The Toxic Beauty Industry: Hidden Chemicals, Hormone Disruption, and Health Risk
Of more than 10,000 chemicals used to formulate cosmetics, just 11
have ever been banned or restricted by the FDA.
Be aware that products that claim to be “clean” may not be.
Have you ever considered that the cosmetics, beauty and skin products you are using could be toxic to your health? We were unaware of this risk until about three years ago when we discovered how toxic some of the chemicals used in cosmetics are. Once again, when exploring this topic, we found big dollars at play. The global cosmetics industry was valued at $426.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $829.2 billion by 2033. North America is expected to be the fastest growing region. In this article, we will begin by briefly reviewing the fundamental and governmental regulation histories. Followed by some of the known health risks and toxic ingredients, and finally, we will conclude with sharing some of our favorite products and the website we use to help us find safe products.
The history of the beauty industry is as diverse and colorful as the lipsticks and nail polishes on display at your local make-up counter. Historians can trace our use of beauty products and cosmetics back to 4,000 BC, where the ancient Egyptians often used kohl to create dramatic eyes. Early beauty and cosmetic regimes relied heavily upon natural ingredients, including berries, bugs, and charcoal to create a variety of colors, and many products were used for more than one purpose. Initial treatments also utilized the area’s natural resources, locally sourcing natural ingredients for scrubs, pastes, and exfoliates.
World War II brought about an increase in chemical usage and many of these chemicals were unregulated in everyday consumer products. The chemical industry was largely self-regulating until the 1960s. President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with their top priority being regulation of chemical manufacturers. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was then established in 1976, providing the EPA with the authority to require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Some products are excluded from TSCA, including food, drugs, cosmetics, and pesticides. Unfortunately, this act continued to protect the chemical industry by allowing them to use toxic chemicals by grandfathering in over 80,000 chemicals, making them very difficult to regulate. The TSCA was updated in 2016. This amendment updated the requirements for the testing of existing chemicals and increased transparency with the public about chemical information. Unfortunately, the EPA has yet to make substantial progress regarding the reform.
Of more than 10,000 chemicals used to formulate cosmetics, just 11 have ever been banned or restricted by the FDA. The biggest difference between the United States and other comparable countries is the regulatory processes being used. The burden for chemical testing is placed on the EPA rather than the chemical companies themselves. As such, the US approves many more products as safe compared to most other countries. For example, the EU has banned 1,328 chemicals that are “known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, reproductive harm or birth defects” in cosmetic products.
Few consumer products contribute as many chemical exposures as cosmetics and other personal care products. Each day, American women use an average of 12 personal care products that contain 168 different chemicals. Men use an average of six personal care products that contain 85 different chemicals. Many of these products are applied directly to the skin, the body’s largest organ, where ingredients can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. They can also enter the body through inhalation, ingestion and internal use, and pose the same risks as food chemicals.
Clean, safe, fragrance-free, sulfate-free—no matter what the label claims, store shelves are loaded with beauty and hygiene products containing seriously harmful chemicals. Broadly known as chemicals of concern and, more specifically, endocrine disrupting chemicals. Our hormones, collectively known as our endocrine system, impact everything in our bodies. These “endocrine disrupting” chemicals such as parabens and phthalates can change your body and your health. Even exposure to small amounts of these chemicals over time can lead to problems, including issues with childhood development and onset of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and development of tumors, including cancer. They have also been linked to increased risk of diabetes and other metabolic disorders, early start of puberty, issues with fertility and reproduction, and are known to affect how women’s bodies use estrogen and thus have been linked to breast cancer. Research has also shown these disruptors can harm the immune system – an effect that makes us more susceptible to disease and viruses.
Be aware that products that claim to be “clean” may not be. Manufacturers can say “clean” on product labels like they can say “healthy” for food or supplements. There’s no legal definition, and until now no oversight and no FDA regulation. You must do the work yourself to find products free of toxic chemicals. Look for products that are transparent with their full ingredient list. Top toxic ingredients in cosmetics to avoid:
Moisturizer
- Polyacrylamide (possible acrylamide contamination)
- PTFE (possible PFOA contamination)
- Petrolatum (possible PAH contamination)
- UV filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone, homosalate)
Sunscreen
- Benzophenone
- Homosalate
- Octinoxate
- Oxybenzone
- Padimate O
- Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
Shampoo
- Ethanolamine compounds (cocamide DEA, MEA, TEA and others)
- Parabens (e.g. butylparaben)
- UV filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone)
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin)
- Sodium laureth sulfate and other –eth compounds (possible 1,4-dioxane or ethylene oxide contamination)
Conditioner
- Ethanolamine compounds (cocamide DEA, MEA, TEA and others)
- Parabens (e.g. butylparaben)
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin)
- Sodium laureth sulfate and other –eth compounds (possible 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide contamination)
- Nonoxynol (possible 1,4-dioxane or ethylene oxide contamination)
- Hydrogenated cottonseed oil (possible arsenic contamination)
Hair Color
- Resorcinol
- p-phenylenediamine
- toluene
- lead acetate
- Ethanolamines (cocamide DEA and others)
Fragrance
- The word ‘fragrance’ on a product label can hide dozens of secret, often, toxic chemicals.
Color Cosmetics
Blush, Face Powders, Eye Shadow, etc.
- Titanium dioxide (inhalable, nanosized)
- Carbon black
- PTFE (possible PFOA contamination)
- Talc
- BHA
- Silica
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15)
Skin Lighteners
- Butylated hydroxytoluene; BHT
- Ceteareth-20 (1,4-dioxane contamination)
- DMDM hydantoin (formaldehyde releaser)
- Padimate O (nitrosamine contamination)
- Hydroquinone
In addition to the lack of regulations on contents, there is no validation for the claims of many skincare products. Their ads claim that wrinkles will disappear, age spots will fade, the skin will look younger, and so will you. But, they have no scientific evidence to back up their claims.
We have found The Environmental Working Group (EWG) websites to be invaluable when researching different products. The EWG is an environmental health advocacy organization based in the United States. Here are the two sites we utilize:
The following is a list of some of our favorite cosmetic providers and the products we use from each:
- Under Luna - Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Oil
- Root Apothecary - Tallow oil and Face Cleanser
- Thrive Cosmetics - Mascara
- ILIA - Serum Skin Tint foundation and Blush
- Merit - Concealer
- Sunscreen - Aloe Vera (Note, there are excellent sunscreens sold in Europe that are non-toxic, We have not been able to find a good one in the USA. Although we have been programmed to believe the sun is bad for us, this is not true. The sun is our primary source of Vitamin D which is proving to be one of our body's primary defenses used to keep us healthy.)
The cosmetics industry has achieved great success by capitalizing on our insecurities with the way we look. They have managed to convince us that aging, natural skin conditions, and even sunshine are unacceptable and bad for our health. We believe it is time to stop allowing the billion dollar corporations and our government to manipulate and poison us through their false scientific studies, marketing campaigns, and childhood indoctrination.
