body care ingredients to avoid

It is prudent to remember that anything you put on your skin during

pregnancy can potentially reach the fetus. When it comes to the
delicate skin of your baby, it is even more important to use only those
products that are gentle and nurturing.

The FDA has banned just nine chemicals from cosmetics compared to
the European Union which has banned more than 1000. A product that
is labeled as being “natural” may be mixed up with synthetic dyes or
fragrances. Many expensive products are full of the same ingredients
and harsh chemicals as the less expensive brands. And, many
“common” synthetic ingredients are now being linked to conditions
such as allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, testicular
abnormalities, decreased sperm counts, and breast cancer.

Shopping “natural” or “organic” is no guarantee that your products are

free of dangerous chemicals. 1,4-Dioxane is often present in the
leading “natural” and “organic” branded products. The use of the
cancer-causing petrochemical Ethylene Oxide generates 1,4-Dioxane
as a by-product, which is suspected as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant
and respiratory toxicant.

Make sure you check the packaging of all your products. Toxic plastic
#3 by its other name, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or vinyl is considered by
many experts to be the most dangerous, carcinogenic plastic. Another
controversial chemical is bisphenol A (BPA) used in #7 polycarbonate
bottles found in hard plastic such as baby bottles. These chemicals
leach into the products that they contain. For more information on all
the plastic packaging codes see Smart Plastics Guide.

Motherlove uses pure ingredients and safe, recyclable packaging for

our products. We are proud of the fact that our products have
expiration dates. You know that they are free of “shelf life”
preservatives and any artificial ingredients. You expect that from “real
food”. You should expect that from your body care, as well.

Below is a list of the some of the most prevalent ingredients found in

“natural” body care products and their effects on the human body.
• Ceteareth-6 — The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel has placed
a warning on this ingredient that it be excluded from products used on
injured or damaged skin.
• Coal Tar — in 1993, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about coal
tar being a possible cancer risk. Coal tar appears in many hair dyes
and strong dandruff and psoriasis shampoos, but the FDA failed to ban
it even though studies have linked it to cancer in lab animals. The
Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 71 hair-dye products
contained ingredients derived from coal tar.
• Diethanolamine (DEA) or Triethanolamine (TEA) — These chemicals are
often used as wetting agents, pH adjusters, as well as with many fatty
acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base
for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems,
hair and skin dryness. Both DEA and TEA are highly susceptible to
contamination with nitrosamines, known to be potent carcinogens.
• Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea — The most commonly used
preservatives after parabens, these are well established as a primary
cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology). They
release high amounts of formaldehyde. Two trade names for these
chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall
chemicals have good anti-fungal properties, so they must be combined
with other preservatives. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just
over 10°.
• Mineral Oil — A petroleum derivative that is found in many moisturizers
and causes severe allergic reactions.
• Parabens — Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl — Widely used as
cosmetic preservatives and antimicrobials, even though they are
known to be toxic and a leading cause of contact dermatitis. In
addition, methyl paraben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group
of chemicals, which are highly toxic. These can appear on labels as p-
hydroxybenzoate (or PHB) esters. Some studies have shown that
parabens mimic estrogen in rodents. The chemicals also have been
shown to stimulate growth of human breast-cancer cells in the lab. A
University of Reading study, published in the January 2004 Journal of
Applied Toxicology, found that 18 of 20 breast tumors studied
contained significant concentrations of parabens.
• Petrolatum — This is a very cheap jelly made from mineral oil that
causes such skin problems as photosensitivity and interference with
 the body’s own natural moisturizing mechanism, which leads to dry
skin and chapping. Oddly enough, this product often creates the very
conditions it claims to alleviate!
• Phthalates — generally covered by the general term “fragrance,” and
readily absorbed by our fingernails, skin and lungs. In July 2005, the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported finding the
metabolized forms of dibutyl phthalates, used in nail polish and
synthetic fragrance, in every person tested in their national “body
burden” study. Phthalates can lead to liver cancer and birth defects in
lab animals. A study published in May 2005 from the University of
Minnesota, Environmental Health Perspectives, found a connection
between phthalates and genital abnormalities in baby boys.
• Propylene Glycol — Ideally this ingredient is made up of a vegetable
glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually
however, it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant, or
substance that promotes moisture retention. In its synthetic form, it is
known to cause allergic reactions, clogged pores, and blemishes.
• PVP/VA Copolymer — This is a petroleum-derived chemical used
primarily in hairsprays and other cosmetics. Since the particles may
contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs of sensitive persons, it is
considered toxic.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — A synthetic substance primarily used in
shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It can cause
eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, dry skin and allergic reactions. It
is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the
parenthetic explanation that it “comes from coconut.” In a 1983 report
on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, The Journal of the American
College of Toxicology concluded that “studies have indicated that
sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart,
lungs and the brain from skin contact.”
• Stearalkonium Chloride — This chemical was developed by the fabric
industry as a softener, and it is cheaper and easier to use in hair
conditioning formulas than proteins or herbal components. It can cause
allergic reactions.
• Synthetic Colors — Synthetic colors are used to make cosmetics
“pretty” and, along with hair dyes, should be avoided as they are
believed to be cancer-causing agents. They appear on labels as FD&C
or D&C, followed by a color and a number; e.g., FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C
 Green No. 6.
• Synthetic Fragrances — Synthetic fragrances can contain as many as
200 ingredients. There is often no way of knowing what these
chemicals are since the label simply states “Fragrance”, and these
items do not have to list their chemical constituents. Potential
problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rashes,
hyperpigmentation, coughing, and vomiting.
More information:

• Skin Deep, Environmental Working Group, searchable database with

safety ratings for body care product ingredients www.ewg.org.
• Taking Personal Care, Personal Care Products thegreenguide.com.
• The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics safecosmetics.org.
• Breast Cancer Action’s thinkbeforeyoupink.
• Drop Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of
Cosmetics, Kim Erickson, Contemporary Books, 2002.
• What’s in Your Cosmetics? A Complete Consumer’s Guide to Natural
and Synthetic Ingredients, Aubrey Hampton, Organica Press, 1995.
• Not-So-Natural Ingredients, Health Products Business, January 2004.
• Having Faith, An Ecologists Journey to Motherhood, Sandra
Steingraber, The Berkeley Press, September 2001. This book “looks at
the environmental hazards that now threaten pregnant and
breastfeeding women, and examines the effects these toxins can have
on a child.”
• Toxic Beauty Dawn Mellowship, Gaia Books Ltd., 2009