I started Crawford Street Skin Care because I was concerned about the chemicals found in personal care products. At the time I had very young children and there were more and more studies linking chemicals to serious health issues. We’ve come a long way since then in terms of awareness but legislation still tends to favour big business over consumer's health.

That’s why I highly recommend getting familiar with how to read an ingredients label and what ingredients to look out for.  Here are my top five ingredients that I try to avoid.

1.  Fragrance or Perfum(e)

When you see these words in an ingredients list, they're typically a catchall term for a complex mixture of dozens of chemicals. Over 3000 chemicals can be used to create “fragrance.”

Fragrance formulations are protected by “trade secrets” legislation, so companies do not have to disclose the chemicals in their formulas, leaving consumers with zero information. These chemical fragrances cause a whole host of problems including skin irritation, allergic reactions, migraines, and asthma.

The problem is we love these scents! But I always say if you love the scent of your coconut shampoo, then you’ve never smelled a real coconut, because it's nothing like what you're smelling in the bottle.

You can enjoy products with scent, just make sure they're from essential oils, never fragrance or perfume.

2. Phthalates 

If you took urine samples from four people, phthalates would show up in three of them. That is how ubiquitous these chemicals are. 

Phthalates are found in all kinds of consumer products from personal care products, cologne and perfume, to air fresheners, laundry detergents, and cleaning products. However identifying them is tricky because they often fall under the umbrella terms “fragrance” or “perfum,” and are exempt from labeling requirements. 

Exposure to phthalates has been linked to serious health issues including infertility, low birth weights, increased miscarriages, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, asthma, neurodevelopmental issues, autism spectrum disorders, altered reproductive development, and male fertility issues. Yikes!  

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not going to pretend I never wear perfume because I do, occasionally, but generally I try to avoid fragrance period. It’s kind of like eating red meat, you shouldn’t do it every day but once in a while it probably won’t kill you.

3. Parabens 

Parabens are the most common preservative in skin and hair care products and they appear on an ingredients label under all kinds of names including, methyl, propyl, and ethyl, to name a few. Research has shown that parabens can penetrate the skin and end up in our blood and even our digestive system. Parabens are endocrine disruptors, they mimic estrogen in the body and have been linked to breast cancer in women, as well as low sperm counts in men.

4. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

PEGs are petroleum based products that are widely used in cream bases, to help products foam and to penetrate the skin. The main concern here is that PEGs may be contaminated with substances that have been identified as human carcinogens. They are also known to cause irritation and dermatitis.

PEGs also contain what are considered “persistent” chemicals, meaning they don’t break down easily and therefore remain in the environment even after you’ve washed them down the drain. So they're not just bad for you, they're bad for the environment.  Propylene glycol is a related chemical that, like PEGs, functions as a penetration enhancer and can allow harmful ingredients to be absorbed more readily through the skin. It can also cause allergic reactions. Not to mention it's the same thing you put in your car (ever heard of antifreeze?). No thanks!

5. Oxybenzone 

This is a very common ingredient found in sunscreen. Now think about when we apply sunscreen. Aren’t we told to apply it over our entire bodies and liberally. The problem is it then penetrates our skin in significant amounts. According to the CDC, oxybenzone can be found in the blood, urine, and/or breast milk of 97% of Americans. Absorption through the skin is not the only way this chemical can enter the body. Spray sunscreens means it can be inhaled and even ingested, which is why I recommend never using spray sunscreens!

Oxybenzone is the most common allergen found in sunscreens and it's known to mimic estrogen in the body. Sunscreens containing oxybenzone have been completely banned in Hawaii and in Thailand because they are harmful to coral reefs, fish, and other marine life too. 

Of course, we have to remember that using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer is the most important thing, so I recommend mineral-based sunscreens over chemical ones, and always cover up with a hat and sleeves.

Interested in learning more about harmful ingredients to avoid? Here are some helpful articles I recommend:

Many Personal Care Products Contain Harmful Chemicals. Here's What to Do About It.

A Guide to Choosing the Right Sunscreen

What are Phthalates?