Soap is an essential product that both men and women use to take care of their looks and skin. Soap is something that we use on our skin during bath daily, and our skin’s health is often determined by the soap you use.
We rely on the packaging, and some manufacturer's claims or some glitzy advertisements without realizing the fact that we are loosing Skin's health. We are forced to use other expensive skincare products to cover the loss because of "The Thing" ( I would not call it a SOAP) we are using during the bath. This can easily be taken care of, just by replacing it with the right one. Hence, it is high time that we become aware of what we are introducing to our skin.
Following is the list of 8 harmful chemicals in soap - always check the label before buying.
1. Fragrances
These human-made, engineered scent may contain any combination of 3,000+ stock chemical ingredients, including hormone disruptors and allergens.
"But I like nice smelling things!!"
Some people say.
Is fragrance bad for your skin?
Yes, because the fragrance is a mix of natural and synthetic ingredients of aromatic extracts which are used nearly in every beauty product. It has a LOT of unknown toxic chemicals that can be harmful to you. Fragrance can irritate the skin, have toxic hormonal effects, and may even cause cancer without you knowing about it. It may smell great, but it can lead to not-so-great impacts on your skin and health. Try to find natural fragrances that are chemical-free as an alternative.
2. Parabens
It is a class of preservatives commonly used to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus. Parabens like methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben are endocrine (or hormone) disruptors. It may alter essential hormone functions in the body.
3. Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) & Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
SLS and SLES are surfactants that can trigger skin irritation or allergies. It is mostly contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is a by-product of a petrochemical process called ethoxylation and is used to make other chemicals less harsh.
4. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) & Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT)
These chemical preservatives are among the most common irritants, sensitizers, and causes of contact skin allergies and lab studies are suggesting that it may be a neurotoxin. It is also considered an ecotoxin.
5. Triclosan and Triclocarban
These antimicrobials are toxic to the aquatic environment and may also impact human reproductive systems. This ingredient is used in many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination such as soaps, body washes, toothpaste, and cosmetics.
6. Alcohols
There are Good alcohols and Bad alcohols. Some of the bad alcohols are benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, methanol, propanol, and alcohol denatured. They may even cause inflammation because they strip the natural protection of the skin, thus can be overly drying and irritating to the skin. It breaks down the barrier called skin mantle and destroys the substances that protect your skin’s health over the long term. However, alcohols make you feel good because they are light and make your skin not feel greasy. It also leads to an increase of acne-causing bacteria and makes inflammation even worse.
7. PEG
PEGs in Cosmetics are widely used as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers and generally considered safe if used in suggested usage rate. PEGs may be contaminated, depending on manufacturing processes, with quantifiable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, which are both carcinogens. The products where PEGs are most commonly found are cosmetic cream bases, sunscreens and baby care items.
8. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine)
These are foam boosters and are found in hair styling products, shampoos, soaps, facial cleansers, and shower gels. They are easily absorbed through the skin to accumulate in body organs, even the brain and can cause contact dermatitis. DEA and MEA are listed on the ingredient label simultaneously with the neutralizing compound.
Look for names like Lauramide DEA, Cocamide DEA or MEA, etc. and Triethanolamine in blushers, mascara, foundation, hair care products, in hair dyes, eye shadows, eyeliners, sunscreens, and shaving products.
It can become toxic and can result in significant increases in liver and kidney cancer when absorbed into the body over a long period. Allergic reactions, including eye problems, dry hair and skin, can be caused even by the exposure for a short period.
Is your soap really a SOAP??
The best moisturizing soap The Bar Most Recommended As A Mild Soap, has the following ingredients and it’s not considered vegan because of the presence of Tallow which is animal fat.
It also means it may not be cruelty-free because of the bulk production of the soap.
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate Or Sodium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Water, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate Or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Edta, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)
Now you should agree that how important it is to check/google the ingredients of every product you use on yourself, after all, it's your skin, and you love it.
Let's take another example of a very famous glycerin soap –
Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sorbitol, Sodium Rosinate, Sodium Palmate, Glycerin, Sodium Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-4, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetra Sodium EDTA, BHT, Thymus Vulgaris(Thyme) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf(Rosemary) Extract, D&C Yellow No. 10(CI47005), and D&C Red No. 33(CI17200)
The ingredients here, which are of significant concern are – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-4, Alcohol Denat, Fragrance and Sodium Metabisulfite.
This is just a study of these two kinds of soaps. There might be an end number of chemicals in other soaps which we are not aware of at all. The list mentioned above will keep on increasing if we devote our time and energy finding out the other harmful ingredients.
Do you see?? Chemicals are no joke because, one of the main ways your body acquires nutrients, other than eating, is through the skin.
This semipermeable membrane allows us to absorb vitamins and minerals, but, unfortunately, it absorbs harmful chemicals too we put on it.
Other ingredients, if not harmful, may not be useful either. Commercial soap is just a chemical cocktail made of detergents and synthetics which tend to irritate your skin, and some of the ingredients in these soaps are often linked to cancer.
The above-provided information is purely based on my own research and study through the internet and hopes this is a useful resource for you! We’d also love to hear your thoughts and suggestions and if you have any additional ingredients you think should be added to the list!
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