently, impair fertility8.
6. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quarternium-15 and
methenamine these are all known to release small amounts of formaldehyde, which is a
known carcinogen9.
7. Triclosan
This ingredient is found in most cleansers, hand sanitizers and deodorants and has been
proven to cause eye and skin irritations with short term use. With sustained use, triclosan has
been linked to conditions like hormonal disruptions and antibiotic resistance10.
8. Diethanolamine (DEA)
This is a common ingredient in shampoos, moisturizers and soaps, which has been found
to
cause thyroid, skin and liver cancers with long-term exposure11.
9. Parfum or Fragrance
6 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---coal-tar-dyes/
7 http://organicbeautytalk.com/ingredients-to-avoid/
8 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---siloxanes/
9 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---formaldehyde-releasing-preservatives/
10 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---triclosan/
11 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---dea/

Although there are around 3000 different substances used in fragrances, these will show
uas
one word the ingredients list Parfum or Fragrance. Ironically, this happens even with
certain products that are marked as unscented12.
10. Parabens
It is estimated that between 75% and 90% of all cosmetic products contain parabens.
These
are estrogen-mimicking preservatives that can cause developmental and reproductive
disorders, as well as disruptions in the endocrine system. On average, women are exposed to
50mg of parabens per day only from cosmetics13.

12 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/fragrance-and-parfum/
13 http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-yourcosmetics---parabens/