'Watch Out' - Twelve Chemicals To Avoid In Your Beauty Products

I was not in an awe when I read this in theSun last Monday.  I know that everyone of us heard of it like gizillions of times and we always ignore it.  But these 2 words really caught my attention this time and I just thought that by sharing this with you guys, it might be a kind deed that at least I could do for this week.

Anyways, ladies and gentlemen, please take a very deep concern on all your cosmetics, day-to-day products, hair-gel, parfums and so forth.  Please know your product.  Without us knowing it, we may be living with cancer in the future. 

These are the top 12 worst offenders that have been found by The David Suzuki Foundation, a charitable Canadian group dedicated to enviromental conservations and educations.

1.  BHA and BHT

• Used in moisturisers and make-up
• These preservatives may cause cancer and harmful to fish and other wildlife

2.  Coal Tar Dyes (p-phenylenediamine and colors listed as CL followed by 5 digits)

• Used in hair dyes and cosmetics
• These dyes are potential carcinogens and can be contaminated with heavy metals

3.  DEA, Cocamide DEA and Lauramide DEA

• Used in creamy and foaming products (moisturisers, shampoos)
• DEA have been linked to cancer

4.  Dibutyl Phthalate

• Used as plasticiser in some nail care products
• This is a suspected endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxin

5.  Formaldehyde-releasing preservative (DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quarternium-15 and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate)

• Found in cosmetics
• Slowly release cancer-causing

6.  Paraben, methylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben

• Used as preservatives.
• Parabens are reported to interfere with male reproductive functions.

7.  Fragrance of Parfum

• Artificial fragrances used in all kinds of cosmetics
• May trigger allergic reactions, asthma, and some are linked to cancer

8.  PEGs

• Used as a cream based for some cosmetics
• May be contaminated with 1.4-dioxane, which is linked to cancer

9.  Petrolatum

• Used in hair products, lip balms, moisturizers, and lipsticks
• May be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer

10.  Siloxanes (cyclotetrasiloxane, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, cyclomethicone)

• Used to soften, smooth and moisten
• Appear in a variety cosmetics
• Suspected as endocrine disruptors and reproductive toxins

11.  Sodium laureth sulfate

• Used in foaming cosmetics like shampoos, cleansers and toothpaste.
• May be contaminated with 1.4-dioxane, which is linked to cancer

12.  Triclosan

• The controversial antibacterial agent that may contribute to antibiotics resistance in bacterial strains

Just be careful, okay...

If you have any doubts, worries and concerns about your drugs, beauty products.. don't hesitate to report it here http://www.pharmacy.gov.my/.