Make 2019 the year to shop smart! More than keeping close tabs on Calyxta’s sale dates, how about putting in the extra effort to read labels and know which beauty ingredients are actually good and bad for you and the environment?
After all, it makes no sense patronizing products that do you temporary good but is eventually damaging in the long run, or benefits your skin but harms your health or the environment! No way!
Here we list down the five most common skin care ingredients that actually do more bad than good:
Microbeads are often used in face and body scrubs, and even in toothpaste! It looks cute and harmless but because of its miniscule size, microbeads are able to pass through drainage filters and as a result, some even end up in the sea. What happens is the microbeads absorb toxins in the water, are eaten by marine life, and eventually, we may eat them, too. Eeep!
Try this instead: A coffee and dead sea salt scrub that works just as well—or even better!
Because companies are allowed to keep their “secret formulas” undisclosed, labels may only read parfume, perfume, or fragrance—and you have absolutely no idea what it’s made of. Remember that a lot of these fragrances may contain carcinogenic ingredients that harm the skin, your respiratory system, and possibly even cause cancer.
What you can do: Resort to products with no fragrance at all, or try fragrances that are 100% natural!
Often used as anti-aging agents in creams and lotions, this ingredient is in fact a silicone-based product called an “endocrine disruptor” which can cause infertility and can interfere with normal hormone functions! The findings are actually scary: it can also damage your reproductive system, cause uterine tumours, and harm your immune system. Booo!
Try instead: This paraben-free, shea butter-based lotion from Jarful of Goodness.
Bubbles and soapy suds are fun to use but it’s actually made of really harmful, cancer-causing elements. Beware, because SLS are present almost everywhere: soaps, shampoos, hand wash, body wash, cleansers, bubble bath, et cetera. A little label-reading goes a long way!
What you can do: Say goodbye to SLS forever-and get used to non-foamy products!
These are used in hair products and moisturizers in order to lock in moisture and increase shine. However good it makes your skin and hair look, the ingredient has been tested and classified as a skin irritant, so better skip it!
Try instead: This multi-purpose salve from Jarful of Goodness that actually does the opposite—it can treat almost any skin trouble!
Written By:
Patti Sunio aka Tita Pacita
BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR
Tita Pacita of www.titapacita.com is a lifestyle, culture, and fashion & beauty writer from Manila. With her wisdom and almost thirty years of life experience, she likes to share what she knows and give unsolicited advice, true to her Tita ways. Her makeup choices are primarily based on instinct, and, believe it or not, K-Beauty.