When buying products, do you ever look at the label? You have probably seen the ingredient labelled "fragrance" or "parfum" but what is it? Companies are allowed to put approximately 2,500 different chemicals and ingredients in a product and label them as "fragrance" and are considered trade secrets and are there to "protect the product's formula" from duplication. On average there are at least 10 ingredients hidden under the "fragrance" label, but there can be many more.
There are different guidelines for what things have to be labelled based on whether it is put on the skin directly or not. Perfumes, colognes, deodorants, shampoos, soaps, etc. are put directly on the skin so are regulated as cosmetics and therefore regulated directly by the FDA. Laundry detergents, dryer sheets, cleaning products, candles, etc. are not directly put on the skin so they are regulated by the CPSC. These ingredients are "innocent until proven guilty" in the fact that they do not have to be tested by an outside, reliable, unbiased source before being put into a product. This is a major safely concern to many.
People who have problems with their skin breaking out with contact dermatitis, especially on areas where cosmetic products are applied, may be having reactions to ingredients labelled under fragrance. "Fragrances" are one of the biggest causes of contact dermatitis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Even products that are labelled as unscented may still contain fragrance products to "mask the smell" of other ingredients. One source mentions the US guidelines for using the term "unscented" on a product is that it has to contain less than 0.2% fragrance. The term "fragrance-free" on a product means that it cannot have any "fragrance" but can still contain a masking fragrance/agent (and masking agents do not necessarily have to be labelled). In the UK laws regulate that "parfum" must be listen on the ingredients list "if their concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products (e.g. a moisturizer) and 0.01% in rinse-off products (e.g. a shampoo)".
The only list that I have found that says what is allowed under the term "fragrance" is on the IFRA's website.
What are some other ingredients I should be aware of?
The EPA says that there are certain chemicals that are allowed to be in cosmetic products, even products specifically made for infants and children, that can degrade into formaldehyde. Though these levels are small, chronic exposure and the fact that the chemical can become airborne after using the product makes these products potentially harmful to your health and the the health of the people and animals around you. These chemicals include (though may not be limited to):- 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
- Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol )
- Diazolidinyl urea
- DMDM hydantoin
- Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Quaternium-15
Petroleum products are all around us. They are used to help the skin keep in moisture or as a cheap filler. The problem is that it does not allow the skin to breathe and may cause the skin to appear more aged. It has not been linked to cancer or directly to other serious health effects but it is a by-product of the oil industry and therefor not a sustainable resource. Choosing plant-based oils is better for the environment and potentially more beneficial than using these products:
- Mineral oil
- Paraffin
- Petrolatum
- Petroleum jelly
Parabens are used to preserve and help prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetic products but have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and fertility problems. Yet, they are still allowed in so many products we put directly on our skin. Some examples are:
- Butylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
Phthalates are a type of plasticizing chemical that has been linked to birth defects, disruption of the endocrine system (hormones), and damage to certain organs.
- DBP
- DEHP
- DEP
Propylene Glycol, as well as PEG and PPG, can be harmful to the liver and heart and in higher doses linked to central nervous system damage. It has been directly linked to eczema, hives, and allergic reactions.
What can I do to stay away from these potentially dangerous ingredients?
One problem is that if you can smell someone else's fragrance product, you are getting exposed. Besides that, there are many ways you can get rid of these ingredients. One of the best ways would be to make your own products. There are many different recipes online of toothpaste, laundry detergent, lotion, etc. for people who want to get toxins out of their life.Here are some recipes (will be updating links as I test/create them):
- All-purpose cleaner
- Candles
- Deodorant
- Dish soap
- Dishwater detergent
- Dust spray
- Face mask
- Goo remover
- Hair gel
- Laundry detergent
- Lotions, creams, and body butters
- Perfume
- Salve (non-petroleum jelly)
- Shampoo
- Shaving lotion/soap
- Soap (bar)
- Soap (liquid)
- Toothpaste
- Window cleaner
Sources and informational links:
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm388821.htmhttps://phthalates.americanchemistry.com/Research-Phthalates/Reproductive-Studies
http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/perfume-allergies/en/index.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_102.pdf
http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/perfume-allergies/
https://blog.honest.com/fragrance/#
http://www.cctfa.ca/site/consumerinfo/FragranceReport_Final.pdf
http://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/files/237201013545Allergy_Card.pdf
https://www.dandruffdeconstructed.com/contact-dermatitis/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/vaseline-petroleum-jelly_n_4136226.html
