“Clean” Skincare Products: Unravelling the Mystery

It’s without a doubt consumers are looking for skin care products that not only improve our skin but use ingredients that are actually safe for us. 

If you have ever tried to read the ingredients on most common skin care products it can become quite overwhelming, the list is lengthy and chalked full of ingredients you have never heard of. 

First beware, just because it claims it is “clean”, does not mean it is! The term “clean” is not regulated and can be interpreted many ways.  

Here are some top ingredients you DO NOT WANT in your skin care products:

1. Parabens – can be found in almost all types of products as they are used a preservative, extending shelf life. They can lead to hormone imbalances leading to fertility issues, they are also linked to breast cancer. 

2. Fragrance – there are still so many so-called clean products that use “fragrance” as an ingredient. Fragrance is one of the leading causes of skin irritation right up there with poison ivy and nickel.

3. BHT – synthetic antioxidants are very often carcinogens and hormone disruptors.

4. Formaldehyde – yes, believe it or not, formaldehyde is often found in shampoo, body wash and bubble bath. 

5. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and/or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) - SLS and SLES can cause skin irritation and trigger different allergies. 

6. Mineral oils – don’t confuse “minerals” and “oils” on their own. Mineral oil in our skin products is the byproduct of “crude oil” and never spoils which is great for the manufactures but not great for our skin, as it clogs your skin with harmful chemicals.

7. Oxybenzone – found in many sunscreens, is considered a carcinogen because of the way it reacts to the sun increasing free radical production. Zinc oxide sunscreen is best when protecting your skin from harmful UV rays.

8. Phthalates and DEHP – a chemical used to soften plastic and is often used in skin care products to help the stick to our skin. They can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system and have been banned in the US for use in children’s products.

9. Retinol – better known as vitamin A. I know this one will stump a few people as it seems to be in numerous products these days.

I am expanding on this ingredients because I feel there is a lot of misinformation on this popular ingredient / product and the known side effects….

Retinoid is commonly prescribed by your family doctor to treat many common skin problems and are now found in many over the counter skin products at a much lower dose, however they have risks:

• Dryness and irritation

• Skin colour changes

• Sensitivity to sunlight

• Redness, swelling, crusting, or blistering

Recommendation with using a retinol product:

• Avoid the sun! Besides wearing a SPF of 30 or higher, it is recommended you stay out of the sun between the hours of 10am to 2pm when the sun can do the most damage.

• If you must be outside wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and a large-brimmed hat.

• Do not overdo it. To decrease side effects be sure to follow your doctors’ recommendation or package dosage.

• As retinoids are known to dry the skin be sure to hydrate and use plenty of moisturizer

• Pregnant women or women who are planning to become pregnant should not use retinoids.

GOOD news though…

Companies are listening and we now have access to clean safe skincare products. Here at EASTND we carry a Canadian based company, Province Apothecary, that only manufactures clean products. Not only are their products free of toxins but are highly effective in treating your skin care needs. 

A quick side note..

This is what an ingredient list of a clean safe product will look like:

Active ingredient: Colloidal Oatmeal 1.0 %. Inactive Ingredients: Borage Seed Oil*, Broccoli Seed Oil*, Calendula Flower Extract, Beeswax*, Turmeric Root Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, St. John's Wort Flower Extract, Olive Fruit Oil*, Propolis, Rosehip Fruit Oil*, Comfrey Root Extract, Vitamin E, Zinc Oxide. *Certified Organic

What you don’t want to see:

Deionized Water, Mineral Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Poloxamer 188, Alcohol, Passionflower Fruit Extract, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Grape Fruit Extract, Hydroquinone USP, Kojic Acid Dipalmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax NF, Bearberry Extract, Glycerine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Octyl Palmitate, d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate USP, Cetyl Esters, PEG-40 Stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol USP, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Diazolidinyl

I have listed a few common toxins in popular skin care products however there are more. A great resource tool I use is https://www.ewg.org/ they also have an app that you can download on to your phone! We hope this helps you understand what it means to look for and purchase “clean” skin care products!

Check out EastND's Skin Rejuvenating Services

- Karen Ulmanis, Medical Aesthetician