Toxins and hormone-disrupting chemicals are often found in our everyday personal-care products, food, water, home environments, hobby supplies, work environments, and more. We have to be aware of the potential toxins in order reduce our exposure and not only keep hormones balanced, but also maintain radiant and glowing skin.
With global population and advances in technology, environmental exposure to toxins has increased because manufacturers have created new toxic chemicals and put them into products. Not to mention many already exist in our air, water, food and personal-care products, especially our skin care products. These toxins include lead, mercury, arsenic, bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, and much more.
What’s even more scary is that these exposures may trigger hormonal imbalances.
Our bodies were designed to eliminate harmful invaders. The skin, liver, kidneys, and lymphatic and digestive systems work to protect us, but sometimes the barrage of toxins is too great a burden. Some toxins including lead and mercury can be stored by the body more easily than others. When these levels increase, we can develop hormonal imbalances and experience accelerated aging – or other serious issues.
How Do Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Impact Skin?
One of the biggest accelerators of premature aging is oxidative damage. This damage occurs internally from exposure to toxins and unhealthy choices such as eating processed foods and too much sugar. Above and Beyond aging, oxidative damage plays a role in the development of significant health challenges.
In the skin, free radicals damage collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure and bounce This damage results in sagging, dullness, and uneven tone. External exposure to pollutants in the air and skin care products and excess sun exposure can all trigger oxidative damage, accelerating premature aging.
Oxidative damage already happens naturally with age, so we don’t want to accelerate it! In the skin specifically, antioxidants decline as the years pass. Eating foods high in antioxidants is a simple way to help protect the body and the skin from the harmful effects of this process.
Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals in Skin Care. How many lipsticks, mascaras, eyeshadows, foundations, sunscreens, masks, cleansers, creams, and lotions are in your bathroom drawers and cabinets? According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of 12 personal-care products each day.
Even if you like your thorough skincare routine, be mindful that what you put on your skin can be absorbed into your body and may elevate the level of toxins and hormone-disrupting chemicals you’re already exposed to each day.
Ingredients found in popular skincare products have been shown to cause endocrine-disrupting effects, and some are even carcinogenic.
Unfortunately, the FDA in the United States does not require safety testing of skincare ingredients.
They’ve only banned 11 ingredients for use in personal-care products while the European Union has banned over 1,300 ingredients in personal-care products.
It’s ultimately up to you to take a closer look at what you’re putting on your body.
Here are three examples of potentially toxic ingredients in skin care products that may disrupt hormones.
Parabens: We know from research that parabens are absorbed through the skin and can be stored in our body’s tissues. Used in many personal-care products as preservatives, parabens have been detected in tissues and are known to have estrogen-mimicking effects. To identify parabens on skin care labels, look for propylparaben, benzylparaben, methylparaben, or butylparaben.
Fragrance: We all like to smell good. Unfortunately, fragrance is not a single ingredient even though it is listed that way – and fragrance can contain many hormone-disrupting chemicals. Instead of synthetic fragrances, choose pure essential oils such as ylang-ylang and bergamot.
Oxybenzone (benzophenone): Benzophenone-type UV filters are a common active ingredient in chemical sun protection products such as sunscreen and lip balms. Research suggests these have hormone-disrupting effects. Oxybenzone isn’t the only sunscreen ingredient linked with hormone-disrupting effects though. Steer clear of octinoxate, homosalate, and avobenzone. It’s safer to swap to mineral-based sunscreens. Protect your skin with a zinc oxide-based mineral.
There are many other toxic hormone-disrupting chemicals in skin care products. Avoiding all exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals is impossible in today’s modern world. But knowing the possible risks, why would we want to worsen the problem by using affected personal-care products when we have alternative choices?
Originally, I couldn’t find a natural skin care line on the market that met my criteria:
· Free of hormone-disrupting chemicals and other toxins
· Contained key nutrients in their pure, active form
· Perfectly pH balanced for healthy skin
Switching your conventional beauty and skin care products to clean and natural products is a simple lifestyle change to help you avoid exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.
