What do you think you're putting on your skin?
With very little time for myself in the morning (I have three teenagers all fighting for the bathroom) I have to be quick, but does your morning routine sound anything like mine? This is how it looks; I stumble out of bed early and get straight into the shower. I usually use three to four products in the shower, a face wash, MadeKind shampoo, conditioner and body wash. After showering I like to use a body lotion and apply face moisturiser and under eye cream. I use Wild deodorant and spray a little of my favourite perfume. I brush my teeth and put on a bit of makeup, then I'm ready to face the day.
But have you ever counted how many products you use in a day on your face, hair and body? My morning routine works out around twelve products, and that's before I've had my breakfast! It really surprised me when I stopped to think about how many products I used. Until we started MadeKind, I never gave much thought to the products I was using each day. I knew there was a mystifying amount of chemical ingredients in the supermarket shampoo and body wash I was slathering on every day, but I had no idea the harm they were causing.
On average, women put on 168 chemicals on their bodies each day. Some of these chemicals have links to cancer, Alzheimers, endocrine disorders, fertility problems, allergies and asthmas. These chemicals are absorbed through the skin in as little as 26 seconds and can then be stored in the body for years to come, causing adverse health effects.
According to the Guardian, women, have been found to have a higher body burden of certain chemicals found in cosmetics, including paragons and phthalates. Both are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which mimic human hormones. Of particular concern to researchers, they can have effects at very small doses and have been linked to numerous health issues.
“Cancer is on the rise, infertility is on the rise, allergies in children are on the rise, and people can’t figure out why,” said Nneka Leiba, the director of healthy living science at EWG, which has been monitoring chemicals in cosmetics for over a decade.
Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Ophelia Veraitch says, 'In recent years there have been growing concerns about the use of parabens in self care products. A British study found 19 out of 20 women studied had parabens in their breast tissue. This has caused concern as it showed that the parabens in self care products don't just sit on the skin but they can be integrated and remain into our bodily tissues. From such data it has been speculated that parabens could potentially lead to cancer formation.'
'There is also some evidence that parabens can mimic the effect of oestrogen, which has again in turn been linked to cancer formations and infertility. Parabens can also commonly cause skin sensitivities and allergies. The skin sensitivities and allergies occur by repeated exposure of parabens to the skin, and then the immune cells in the skin slowly but significantly mounting an immune response to when parabens subsequently come into contact with the skin.'
“If you think about the chronic conditions that the world is experiencing now – like fertility problems, thyroid conditions, diabetes, ADHD – these are all heavily impacted by hormones,” said Carol Kwiatkowski, the executive director of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange . It’s undeniable that environmental chemicals are part of the picture. And we just continue to ignore them.”
The growing trend of children as young as eight using skincare products could leave them with irreversible skin problems, the British Association for Dermatologists has warned. They can provoke allergies or eczema. as well as other health concerns caused by early life exposure. Some children are asking their parents for luxury items after seeing them used by their favourite influencers on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. But many of these contain potentially harmful active ingredients intended for adults only.
As a mum to two teenage girls, the amount of skin and haircare products has massively increased over the years, and my concern for their health led me to question how safe some of these products are. There is increasing evidence that many commercial skin and hair products have harmful chemicals in them and should be avoided. It was one of the reasons we started MadeKind and thankfully the girls love using MadeKind Bath & Body products.
But with all the question marks around chemicals found in beauty products, health advocates say, a more precautionary approach is warranted – not unlike warnings from past public health crises.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to be seeing these health impacts in our society before we make changes,” Leiba said. To be safe, always look for a natural alternative which is not only kinder to you and your family but also kinder to the environment too.