Personal care products -- what to avoid

When I found out recently that my favorite fragrance, Japanese Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works, was one of the worst offenders when it came to hidden chemicals that pose a danger to people, I was dismayed.

While it's nearly impossible to know what all the hidden chemicals are in the personal care products we use, we can at least read the labels and steer clear of certain ingredients we may find there.


Here's a list of what you should avoid and why:

• Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, and isobutyl)
• endocrine disruptors
• PEG and ingredients ending with -eth
• suspected human carcinogen
• Triethanolamine (TEA)
• may be contaminated by a possible carcinogen, nitrosamine
• Triclosan and Triclocarbon
• healthwise -- toxic to your thyroid
• environmental-wise -- takes a really long time to fade away
• Hydroxy Acids (AHAs, BHAs, lactic and glycolic acid)
• weakens the outer layer of skin which makes the skin more vulnerable to ultraviolet rays and other hazards

Our best option is to buy natural and organic products, but often that's not the budget-friendly thing to do. So at least check the ingredients on the personal care stuff you buy and avoid the above. Avoiding cancer is a whole lot easier than curing and treating it and so many of these ingredients are known carcinogens.

Stay healthy, friends.

Hana