Sand in the Vaseline
I've long heard that parabens and other synthetic ingredients in skin care products and cosmetics may be harmful to our health. I've even swapped a couple of items in favor of slightly better alternatives, but nothing angered me as much as hearing that my trusted jar of Vaseline might be cancerous.
Yup. I caught an episode of Dr. Oz last week where he talked about toxic cosmetics. He said,Petroleum jelly is a byproduct of oil drilling, and when you spread it on your lips, you end up eating it, which is essentially the same as drinking gasoline.
Holy shit! To which my loving husband, Dino, smirked and said "And you're surprised, why? It's almost plastic. Aimee, you can't win."Now, I consider myself an intelligent person. So why didn't this occur to me? Why did I think something that could result in plastic was safe for all those years? For that matter, what other potentially deadly daily essentials lurk in my bathroom?Mind you, "greening" my medicine cabinet is no small task, and certainly not cheap. I use 13 products a day on my face alone, not including makeup. So where do I start? And what the hell are parabens, anyway?
Here's what the FDA says:
Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetic products. Chemically, parabens are esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The most common parabens used in cosmetic products are methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Typically, more than one paraben is used in a product, and they are often used in combination with other types of preservatives to provide preservation against a broad range of microorganisms. The use of mixtures of parabens allows the use of lower levels while increasing preservative activity.Cosmetics that may contain parabens include makeup, moisturizers, hair care products, and shaving products, among others.
And so I checked the labels. It's all gotta go. As I said, I've already changed a couple of items, but the list is still very long. So, over the next few months I will evaluate every product in my house, from diaper creams to deodorants. Everything will either get tossed or traded for a worthy alternative. I do welcome any advice from those who have switched to truly natural products. Here is a partial list of chemicals to avoid from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website:
I have only a rudimentary idea what any of those chemicals are, much less how they are incorporated into everyday products. And I expect by the end of this journey that I will know more than I care to. I just hope I can find alternatives I like and that are safe to use, for my own sanity!
- Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-releasing Preservatives
- Nitrosamines
- Lead and Other Heavy Metals
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Hydroquinone
- 1,4-dioxane
