The 25 Harshest Ingredients in Skin Care Products

The Big Brands

The cosmetic industry fills their products with preservatives, silicones, parabens, sulfates, alcohols, irritants and fragrance causing skin issues. They'll slap, "organic, vegan, cruelty free or dermatologist recommended" on the packaging to convince you it's good for you but have you looked at the ingredients? Those big brand names like Revlon, Maybelline, Clinique, Shiseido, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal and Neutrogena are the worst. They shove alcohol and parabens in products. I always say Less is more. This means that you want products with less ingredients but higher quality ingredients. You want to look for products that are not big brand names and also have, maybe, three rows of ingredients. Quality over quantity.

The Sulfate Devil

The products I am going to share with you today do not have any of the harsh ingredients listed below. Majority of the big brand cosmetics companies put at least two in each of their products. If you were ever wondering why your skin needs more products and you have to spend more money. It is because something you are using is drying it out. I guarantee you that something is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, the worst of all the sulfates. The Sulfate Devil!

The Harsh 25

1. Parabens are cancerous and cause skin damage, disrupts hormones and harm reproductive organs .

2. Sulfates are a repiratory tract irritant and strip the skin of its natural oils possibly causing itchy skin dermatitis and eczema. Most common forms of sulfates are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate .

3. Cyclic Silicones cause build ups that lead to acne and pimples .

4. Butylated hydroxytoluene is a human carcinogen and allergen.

5. Diethanolamine may irritate or burn skin and eyes with contact impairing vision and irritating the nose and throat.

6. Triethanolamine may irritate or burn skin and eyes with contact impairing vision and irritating the nose and throat.

7. Monoethanolamine may irritate or burn skin and eyes with contact impairing vision and irritating the nose and throat .

8. Phthalates are carcinogens .

9. Phenoxyethanol has a negative effect on the brain and nervous system.

10. Triclosan is an allergy inducer and hormone disruptor .

11. Plastic Microbeads dry out the skin and cause irritation and allergies .

12. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers are toxic. They also can cause allergic dermatitis, pain, redness, blistering and burns. Most common formaldehyde releasers include; quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, bromopol and glyoxal.

13. Dioxane is often mixed with ceteareth. Dioxane is a carcinogen and respiratory irritant .

14. Ethylene oxide is a carcinogen and respiratory irritant .

15. PEG's or polyethylene glycol has dioxane and ethylene oxide in it .

16. Retinyl Palmitate can cause tumors and skin lesions.

17. Resorcinol is a toxin and skin irritant found primarily in hair dye.

18. Petroleum distillates are eye, skin and throat irritants that can cause dermatitis .

19. Methylisothiazolinone is a skin irritant and can cause chemical burns linked to nerve damage .

20. Methylchloroisothiazolinone is a neurotoxin that causes chemical burns.

21. Benzisothiazolinone is a skin irritant .

22. Lead is easily absorbed and causes anemia, weakness, kidney and brain damage .

23. Boric acid or sodium borate or borax are one in the same. They are all corrosive to eyes and can cause nausea, vomiting ,stomach ache and diarrhea. They are also hormone disruptors and skin irritants.

24. Artificial colors can block pores, cause breakouts and sensitivity. The most common ones include; yellow 5 and it is linked to hyperactivity and ADHD, yellow 6 is linked to adrenal gland and kidney tumors, red 3 causes thyroid tumors and red 40 is linked to aggressive behavior and rash flare ups.

25. Alcohol severely dries out the skin.

The FDA Does Not Care

The FDA approves specific amounts of these harsh chemicals in each product. They think if you are only exposed to a certain amount it should be ok. The problem is they have no idea what other products you are using increasing possible percentage of exposure to these toxic and harsh chemicals. As long as there is no noticeable negative effect consumers complain or sue for they say, "what the hay, why not." Sorry to break it to you but they don't care about you all they care about is keeping their job and satisfying the owners of the big brand cosmetic companies. Poor consumers don't even know the ingredients they are using that could be causing all sorts of problems from migraines to eczema.

You Are The Master Of Your Skin

Nowadays, makeup has become a necessity for many. It is important to many people. It has become the fashion of the face. There are various things MUA’s (make-up artists) do to cover up vitiligo, melanoma, acne, third degree burns, boxcar scars and even nose, face and head shape. They are true artists and masters of the application. You are the master of your own skin's overall health though. Skin care is just as important as beauty. If you are wearing makeup all the time and constantly rubbing and stretching your skin to clean it, you are making your skin more prone to your premature wrinkling. Most likely you are constantly washing and rubbing nightly if you wear makeup daily drying out your skin. EASY! “Aint ya momma tell ya try a little tenderness.” I am here to share some of my top favorite skin care products I cannot live without.

My Faves

1. Solgar, B-Complex with Vitamin C Stress Formula, 250 tablets

After two weeks I noticed a significant decrease in my cravings and after one month my skin began glowing.

2. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Eco Pads + Garnier SKINACTIVE Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser - 13.5 fl oz

I prefer reusable cleansing pads because the product usually seeps through cotton rounds. I barely wear makeup I am too lazy to wake up earlier to do it. The only time I will is if I am going out on the weekend. Even if I do I don’t use the Micellar water on my eye area. It is soapy and does burn if you get it in your eye like me. I am clumsy. I use it for a refresh. When I get home from work I place a little on the eco pad and wipe my face. It dries fairly quickly and no rinse is necessary. You will feel clean again or at least your face will.

3. Dr Teal's Restore & Replenish Pink Himalayan Mineral Soak + Lensikiv’s Organic bath bomb, Rose Heart Bath Bomb, Rose Heart Shower Steamers, Valentine's Gift for Her, BabyShower gift, BridalShower gift (Lensikiv is an Etsy Seller)

Not all the time I take baths but when I do these are must haves for me. I mix the two together. I play my bath tub playlist, turn the lights off, put my cell phone on do not disturb and light some of my favorite candles then hop in.

4. Hydrea London Organic Loofah and Egyptian Cotton Exfoliating Bath Mitt

I have tried the dry brush to exfoliate my skin and its too harsh. Even the exfoliating gloves are rough and I hate having a wet glove on my hand. It is like getting out of the pool after being pushed in fully clothing it feels weird to me.

5. 100% Natural Rose Quartz Skin Rejuvenation Roller

I struggle with puffy eyes in the morning. I used to freeze two spoons and place them under my eyes to decrease the puffing and that kind of worked. I found buying two of these and placing them in the freezer for half an hour works much better. I usually follow it with gently applying some shea butter in circular motions then enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

6. Marie France Pure Kojic Acid Soap (Maximum Strength)

It’s very important that you get the Marie France soap because there is another one all over Ebay and Etsy full of alcohol and carcinogens. FYI I don’t use this as a soap I actually use Toms orange blossom soap bar. I wet my knees, bikini area, under pits and elbows then rub this on let it sit for five minutes then rinse off. I found this works in minor lightening.

7. Starpil Black Film Hard Wax Beads 600g Mini Tub

Once a month I get these ugly blackheads on my nose and I hate them. In high school I used to use Biore nose strips to get rid of them. They worked well but they come with harsh chemicals. Now I simply heat these hard wax beads up in a wax heater. Then I spread a little over my nose where the blackheads are with a jumbo wood craft stick. I wait until it dries and then rip it off. The best thing I love about these is it is not a painful rip like regular wax. You barely feel the tear and there is no need for a wax cloth to press on to the wax the wax jus hardens and you rip off that.

8. The Plant Guru’s Aloe Vera Body Butter 100% Pure Raw Fresh (on Etsy)

I hate moisturizer that’s runny. It doesn’t last long and this is the complete opposite. I find my skin much softer after using this on my body and hydrated.

9. 100% Pure’s Blood Orange Body Scrub

This product was an award winner by Allure magazine and I love to exfoliate every Sunday religiously with this. Anything scented like lemon, orange or mandarin I obsess over.

10. Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

When I wake up I like to feel fresh and clean so I like to use this on my face and it wakes me right up. As I am not at all a morning person.

Do You Boo

I am not here to tell you what to do only to inform you of the things I wish I knew. Knowledge is power. It is difficult to make better choices if you don't even know you're making a wrong one to begin with. I only started paying close attention to these things after graduating college a few years ago. I changed my shampoo because I was suffering from migraines and my doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong. I began a natural journey and began paying close attention to what I was using. Since then my migraines went from three days a week to twice a month. Now I think they come because I wait too long to eat. Whether you realize it or not your skin does absorb some of what you apply to it. Please just be more cautious of what you wash it with, make it up with or moisturize it with. I love you and do you boo!