frannyan | (no subject)

Welp,the Bath and Body works aromatheraphy lotion fails 3/5 red flags for toxin's in mostureisers. Took me a good 5 min to get the freaking top lable off the ingrediates lable... Meaning there was no way to tell in store.

Artificial Colors

Moisturizers with artificial colors present a particular hazard.
FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3 are carcinogenic, and D&C Red
33, FD&C Yellow 5, and FC&C Yellow 6 have been shown to cause
cancer when applied to the skin. Some artificial coal-tar colors contain
heavy metal impurities, including arsenic and lead, which are
carcinogenic. Since moisturizers lie on large areas of the skin for
extended periods of time, exposures are increased.

Fragrance

Phthalates, a family of chemical plasticizers that are used in personal
care products to moisturize skin and as a solvent, are almost synonymous
with fragrance. Phthalates have been shown to cause birth defects,
reproductive impairments and liver damage in lab animals. Manufacturers
are not required to list the ingredients used in "fragrance," but common
ingredients also include methylene chloride, toluene, methyl ethyl
ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl alcohol and benzyl chloride, all
of which are hazardous. According to the American Academy of
Dermatology, fragrance is the number one cause of allergic reactions in
cosmetics. Look for "fragrance-free" products or ones scented with
essential oils.

Preservatives: Parabens and Formaldehyde

Preservatives used in personal care products, including moisturizers,
ensure that the products do not become contaminated with bacteria;
however, consumers should note the choice of preservatives since many
can have adverse effects. Parabens, including methyl-, butyl-, ethyl-,
and propyl-, often cause skin irritation, and there is concern that
parabens may be linked to the development of breast cancer. According
to study published in the Jan/Feb 2004 Journal of Applied Toxicology,
parabens have been found in tissue samples from human breast tumors.

Some preservatives release small amounts of formaldehyde, which the EPA
classifies as a probable human carcinogen. Avoid bronopol (often listed
as 2-brono-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantion,
imidazolidinyl urea, and quaternium 15, all of which contain
formaldehyde, release formaldehyde, or break down into formaldehyde.

Glycols

Derived from hydrocarbons, glycols (propylene glycol, glycerin, ethylene
glycol, carbitol, diethylene glycol) are often used as humectants in
moisturizers. The FDA warns that glycols can cause adverse reactions in
users. A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients warns that
"ethylene glycol, carbitol, and diethylene glycol are hazardous in
concentrations exceeding 5%, even in preparations for use on small areas
of the body" and advises that in sunscreens and lotions, which are
applied all over the body, they not be used at all. Glycol ethers are
often used as solvents in cosmetics. Some glycols can affect the
reproductive system or cause birth defects, and overexposure can result
in kidney damage and liver abnormalities. Glycols may also cause contact
dermatitis. Avoid the following: EGPE, EGME, EGEE, DEGBE, PGME, DPGME,
and those with methyl in their names.

Sunscreens

Moisturizers with SPF offer protection from the sun's harmful rays, but
some sunscreens come with risky side effects. Benzophenone
(benzophenone-3, homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate) have
shown estrogenic activity in lab tests. Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 are
chemicals that have the potential to damage DNA when illuminated with
sunlight. On the skin's surface, the chemicals do protect from UV
damage, but once absorbed, these same chemicals can prove destructive.
Dr. Knowland, a biochemist at Oxford University, has studied both
chemicals and warns, "DNA damage inflicted by an excited sunscreen is
much less capable of being repaired by naturally occurring repair
mechanisms than the DNA damage inflicted by UV alone."

Plants in harmony with chemicals.. -_-

And I still have most of a full bottle of this stuff. Bah. Smells so nice too. Of course, they have chemical fragrance under the eoils.. -_-

.. and it has basil extract? Basil EOil is toxic! It's not to be injested or used on skin!

THis bottle just made it to 'air freshener' status... *takes pump off bottle*

the Oil of Olay one doesn't even have ingrediants listed...