Why are we more conscious of what we put into our bodies, but pay less attention to what we put on our skin? More than 60% of applied cosmetics enter our bloodstream and therefore influence our system significantly. Below are ingredients you will never find in mambino organics skin care products and should be avoided:
alcohol denat. (denatured alcohol) – petrochemical by product; can cause systemic eczematous contact dermatitis and chemical sensitivities; used in all commercial perfumes; used as solvent.
aluminum ingredients – skin irritants; can cause Alzheimer’s and lung disease.
ammonium ingredients – toxic, carcinogenic.
aroma – usually a mix of synthetic and natural fragrances – see fragrance below
benzoates – implicated in a wide variety of health problems including testicular cancer, cell mutation and other cancers.
benzyl alcohol – harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin; severe irritant for eyes, skin and respiratory system; petrochemical.
BHA and BHT – carcinogenic; encourages the breakdown of vitamins such as vitamin D; can cause lipid and cholesterol levels to increase; endocrine disrupter.
coal tar – (petrochemical – look for cade tar or pine tar instead); low-level exposure is linked to cancer.
colourants (FD&C, D&C and other coal tar dyes) – carcinogens; topical irritants; may cause acne and skin irritations; may contain aluminums; some have caused tumors in rats; low-level exposure is linked to cancer.
dimethicone – cancer suspect; pore clogging; caused tumors and mutations in lab animals.
dea ingredients – (all ingredients with DEA after the first word such as cocamide – dea) cause cancer.
dmae (dimethylaminoethanol) – science has not yet reached a conclusive, supportable position on the exact function(s) of DMAE; it is marketed as “face lift in a bottle,” however what it does is temporarily paralyze the small muscles of the face, making it seem like wrinkles are less visible; no long term results of application are yet known.
formaldehyde – is often hidden in other ingredients; banned in Sweden and Japan mainly because of its inability to inhibit the growth of acid producing bacteria and its implication in cancer.
fragrance – highly allergenic; no one has to list the chemicals used in fragrances; contains large quantities of toxins and chemicals not disclosed.
glycerin - look for vegetable glycerin; glycerin without the vegetable qualifier usually means petrochemical.
hydroquinone – toxic; irritant; banned in Europe; used as a bleaching agent; allergenic and highly toxic.
idebenone – a synthetic analogue of coenzyme Q10.
imidazalidol urea – strong irritant; may contain formaldehyde.
laureth family (sodium lauryl sulfate; any ingredient with laureth or lauryl in the name) – carcinogenic; skin irritants; contains ammonium salts; mutagen; acne producing.
mineral oil – often used in lip balms, body lotions and face creams; extremely cheap petrochemical made out of petroleum; covers skin like a plastic wrap; interrupts skin oxygenation; may cause premature aging of skin.
methylisothiazolinone – agent found in some shampoos and hand creams and widely used in industrial settings; inhibits the development of particular neuron structures that are essential for transmitting signals between cells.
octyl stearate – acne producing; contact dermatitis; allergic reactions.
oxybenzone – chemical sun protector; very allergenic; promotes cell growth in uterine cancer cells and breast cancer cells.
paba - may cause formation of nitrosamines; causes photosensitivity; being studied for carcinogenic implications.
parabens (petro-chemicals) – (methyl, propyl, etc. paraben family) implicated in a multitude of health problems; estrogenic; cancer causing; allergenic; found in breast tissue; replicates in DNA; stored in fat cells.
PEG ingredients – carcinogens; acne promoters; contact dermatitis.
petroleum (petrolatum, mineral oils, Vaseline) – acne producing; may be carcinogenic; causes dry skin; respiratory toxin; may cause dizziness.
phenoxyethanol - ether alcohol preservative; synthetic preservatives are considered by leading dermatological associations to be the number one cause of contact dermatitis.
phenonip – preservative blend of phenoxyethanol, methylparben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben and isobutylparaben.
phthalates - carcinogens; mutation agents; stored in fat cells – they make perfume set and plastics bend; found in most mainstream cosmetics, glues, nail polish and some plastics.
propylene glycol – well known ‘anti freeze’; found in many skin care products; easily absorbed solvent that causes contact dermatitis, skin irritations, acne and allergies.
stearics (acids and other types) – carcinogenic.
talc – can contain asbestos; do not use on babies; linked to ovarian cancer; respiratory toxin.
tea ingredients (not tea, but rather ingredients with TEA in front such as tea lauryl sulfate) – severe irritants; can contain ammonium salts; eye irritant; sensitizer; may cause formation of carcinogens; mildly toxic.
tocopherol acetate – synthetic vitamin e; contact dermatitis and cancer suspect; carcinogen.
triclosan – chemical preservative and bactericide; destroys skin-protecting microorganisms; permeates skin and can cause severe liver damage.
