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Stop Putting $#!^ on your face!
Compare our organic ingredients vs. the potentially harmful chemicals in the leading products
Go Wash Your Face
Leading Cleanser
Water
About: Good old H2O
Function: Solvent
Concerns: None
Fact: If the first ingredient in your product is water, it is probably making up between 30%-100% of the formula. How do you feel about paying lots of money to be applying water to your face?
Stearic Acid
About: A fatty acid, can be natural or animal derived
Function: Stabilizing
Concerns: Ecotoxic
Fact: When animal-derived, fat from cows, pigs, and sheep and from dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters.
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
About: Obtained from Glycine Soja plant
Function: Antioxidant
Concerns: Ecotoxic
Fact: Over 90% of soy produced in the U.S. is genetically modified and the crops are sprayed with the herbicide Roundup , which may be associated with adverse effects on health.
Glycerin
About: Alcohol compound, can be of animal or vegetable origin
Function: Solvent
Concerns: Restrictions in concentration on cosmetics
Fact: If derived from animals, frequently obtained from a slaughterhouse by-product known as tallow or animal fat.
Propylene Glycol
About: PETROLEUM DERIVED. Manufactured from propylene oxide, a petroleum-based raw material
Function: Skin conditioning
Concerns: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Fact: Industrial grade PG is used as an active ingredient in engine coolants and antifreeze ; airplane de-icers; polyurethane cushions; paints, enamels and varnishes; and in many products as a solvent or surfactant.
Gelatin
About: A translucent, colorless, flavorless food derived from collagen obtained from various animal by-products.
Function: Film forming
Concerns: Limited use in food
Fact: Protein obtained by boiling skin (cows and pigs), tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water
Fragrance (Parfum)
About: Petrochemical - 95% of chemicals used in fragrance are from petroleum .
Function: Perfume
Concerns: Immune system toxicant or allergen
Fact: Fragrance is an undisclosed mixture of up to 3,100 stock chemical ingredients.
Phenoxyethanol
About: PETROLEUM DERIVED. To create it, the known skin carcinogen, ethylene oxide is combined with a phenol (a chemical compound which is also considered a carcinogen).
Function: Preservative
Concerns: Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Fact: It has indicated neurotoxin potential. Additionally, the product's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) says that it is harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin and that it can cause reproductive damage .
Ammonium Hydroxide
About: PETROLEUM PRODUCT. A solution of ammonia in water
Function: Buffer
Concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Fact: Ammonia is the main component of fertilizers . It is one of the most highly produced basic chemicals. More than 80% of ammonia production is used in fertilizers.
Methylparaben
About: PARABEN AND PETROCHEMICAL. In the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries
Function: Preservative
Concerns: Human endocrine disruptor
Fact: New research has detected the presence of paraben esters in 99 percent of breast cancer tissues sampled.
Camphor
About: A waxy, scented substance, derived from the wood of the camphor tree
Function: Plasticizer
Concerns: Use Restrictions
Fact: The poisons in the oil of camphor can transmit through the skin, making it a dangerous solution for pregnant women. Camphor can transfer through the placenta to the fetus, causing birth defects and stillborn births.
Menthol
About: Scent ingredient naturally found in peppermint oil
Function: Soothing
Concerns: Overexposure
Fact: When applied topically to the skin, ingested, or inhaled, menthol produces a cooling sensation by blocking the calcium current along the nerves responsible for detecting temperature.
DMDM Hydantoin
About: FORMALDEHYDE. An antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser
Function: Preservative
Concerns: Formaldehyde release concerns, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
Fact: DMDM hydantoin is is an antimicrobial agent and preservative, used to increase the shelf-life of cosmetics by "releasing" formaldehyde to kill the bacteria.
Propylparaben
About: PARABEN AND PETROCHEMICAL. In the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries
Function: Perfume
Concerns: Endocrine disruption
Fact: Propylparaben has the ability to mimic estrogen in the human body, leading to a significant number of problems and pain from internal inflammation. When this happens, you may start gaining weight, retaining more fluids, and can even lead to cancer .
Calcium Hydroxide
About: It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is obtained when calcium oxide (called lime or quicklime) is mixed with water.
Function: Buffer
Concerns: Irritation of skin, eyes, lungs
Fact: It can cause severe skin irritation , chemical burns, blindness, or lung damage.
Eugenol
About: Eugenol is a naturally occurring scent chemical found in clove oil; also manufactured synthetically
Function: Masking
Concerns: Organ System Toxicity
Fact: Eugenol oil is toxic to human cells . If ingested in sufficient quantity or injected it has been shown to cause life-threatening complications , including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Liver Failure, and Central Nervous System Depression.
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
About: A volatile oil obtained from the fresh leaves of Eucalyptus tree
Function: Fragrance
Concerns: Use Restrictions - Restricted in Canada in cosmetics
Fact: Eucalyptus oil also has a respectable octane rating and can be used as a fuel in its own right. However, production costs are currently too high for the oil to be economically viable as a fuel .
Disodium EDTA
About: PETROLEUM PRODUCT. Chelating agent to remove impurities from low-quality raw materials
Function: Chelating Agent
Concerns: Enhanced skin absorption
Fact: Petroleum by-products interfere with the skin’s natural functions, clog the pores, exacerbate acne, and are highly likely to be contaminated with carcinogens that are linked to breast cancer.
Geraniol
About: Synthetic oil derived from rose and citronella
Function: Masking
Concerns: Immune system toxicant and allergen
Fact: Geraniol is classified as D2B ( toxic materials causing causing other effects) using the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
Benzyl Benzoate
About: PETROLEUM BY PRODUCT. Produced industrially by the reaction of sodium benzoate with benzyl alcohol
Function: Antimicrobial
Concerns: Ecotoxic, Endocrine Disruptor
Fact: Used to treat lice and scabies infestations. Benzyl benzoate is believed to be absorbed by the lice and mites and to destroy them by acting on their nervous system.
Limonene
About: A scent ingredient naturally occurring in the rind of citrus fruit
Function: Perfume
Concerns: Irritation (eyes, skin, and lungs)
Fact: Can cause contact dermatitis and is best avoided
Sodium Bicarbonate
About: An inorganic salt
Function: Skin Protectant
Concerns: None
Fact: Commonly called baking soda
Calcium Chloride
About: An inorganic salt
Function: Viscosity Controlling
Concerns: None
Fact: In its solid form, calcium chloride may cause mild skin irritation . When skin is moist, or when calcium chloride is in solution form, this irritation is more severe and may even cause burns.
Magnesium Sulfate
About: An inorganic salt found in sea water and in mineral deposits
Function: Viscosity Controlling
Concerns: None
Fact: Also known as Epson Salt
Potassium Chloride
About: An inorganic salt
Function: Viscosity Controlling
Concerns: None
Fact: Potassium Chloride is most famous for its use in fertilizer and lethal injections