Our skin is our outer most protection from various different diseases and bacteria. There are several different chemicals and additives that companies put into various products that can damage our skin. It is important to avoid these things to help enhance your skin:
Detergents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate:
“These will dry your skin out,” says Julie Ebner, owner of Juju Salon and Organics in Philadelphia.
Parabens, such as methylparaben:
According to Environmental Working Group (EWG), these preservatives have been linked to breast cancer and endocrine system disruption.
Alcohol:
Especially ethanol, ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, methanol, and benzyl alcohol dry out your skin, doing the very opposite thing that moisturizers are made for! They can also evaporate quickly once applied to the skin.
Propylene Glycol:
According to the EWG, this ingredient has been shown to be a skin irritant, and may cause liver and kidney damage. It’s a humectant that is also one of the primary ingredients in anti-freeze and brake fluid.
Artificial Fragrances:
Any scent in a product should only be derived from natural essential oils, says Ebner.
Silicones:
These can clog pores and disrupt the skin’s ability to properly excrete waste and absorb nutrients, says Deborah Burnes, author of Live Green, Look Great.