Hydroquinone is quite an agressive skin-whitening agent and has been banned from many countries as it stops melanin synthesis. There are many natural alternatives out there that work by switching off the melaning producing cells rather than damaging them. Once you stop using the product, the cells can switch back on again.

Parabens were ‘linked’ to breast cancer in one highly flawed scientific paper. Further to that parabens quickly break down into easy-to-flush through the system metabolites. This means that the vast majority of paraben that enters our bodies through the skin is excreted within a day or so. Parabens are also available in many fruit and veggies incluing pears!

SLS is really good at degreasing the skin. In fact it is so good, it can be quite irritant which is why people like the eczema foundation don’t like it. I have eczema and I don’t like it either. However, environmentally it is probably the least worrying of all surfactants as it is economic to make and is shipped in bulk. It also biodegrades quickly and does not accumulate in any body tissues as far as I know.

Triethanolamine – This chemical isn’t good and useage in cosmetic products is strictly regulated to ensure that risk is minimised. It is used to neutralise and activate some thickeners and hair fixatives. If it is in your product, it will be in in small quantities and will have been used in such a way as to minimise or eliminate harm. However, you don’t really ‘need’ it so avoiding it is fine.

The story is similar for the other ingredients. The cosmetics industry, like every other industry has a way to go to provide us with greener and cleaner chemistry but it is coming. In the meantime making people scared of chemicals is a bit silly and over simplistic!

Have fun.
PS: I’m a freelance writer and and independent cosmetic chemist.

While factually correct, Dubya Bee talks about dihydrogen oxide – which is actually just water! ha ha – good one.

I doubt anyone will ever see this, but still, that was quite clever.

I think you should add to the list that we must absolutely avoid dihydrogen oxide. It’s responsible for many deaths every year. And the FDA doesn’t even require that it be labeled by its proper name.

A shame, I tell ya.

And thanks Mr. Blobby you are very nice. It’s true that our natural us is already beautiful.

If it wasn’t you wouldn’t need to brush your hair or get dressed in order to be a full functioning member of society, but I hope you agree, we do!

All of these other ‘toxicities’ are HIGHLY dose related too. In the doses used the evidence that it is bad for you is probably very shaky if any at all (feel free to post it).

Dose is a fundamental. to use the water example again, too much of that is also toxic, and can causes brain swelling and death.