What is it?
Dimethicone is a silicone product that’s used as a skin conditioning agent and emollient.  According to EWG, “Dimethicone is a mixture of fully methylated linear siloxane polymers end blocked with trimethylsiloxy units.”  It’s also known at “polydimethylsiloxane”

Why is it a risk?
According to the Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List, dimethicone is bioaccumulative in humans and wildlife.  Basically it pollutes our bodies and environments and accumulates in our organs.  It’s not a known carcinogen or anything like that, but why add to the toxic load of environmental toxins that we add to our bodies on a daily basis?  In addiction, poisonous hydrochloric gas is emitted during the chemical production of this ingredient.

What type of products is it found in?
Sunscreen
Moisturizer
Shampoo
Conditioner
Makeup
Personal Lubricant

(Below are just a few of the companies we are aware use this chemical. If you find others  add them to this posting.)
Almay
Jason Naturals
KY
Shikai
Avalon Organics
EO
Revlon
Aveeno

There are definitely worse chemicals than dimethicone, but there are definitely healthier, more natural options.  Why use a silicon-based polymer when you can use a natural mangosteen Bio X? 

I personally would avoid using Dimethicone.
Sources:
http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=702011&refurl=/product.php?prod_id=49387&&nothanks=1

Instead, these under-regulated chemicals are causing concerns for human health and the environment – whether they seep through your skin or wash down your drain.

How to choose better personal care products.

What makes a body care product “better”?
Better products meet their claims and are free of ingredients that could harm our health or the environment.

Don’t be fooled by Labels that claim  a product is “gentle” or “natural,” with no required safety testing, companies that make personal care products can use almost any chemical they want, regardless of risks. So, always read product labels – especially the ingredient list - before you buy.

Learn how to choose better body care products. 
First learn how to read a label.  Every personal care product on the market must list the ingredients on the label.  I recommend you take a look at Glimpse Topical skin nutrition, 3 patent ingredients and toxin FREE ask for a free sample here!

Label reading can be confusing – here are some tips to help you look through the chemical names.

You can approach ingredient lists in 3 parts:

1.Start at the end where preservatives are listed.  Try to avoid:
 
•Words ending in “paraben”
•DMDM hydantoin
•Imidsazolidinyl urea
•Methylchloroisothiazolinone
•Methylisothiazolinone
•Triclosan
•Triclocarban
•Triethanolamine (or “TEA”)
 
2.  Next, check the beginning of the ingredients list.  Here you’ll find the soap, surfactant, or lubricant that has been added to make the product work. Try to avoid ingredients that start with “PEG” or have an “-eth” in the middle (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).
 
3.  Finally, read the middle ingredients.  Here you’ll look for some common – but not essential – additives that may bring excess hazard: fragrance and dyes.  On the label look for “FRAGRANCE,” “FD&C,” or “D&C.”

How to find the safest body care products for your kids!  Extra caution is in order for kids because they receive greater exposures by weight than adults to contaminants in air, water, food, and everyday products.

In addition, their immature metabolism and organ systems are typically less capable of fending off chemical assaults. Subtle damage to developing bodies that does not trigger immediate health effects may lead to disease later in life.

Here are the top 6 tips for kids:

1. Use fewer products and use them less often.
2. Don’t trust the claims. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Avoid the use of baby powder on newborns and infants.
5. Do your homework at Cosmetics Database
6. Always avoid  top 7 chemicals of concern for kids:
Which are the following: 

•2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3 Diol
•BHA
•Boric acid and sodium borate
•Dibutyl phthalate & toluene
•DMDM Hydantoin
•Oxybenzone
•Triclosan

Skin Products Made by Clarcon
Audience: Consumers, pharmacists, all healthcare professionals

FDA notified consumers and healthcare professionals that Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory is recalling some skin sanitizers and skin protectants because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found in the product. During an FDA inspection, analyses of samples of several of these products revealed high levels of various bacteria, including some associated with unsanitary conditions. Some of these bacteria can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues. Such infections may need medical or surgical attention, and may result in permanent damage. These findings are particularly concerning because the products are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds, damaged skin, and protect against various infectious diseases. FDA is warning consumers to not use any Clarcon products and should throw these products away in household refuse.

Read the complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary, including a link to the FDA News Release, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm165028.htm

[June 9, 2009 - News Release - FDA]

Public Service Announcement From : Spirit Animal Sanctuary

Including these products ;

Citrushield Lotion

Dermasentials DermaBarrier

Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer

Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment

Skin Shield Restaurant

Skin Shield Industrial

Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion

Total Skin Care Beauty

Total Skin Care Work

 EWG Risk Score: 7-9  (10 is the highest toxic rating)
(What’s EWG?) www.cosmeticdatabase.com (learn more about the ratings)

What is it:
DMDM Hydantoin is a urea-based preservative that releases formaldehyde as its means of preventing microbial growth. 

Why it’s a risk:
The biggest concern that DMDM Hydantoin carries is that is can release or be contaminated with the carcinogen formaldehyde.  It is also a strong skin, eye, and lung irritant.  It has also been known to trigger an immune response that can include burning, itching, blistering, or scaling of skin.

Types of products that use this ingredient:
Shampoo, bodywash, sunscreen, hand lotion, facial moisturizers, baby wipes

Brands that use this ingredient:
Note:  These are the brands we are currently aware of as of the date of this post.  If you see a correction is needed or if you have other companies you would like to mention using this ingredient please post it in the “comments” at the bottom of this Chemical of the Day.

Curel
DDF Organic
Huggies
Bumble & Bumble (Not Bubble & Bee!)
Olay
Desert Essence
Eucerin
Irish Spring
Ivory
Dove

Sources:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?containing=702196&&showmore=products&start=80

What does this mean? This ingredient starts out as phenol, a toxic white crystalline powder that’s created from benzene (a known carcinogen) and then is treated with ethylene oxide (also a known carcinogen) and an alkalai.

More about this ingredient?:
Phenoxyethanol is a hidden “Fragrance” ingredient and is also used as a preservative. 

Why is it a risk?:
One study found it to cause central nervous depression,  it’s restricted in Japan, it’s a skin, eye and lung irritant.  In addition to carcinogenic contamination concerns.  It is also a likely xenoestrogen.

What Type of Products is it in:
Sunscreen, facial products, scrubs, moisturizers, body wash, mascara.

Companies that use this chemical: (Below are just a few of the companies we are aware use this chemical.

Goddess Garden
Cellex
SkinCeuticals
Kiss My Face
Physicians Formula
Made out of carcinogenic, toxic compounds, phenoxyethanol is an ingredient that I would suggest avoiding.  Often times it’s found in “natural” products.  They’ll use phenoxyethanol as the preservative and then tout that they’re “paraben-free.”  In addition it’s commonly used as a fragrance ingredient.  Many of the natural companies still use synthetic fragrance.  They’ll tout that they’re “phlalate-free” but still contain phenoxyethanol.  So, just because something’s “phlalate-free” or “paraben-free” doesn’t mean it’s safe.  Any time you see “fragrance” listed, phenoxyethanol could be present. 

 Sources:
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~STQaM

v:1

EWG Risk Score:  10

Why is it a risk?
Banned in Japan and Europe, Selenium Sulfide is deemed a possible carcinogen by the EPA and the state of California.  Along with its possible cancer risks, it’s toxic to the body’s respiratory, nervous and reproductive systems. Also listed as selenium disulfide, it’s a wildlife pollutant and is widely used as an oral and topical drug to treat fungal infections. A similar compound, selenium monosulfide is a known carcinogen.

What type of products is it found in?
Shampoos and conditioners

Companies that use this chemical:
Selsun Blue
Head and Shoulders

I wouldn’t even think about using a product with this ingredient!

EWG Risk Score: 4

What is it:
A widely used detergent and surfactant.  It can be derived from coconut oil or petroleum by-products.  It is commonly used as an industrial degreaser.

Why is it a risk?
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is an ethoxylated compound. When it’s created, it’s processed with ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen.  Traces of ethylene oxide and 1,4-Dioxane (another known carcinogen) can be found in the detergent.  It’s also a skin irritant that can lead to and aggrivate skin conditions like eczema and an eye irritant that has been shown to cause cataracts in adults and inhibit the proper formation of eyes in small children.  Sodium laureth sulfate is commonly used in laboratory testing.  When companies need to test the efficiency of lotion, they first have to irritate skin.  To do so, they use sodium laureth sulfate. 

What type of products will you find this ingredient in?
Shampoo
Body Wash
Hand Soap
Dish soap

A few companies that use this chemical?
Weleda
The Body Shop
Bath and Body Works
Aveeno
Dermalogica
Beauty without Cruelty
Jason Naturals
Alba
Mr. Bubble
Clairol
Nature’s Gate
L’Oreal
Olay
Softsoap

The state of California is currently suing a number of companies for their products being contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane.  Most likely this contamination is from the sodium laureth sulfate contained in the products in question.  Some products tested by the Organic Consumers Union and the state of California had ten times the legal amount of 1,4-Dioxane.  In California, any product that contains a known or suspected carcinogen must be labeled accordingly, with a statement that “this product contains a carcinogen known to the state of California.”  As people become more aware of the dangers of SLES, companies are switching to other detergents like sodium myreth sulfate.  They put on their label “sodium laureth sulfate free!” but the risks are still the same.  Sodium myreth sulfate is ethoxylated as well, and can still contain the same contamination and irritation concerns as SLES. So, when you’re choosing a product, be sure to look at the ingredients. If it in any way resembles Sodium Laureth Sulfate, stay away from it.

Sources: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=706089

EWG Risk Score:  4

What is it:

“Fragrance” ingredient, preservative.  Phenoxyethanol is an aromatic ether alcohol.  What does this mean?  This ingredient starts out as phenol, a toxic white crystalline powder that’s created from benzene (a known carcinogen) and then is treated with ethylene oxide (also a known carcinogen) and an alkalai. 

Why is it a risk:

One study found it to cause central nervous depression,  it’s restricted in Japan, it’s a skin, eye and lung irritant.

What Type of Products can you find this in?

Sunscreen, facial products, scrubs, moisturizers, body wash, mascara

Companies that use this chemical:

Goddess Garden

Cellex

SkinCeuticals

Kiss My Face

Physicians Formula

Made out of carcinogenic, toxic compounds, phenoxyethanol is an ingredient that I would suggest avoiding. 

Sources:

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~STQaMv:1

The beauty industry is ignoring the natural chemistry of your skin.  What is a concern are cosmetic manufacturers even many of the ones that claim to be natural are putting things in their creams and lotions that should never go on your skin!  Chemicals don’t disappear once you rub them on, your skin absorbs them like a sponge  into your body.

Each day, the average woman uses 12 personal care products containing 168 chemical ingredients; the average man uses six products containing 85 chemicals*.  We are learning more everyday about the harmful effects of the toxins found in most of these products. 

And yet, the self-regulating personal care industry is slow to act.

To learn more view our video presentation here  what you can do.