Okay. I get it. For years you’ve used that soap with the pretty little white bird. It’s plain and simple, right? Has to be good for me … it’s good for every BODY…right? No, honey…. No it’s not. Flip over that little white bird and count the ingredients. Then try to pronounce them – without the help of Google translate. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
YIKES?!? (That’s you, btw… when you realize what you’ve been putting into - and on - your body. )
Here’s another question for you. What is the largest organ in the body? The heart? The liver? Nope – it’s your skin. Yes, your skin is considered an organ. Not only that, but the skin is the largest organ in your body. Your skin is so important – think of your skin as one large open mouth. Whatever you put ON your skin eventually gets absorbed INTO you.
Okay – so let’s take a look at some of the super yucky chemicals that have been snuck into your soap.
The chemical ingredients in soaps and other cosmetic products fall into four basic categories: chemical preservatives, surfactants, pesticides and artificial fragrances.
Let’s look at the chemical preservatives, first.
Formaldehyde
Yes! The same stuff the frogs were pickled in for your seventh grade biology class. Ewww!
Formaldehyde, unfortunately is a commonly used preservative in beauty products. It is a known carcinogen (cancer – causing chemical) that is also linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity, environmental toxicity and – ironically - skin irritation. Some other names you may see that actually contain formaldehyde are: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol), and several more – but I got tired of typing all the letters.
Formaldehyde isn’t a chemical you’d ever expect to find in your soap, but it may be, even if it isn’t included in the ingredients! This is because certain chemicals found in soap like ureas can release formaldehyde, and manufacturers are not required to disclose it.
Parabens
Parabens are a class of preservatives commonly used to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in cosmetic products. Parabens are known endocrine (or hormone) disruptors, which may alter important hormone functions in the body.
Parabens are estrogen mimickers—meaning that once applied to the skin, they enter the bloodstream, and the body mistakes them for estrogen. When the body thinks there is an abnormally high amount of estrogen present in the bloodstream due to the presence of these hormone disrupters, it reacts in various ways: decreasing muscle mass, increasing fat deposits, causing early onset of puberty and spurring reproductive difficulties in both men and women. Parabens are also known to increase the risk of multiple types of cancer.
No pickled frogs here! None of the products created at Happy Girl Farm include parabens, formaldehyde or any other chemical preservative. As all of our products are naturally created, no worries – we know you will love our soaps and other products so much you will use them well before the need for preservatives. The only thing we are passionate about preserving is your beautiful, healthy skin.
Okay – let’s look at surfactants next. “Surfactants” are chemical foaming agents used in soaps, shampoos, etc to produce lather and bubbles.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES)
(commonly known as “sulfates”)
Sulfates strip the skin of its natural oils and increase penetration of the skin’s surface. They are especially irritating for people with sensitive skin or eczema. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) It is banned in many countries because of its tendency to cause skin irritation, but is still allowed in the US. Sulfates are one of the chemicals required to be disclosed by California’s Proposition 65 bill.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Similar to sulfates, cocamidopropyl betaine is a synthetic detergent and surfactant (substance that increases spreading and wetting properties) that is used to increase the foaming and bubbling action. Cocamidopropyl Betadine is a known carcinogen and endocrine disrupter.
What are safe, natural alternative to sulfates? Sugar and castor oil!
Both sugar and castor oil are used in the soaps and other products created at Happy Girl Farm to produce a soft, foaming lather that you can relax in, play in, blow bubbles at your partner (or yourself in the mirror)… all without the worry that you are causing harm to your skin.
Is your blood pressure up from reading all this new information about the chemicals you have been unknowingly putting in your beautiful body? (Don’t worry – we have a lavender tincture for that!)
Let’s look at the third category – fragrances.
Synthetic Fragrance
These man-made, engineered scent or flavoring agents may contain any combination of 3,000-plus stock chemical ingredients, including hormone disruptors and allergens.
Fragrance formulas are protected under federal law’s “classification of trade secrets” and therefore can remain undisclosed. Synthetic toxic cocktails of chemicals and cancer-causing agents (like phthalates, used to make fragrances last longer) are hiding under sneaky terms like “natural fragrances” or “perfumes”.
Constant exposure to synthetic fragrances has been shown to negatively impact the central nervous system and can trigger allergies, migraines and asthma symptoms. Toxic artificial fragrances have been shown to also lead to hormone and endocrine disruption.
Most of these fragrance chemicals are also petroleum-based. Yes – petroleum- like the gasoline you put in your car. Ewww! Now THAT doesn’t smell good. At least not in your soap, anyway.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a class of chemicals used in hundreds of products to increase the flexibility and softness of plastics. They are known to be endocrine disruptors and have been linked to increased risk of breast cancer, early breast development in girls, and reproductive birth defects in males and females.
At Happy Girl Farm, we try to minimize the use of our fragrances in our skincare products, and only use phthalate-free fragrances and essential oils. So you can take time to stop, smell the roses (and the chamomile and the espresso and the bergamot and the apricots and the … well you get it) without stressing over scents.
We have also created a line of purely simple, unscented soaps that are perfectly soothing for all skin types. Check out the Naked Line of soaps created at Happy Girl Farm.
Lastly – and probably the category with the biggest “ick” factor – pesticides. Yes – pesticides. Unless you can see bugs crawling on your skin, there is definitely not a need for pesticides in your soap or any other cosmetic product.
Triclosan and Triclocarban
Triclosan and Triclocarban are two commonly used artificial anti microbial pesticides that are often used in soap for their antibacterial properties. Unfortunately they also act as hormone and endocrine disrupters, reproductive toxicity and promote thyroid imbalances.
Triclosan and Triclocarban can also cause skin irritation and respiratory sensitivity. But here’s the most important part (as a nurse who has seen an escalating surge in antibiotic – resistant infections). These synthetic antibacterial agents are also linked to bacterial resistance and weakening of the natural immune system. Triclosan and Triclocarban are also probable carcinogens.
Triclosan is a chemical is most often found in antibacterial soap. Recent studies have found that triclosan actually promotes the emergence and growth of bacteria resistant to antibiotic cleansers. It also creates dioxin, a carcinogen that causes disruptive effects on the endocrine system and negatively affect thyroid functions.
And here’s a fun fact: dioxin is the primary toxic component of Agent Orange.
Read that again.
Don’t bug out!! There are many natural alternatives to chemical anti-microbial pesticides.
At Happy Girl Farm, we harness the power of nature and use a variety of natural herbal anti virals, anti bacterials and anti microbials to help fight infection and cleanse the skin – naturally and safely.
Check out these safe and effective anti-bacterial soaps created at Happy Girl Farm.
Bottom line: If the ingredient is vague, it’s probably hiding something. If there are more letters in an ingredient than the pony express ever delivered cross country, it’s probably got some nasty side effects and you don’t want to put it anywhere in or on your body.
There are many, many, many, many more synthetic and artificial chemicals that may (or may not) be listed on the back of your soap label. This is just a general introduction and a short list to get you started on your journey towards natural health.
Well – now you know. Don’t stress out too much. When you know better you do better, right?
Do you feel like you need a shower or hot soapy bath after learning about all the toxic chemicals snuck into your soap? If so – just make sure you use a safe, all natural herbal product – preferably one created at Happy Girl Farm.
Comments