What is in your cosmetics and personal care products – 80% contain a cancer-causing impurity
What is in your cosmetics and personal care products? I started this article after a friend showed me a tube of Lucas paw paw cream she was using on her baby’s bum. We have been taught by our mothers and grandmother that its the best thing for baby’s bottoms and nappy rash. Paw Paw has a lot of wonderful skin benefit. However when it contains Petroleum jelly it makes it possible the worst thing to put on you skin. Petroleum jelly is an “occlusive” agent which means it seals off the skin from air, water or anything else getting in or out. Wherever it is applied, it forms an invisible film on the surface that blocks the pores and the skin’s natural respiration process.
But the more I looked at this, the more scary the information I found.
An assessment performed Environmental Working Group (EWG) on ingredients in 15,000 cosmetics and other personal care products found 80 percent of products may be contaminated with one or more of the two dozen recognized cosmetic impurities that are linked to cancer and other health concerns. Products containing Petroleum can be contaminated with a cancer-causing impurity called 1,4-dioxane. The amount of products containing 1,4-dioxane are scary
- 97% of hair relaxers
- 82% of hair dyes and bleaching
- 66% of hair removers
- 57% of baby soap
- 45% of sunless tanning products
- 43% of body firming lotion
- 36% of hormonal creams
- 36% of facial moisturizers
- 35% of anti-aging products
- 34% of body lotion
- 33% of around-eye creams
Petroleum has also been link to hormonal imbalances in women as shown in this study
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology study concluded that the use of Petroleum ointment promoted an increase in the incidence of candidiasis in low weight infants.
Carcinogenic in Petroleum Jelly can be removed but it seems most companies don’t bother.
There are many natural alternatives to Petroleum Jelly. Look for products that coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa butter or bees wax.