Everybody loves the feeling of a fresh shower, washing your hair, putting on your favorite lotion and putting yourself together for the day, but could the products you’re putting on your skin be hazardous to your health? Absolutely!

Tons of beauty products lining store shelves today contain toxins that can build up in your skin over time and cause anything from cancer to hormonal issues all covered up with cute little packaging. You can reduce your risk of developing these chronic illnesses by simply using healthier, more natural products.

After all, your skin is your largest organ and it absorbs around 60% of everything you put on it. That includes, shampoos, soaps, lotions, cosmetics, and more! Check out these 5 toxins to avoid to keep you and your family healthier.

1. Parabens

You’ve likely seen tons of commercials lately advertising “paraben-free” products. From shampoos, conditioners and lotions to facial cleansers and cosmetics, parabens are everywhere in health and beauty products and fortunately, many companies are finally coming to the realization that they need to be removed.

These little toxins disrupt your hormones, can cause cancer, and can even cause developmental issues in children.

The biggest thing to look for on your labels is any ingredient that ends in “paraben,” including ethylparabens, methylparabens, and butylparabens.

2. Phthalates (Frangrance)

Commonly disguised as fragrances, these toxins are found in many different shampoos, cosmetics, hair sprays, perfumes, and even flexible plastics used in children’s products.

They disrupt your endocrine system and can cause neurological and reproductive damage.

Avoid any products that list “fragrance” in the ingredient list and look for products specifically listed as fragrance free.

3. Triclosan

Triclosan is found in many antibacterial products, like soaps, as well as toothpaste and deodorant, which is difficult because you would think that when you choose a soap for your family, you would want to have a product that is going to kill any bacteria you come into contact with. However, you can get your hands, etc. just as clean with more natural soaps that are not “antibacterial.”

Triclosan can disrupt the normal function of your hormones and cause skin and eye irritation.

To rid your life of this toxin, you want to avoid anything with “antibacterial” in the label, as well as anything listing triclosan or triclocarban.

4. PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols)

Shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath and many beauty products that foam contain polyethylene glycols or PEGs.

These toxins cause tons of issues in your body from skin irritation and hair loss to cancer and even birth defects. It’s vital to avoid them, especially during pregnancy.

PEGs are a little more difficult to pick out of an ingredient list because you’re looking for things like 1, 4-dioxane, sodium laureth sulfate, oleth, and ceteareth. Sometimes they may be listed as PEGs, but not always. To make sure you’re avoiding them entirely, the best option is to choose organic beauty products, or make your own to ensure that you know what is going in your products.

5. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is another toxin that has received some attention in recent years, but it’s contained in many more beauty products than you would think. Shampoos, body wash and color cosmetics, as well as nail polish, nail glue, eyelash glue, hair gel, and even some liquid baby soaps contain formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is used to preserve the shelf life of beauty products, but it’s also a carcinogen and can cause respiratory problems, in addition to skin or eye irritation.

Search your ingredient lists for quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, hydantonin and DMDM and avoid them when you can.

For healthier beauty care products, you can make your own! Check out my All Natural Beauty page!