Posts tagged as:

Personal Care

Alcohol

Industrial Uses:  Many
Personal Care Products:  Mouthwashes
Purpose:  Solvent (primarily)
Mouthwashes with an alcohol content of 25% or higher have been implicated in mouth, tongue and throat cancer.  Alcohol acts as a solvent in the mouth making tissues more vulnerable to carcinogens
Men had a 60% higher risk and women a 90% higher risk of these cancers compared to [...]

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Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)

Industrial Uses:  None
Personal Care Products:  Acne Treatment/Medications, Skin Coloring Agents, Facial Cleansers, Exfoliators, Facial Moisturizers/Treatment, Foot Odor/Cream/Treatment, Other Skin Treatments, Anti-Aging Treatments, Pore Strips, Concealers, Eye Treatments, Foundations, Body Scrubs, Body Moisturizers, Anti-Itch/Rash Creams,
Sunscreens/Tanning Oils, Hair Regrowth Treatment, Liquid Hand Soap, Shampoo.
Purpose:  The acids are commonly used in products promoted as enhancing the youthful appearance [...]

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Aluminum

Industrial Uses: Processed Foods, Paper Products, Beverage Cans, Foil and Cookware
Personal Care Products: Deodorants, Antacids
Purpose:
Aluminum is a metal, the third most common element in the environment and a toxin in the body.

Alzheimer’s disease is now the 4th leading cause of death among the elderly, behind heart disease, cancer and stroke. A half [...]

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Coal Tar Colors

Personal Care Products:  Hair dyes and treatment shampoos
Purpose:  Hair colorants and to treat scalp conditions
Coal tar hair dye ingredients are known to cause allergic reactions in some people, FDA’s Lambert says.  Some consumers have reported hair loss, burning, redness, and irritation from hair dyes. Allergic reactions to dyes include itching, swelling of the face, and [...]

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Diethanolamine (DEA)

Industrial Uses:  Laundry Detergents, Dishwashing Liquid
Personal Care Products:  Shampoos, Body Gels, Hair Dyes, Facial Cleansers and Lotions, Baby Shampoos and Bubble Baths
Purpose:  Inexpensive, Makes Bubbles
DEA-based detergents are widely used in shampoos, lotions and creams.  Dr. Samuel Epstein, M.D., Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Illinois School of Public Health states that DEA is [...]

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Parabens (Benzyl, isobutyl, butyl,n-propyl, ethyl and methylparabens, aka. Benzoic acid and many others)

Industrial Uses: As a food preservative in small quantities.
Personal Care Products:  Cosmetics and personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, hair styling gels, nail creams, foundations, facial masks, skin creams, and deodorants. Parabens can be an ingredient in baby lotions, shampoos, and other personal care products for children.
Purpose: Preservative.  Also found at low levels in [...]

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Personal Care Products

“Consumers believe that ‘if it’s on the market, it can’t hurt me’
and this belief is sometimes wrong”

-Director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors (FDA 1998)

The FDA classifies cosmetics and personal care products, but does not regulate them.  In 1938, the FDA granted self-regulation to the Cosmetics, Toiletries and [...]

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Propolene Glycol (PG)

Industrial Uses:  Antifreeze, brake fluid and airplane de-icers

Personal Care Products:  Widely used moisture-carrying ingredient in cosmetics and cleansers.  It is also found in medications.
Purpose:  Delivery vehicle and solvent for cosmetics and medications
When you purchase a drum of propylene glycol from a supplier, that supplier is required to furnish an MSDS (Material Safety Data [...]

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Sodium Laurel Sulfate or Sodium Dodecyl (SLS, SLSF)

Industrial Uses:  Harsh Floor Cleaners, Engine Degreasers, Car Wash Detergents, Laundry Detergents
Personal Care Products:  Toothpaste, Shampoos, Body Gels, Bubble Baths, Facial Cleansers, Baby Wipes, Baby Shampoos, Bubble Baths, Liquid Hand Soaps and Body Gels, Sunblock, Cosmetic Products
Purpose:  Inexpensive, Makes Foam, Thickens with Salt, found in 90% of commercial shampoos even many so called “natural products”.  [...]

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Talc

Industrial Uses:
Personal Care Products:  Baby Powders, Body Powders, Feminine Hygiene Products, Cosmetics, Condom Lubricant
Purpose:  Dry Lubricant
Talc’s harmful effect on human tissues has been known for quite some time.  Long ago, its dry lubricating properties were used as a glove-donning powder (easy to slide on) for surgical gloves.  As early as the 1930’s talc was linked [...]

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