Did you know that an average woman ingests approximately 500 chemicals a day in the form of cosmetics?

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and everything we put on it is absorbed into our bloodstream. It absorbs on average 60% from any topical product we use. For this reason, there are those who say that “you only put on your skin what you can put in your mouth”. I had no idea how toxic cosmetics can be until I started having allergic reactions to nail polish. It was then that I became aware of the use of toluenes, parabens and other chemicals used by the cosmetic industry and their harmful potential.

Luckily my body showed signs that there was something that wasn't working well for it. My skin, especially on the eyelids, started to itch a lot, turned red and irritated. It took me over a year to figure out why this was happening, as I had never had any allergies before. I confess that at first I hated this reaction, since at the time the only nail polish free of these ingredients were imported and therefore the price was very high, but today I am happy to have discovered and changed something that could have done me much more harm in the future.

The fact is, as with most things in our lives, we go with the flow and don't ask ourselves what effect our daily practices have on our health. This includes everything from what we eat to the use of deodorants. Everybody eats pesticides, everybody uses deodorants, the market is full of them, so it's safe, right? Not necessarily. The skin is one of the main ways to eliminate toxins. Even so, the health and beauty products available on the market are highly rich in chemicals that are harmful to health.

Read below which products you should take more care before using:

parabens: These condoms are used in personal care products, cosmetics and even baby products. They have been associated with disruption of the proper functioning of the endocrine system and severe allergies.(1)

Toluenes: It is a petroleum derivative used in enamels and cosmetics. This neurotoxin can affect brain function and the central nervous system. It can also interfere with normal fetal and childhood development.(2)

Aluminum: This widely used metal can be found in almost everything from antiperspirant deodorants to toothpaste and shampoo. As some of these products, for example, the deodorant, is applied to the skin near the breasts, there is great concern that when this metal is absorbed it can cause an estrogen-like effect, damaging the endocrine system and having a potentially carcinogenic effect.(3)

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This industrial chemical was developed to clean and foam. It is typically found in shampoo, body wash and toothpaste. Although not fundamentally harmful, ethoxylation (chemical industrialization process) forms as a result 1,4-dioxane which is carcinogenic and can interfere with the immune system.

Formaldehyde: This highly volatile toxic compound is found primarily in nail polish and hair straighteners. It is volatilized in air and is toxic to the nervous system, liver and carcinogen.(2,3)

The idea of this post is not to scare you and create chaos. You don't have to make a drastic decision and throw your entire bathroom shelf away. But don't let that common thought that – nowadays we have no way out, everything causes cancer – take care of you (strange, but I hear that a lot). The important thing is to be aware of how many and how we are using these products. Do we really need 3 or 4 different types of hair care products, moisturizers, perfumes, makeup, makeup remover and everything else every day?

Start by reading the ingredients list of your cosmetics and when you identify any of these components, limit or reduce their use. I have been using all natural products and my body is responding very well. Coconut oil is my wildcard product, and you can read on here how to include it in your routine. Next time you go shopping, look for products that contain natural ingredients like shea butter, almond oil, natural essential oils, and avoid buying new products that contain toxins, artificial fragrances and minerals.

What do you think? Do you have a brand or product you recommend?

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