Definitions

Have you ever had one of those afternoons where you're just swamped, nothing seems to be going your way and Friday seems like a lifetime away? So you start surfing the web because you had read somewhere that taking periodic breaks reinvigorates the brain and you end up coming across an article that makes you laugh so hard you forget about the bill that is past due, a fight you had with your significant other or the recent request you're helicopter boss has asked of? Well just the other day I was reading an article about New Year's resolution and one of the lady's interviewed said that among other things she was going to "limit chocolate to once every other day, do her laundry weekly and only buy skincare products that were paraben-free because paraben's give you skin cancer." In fairness her resolutions are not funny but sweet and important. However, what I found interesting is the existing misconceptions, which is only fueled by media and false advertising, surrounding common ingredients used in products probably found in your very own medicine cabinet. Our health is paramount and education is key so I thought it would be best to help shed some light on what the top three "nasty" ingredients are and how you can avoid them.

The Bad, Bad Boys

-Parabens are synthetic preservatives that essentially keep your product from spoiling. You will commonly see them listed as methyl, propyl, butyl or ethyl parabens within the ingredient list. Some studies have shown that they are endocrine disruptor's or can mimic estrogen potentially leading to breast cancer (not skin as the lady in the article believed). The truth is all products need to be preserved so they maintain their efficacy. However, there are many alternatives to parabens and companies are increasingly developing paraben-free products so why not be on the safe side and avoid them all together.

-Sulfates are the detergent or cleansing agent found in shampoos, body washes, soaps, etc. Some sulfates are more aggressive than others, however, in general they can be quite irritating and disruptful. Often they can damage the lipid layer of skin (causing sensitive and moisture loss) and strip hair of it's protective barrier (causing color treated hair to fade faster). So if you have sensitive skin or color your hair, why not take care of it with a gentler touch and avoid sulfates? Look for sulfate-free products or avoid those with sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate.

-Petrochemicals are petroleum derived ingredients that are typically used for their moisturizing properties. They are non-renewable byproducts of crude oil that can contain dangerous, irritating impurities. Ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin are all petrochemicals so look through the ingredient lists and avoid products containing them. They are plenty of other hydrating ingredients out there like shea butter and beeswax.

Usage tip: The "free of" movement has taken a life of it's own but at the end of the day you should get the facts and make your own decision. There are equally efficacious alternatives out there so try to avoid using products with these ingredients.

The result: A healthier, more educated you who will not ever be quoted in a national publication quoting the wrong information!