Top 10 Classes of Ingredients to Avoid

This article was originally published March of 2009 by Cheeky Maiden.

As some of you may have noticed, natural foods store across the nation are raising the bar on “acceptable” ingredients in skin care. We applaud these stores for taking this step on their own, without being mandated by the government or any other higher authority to help us all avoid toxic overload!

Whole Foods Market has developed a “premium” line. You can be sure that any product marked “premium” in the store is going to be free from this list of ingredients/ingredient classes.

I also point out with much pride that Cheeky Maiden Soap Company already complies with all of these standards and our formulas never contain any of the following toxic ingredients!

Synthetic Fragrance: Due to philosophical and safety reasons, only natural essential oils and components of natural essential oils will be allowed as fragrances. Synthetic fragrances can be highly irritating to sensitive individuals and are also a potential source of questionable sub-ingredients such as phthalates.

Formaldehyde-donor preservatives, such as diazolidinyl urea, dmdm hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate: Under certain circumstances of formulation and storage, these ingredients have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts. These are banned and/or highly restricted in other countries. Because there are higher quality preservatives available, these are not necessary and should be avoided.

Chelators, such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA: Chelators sequester metal ions and are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low quality raw materials. There is environmental data showing that chelators do not readily biodegrade in the environment. Furthermore, there is no reason to have these ingredients in high quality natural products, since they function to remove impurities from low quality raw materials.

Ethoxylated ingredients, such as sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol: Ethoxylated compounds are emulsifiers that are typically derived from petroleum. The problem with ethoxylated compounds is that it is not a clean process to manufacture these compounds, so contaminants can be produced during the manufacturing process.

Chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate: Chemical sunscreens have safety concerns since many have been shown to have endocrine disruption activity.

Quats, such as benzalkonium chloride, steardimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide and cetrimonium chloride: Also known as quaternary amines, quats give a positive charge to conditioners in order to prevent static. They are necessary for conditioners, however many are biologically active, and they are also persistent in the environment. Cheeky Maiden recommends diluted apple cider vinegar as a great conditioner for your hair!

Antibacterial compounds, such as triclosan and chlorphenesin: These preservatives do not break down in the environment and may contribute to bacterial resistance. Furthermore, a recent FDA advisory panel report stated that antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soaps.

Synthetic polymers, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer: These viscosity agents are petroleum derived and highly processed, and it is not a clean process to manufacture these ingredients.

100% petroleum derived ingredients, such as mineral oil and petrolatum: 100% petroleum-derived ingredients were excluded from Premium for environmental and philosophical reasons, primarily because they are derived from non-renewable resources. In addition, 100% petroleum-based ingredients were avoided for functional reasons, since they form a barrier when applied to skin that does not allow it to breathe, and they can also contain impurities as a result of the manufacturing process.

Parabens: There is indication that parabens act as potential endocrine disruptors, and due to the fact that there are alternative preservative systems available, these are totally unnecessary.

An extremely fascinating site to check out is Skin Deep: The Cosmetics Database. While it is important to point at that we do not agree with the stance this group has taken on government regulation of cosmetic ingredients, it is a great resource for double checking your own skin care products and ingredients. (Cheeky Maiden is no longer a signer of their compact, not because we do not believe that toxic ingredients shouldn’t be in skin care, but because we believe that “We the people” should decide what we want to put on our skin, not the government.)
Products are rated on a scale of 0-5. 0 being the safest, and 5 being the most dangerous. Of particular interest are baby care products, many of which are rated a 4!! (Cheeky Maiden’s baby soap should come up at 0.)

Antibacterial Soap and Key Ingredient Triclosan

This article was originally published in February of 2008 by Cheeky Maiden.

Antibacterial Soap and Key Ingredient Triclosan

Someone recently requested a tip on soap, and I’ve wanted to share the research I’ve been doing on Triclosan.

Triclosan is the key active ingredient in antibacterial soap, some toothpastes, acne treatments, deodorants, and dish soaps. There are a number of concerns about the overuse of antibacterial agents and its effect on our health and the environment.

In fact, a study done in 2000 found that over 75% of liquid soaps and nearly 30% of bar soaps—45% of all the soaps on the market—contain some type of antibacterial agent. The most common active ingredient was triclosan, a chemical that is used so commonly it actually makes its way into our bodies. A 2002 Swedish study found high levels of triclosan in 3 out of 5 human breast milk samples.

Triclosan is extremely effective when used in hospital settings, where disease and infection are prevalent. But no current data demonstrate any extra health benefits from the use of antibacterial soap and cleanser in a healthy household. A study of over 200 healthy households found that households using antibacterial products did not have any reduced risk for runny noses, coughs, and other symptoms of infectious diseases. According to the American Medical Association, “Despite their recent proliferation in consumer products, the use of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan in consumer products has not been studied extensively. No data exist to support their efficacy when used in such products or any need for them … It may be prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products ….”

Damaging Effects of the use of Triclosan

According to EPA, triclosan “could be” and is “suspected to be” contaminated with dioxins. Dioxins can be found in triclosan as impurities formed during the manufacturing process. Dioxins are highly carcinogenic chemicals that can cause severe health problems such as:

• weakening of the immune system,
• decreased fertility,
• altered sex hormones,
• birth defects, and
• cancer.

Triclosan and Allergies

Overuse of triclosan (and other antibacterials) is also linked to allergies. This is based on the “hygiene hypothesis,” which theorizes that there is a correlation between “too much hygiene” and increased allergies and asthma. The concept is that children who are raised in an overly clean environment have immune systems that are not challenged and thus do not develop and mature properly.

Triclosan and Antibiotic Resistance

Many recent studies have raised serious concerns that triclosan may promote the emergence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. One concern is that bacteria will become resistant to antibacterial products like triclosan, rendering those antimicrobial products useless to those who truly need them, such as people with compromised immune systems.

Scientists also worry that because triclosan kills bacteria in a similar way as antibiotics, bacteria that become resistant to triclosan will also be resistant to antibiotics. Triclosan does not actually cause a genetic mutation in the bacteria—which is part of the process by which they acquire resistance—but by killing the normal bacteria, it creates an environment where mutated bacteria that are resistant to triclosan are more likely to survive and reproduce. Laboratory studies with triclosan have already found a number of different strains of mutated bacteria that are resistant to triclosan and to certain antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly serious problem worldwide, and overuse of triclosan may exacerbate this problem.

Environmental Effects of Triclosan

Over 95% of triclosan uses are in consumer products that are eventually disposed of down sink drains. Wastewater treatment plants cannot remove triclosan from water, so large quantities of triclosan are continuously discharged into local waterways. Numerous studies have detected triclosan in streams and rivers. In a US Geological Survey study of 95 organic wastewater contaminants in US streams, triclosan was one of the most frequently detected compounds, and at some of the highest concentrations observed.

Triclosan is highly toxic to algae. Because algae are the first-step producers in aquatic ecosystems, researchers believe that high levels of Triclosan discharged into the environment may destroy the balance of aquatic ecosystems. The risks are especially high immediately downstream from wastewater treatment plants.

Staying Clean without Triclosan

Research has shown that Triclosan is no more effective at killing bacteria on hands than plain old fashioned soap (such as Cheeky Maiden Soap!) Simply washing your hands more frequently and at key times such as before eating, after going to the bathroom, or when someone is sick is enough.

Natural soap will not strip your skin of its own natural oils or alter the pH, both of which act as a first line of defense against germs and disease.

Tea Tree Oil is a natural antimicrobial. We use it in our Kid Critters soap and our Complexion Soap.

Your tip for this week is to avoid Triclosan! It is also known as Irgasan and Microban on some labels.

It’s also important to understand that this differs from the alcohol based products that you apply to the skin without the use of water (such as Purrell). These work in a different way and usually don’t contain Triclosan.