What are endocrine disruptors in cosmetics and how to avoid them?
We hear the expression “endocrine disruptors or hormone disruptors” more and more frequently in the health, food and cosmetics fields. This is because these small external elements are generating a great chaos in our body.
How is this possible? What effect do endocrine disruptors in conventional cosmetics have on our bodies? How can we avoid them?
If you are interested in this topic and want to make sure you buy quality and safe natural cosmetics for your skin, keep reading this article.
What are endocrine disruptors in cosmetics?
Endocrine disruptors in cosmetics are chemical substances external to the body, but present as ingredients in many cosmetics today, which, once inside, modify hormone signals. It could be said that these pollutants “hack” or interfere with hormonal messages. Sometimes they enhance them, sometimes they interrupt them, thus modulating and modifying the important role of hormones.
And why is this so serious?
Because hormones play a very important role in the condition of our skin and our overall health.
Hormones are chemical molecules very well designed by nature that fulfill very specific and vital functions in our organism: they are in charge of creating communication networks between the different organs, the body. They are like messengers.
When we apply a conventional cream of a brand that uses “endocrine disruptors”, what we do is to deposit in our skin, and therefore, blood circulation (through the pores of the skin), a series of toxic elements that will interfere with the proper functioning and internal order of our body.
The fact that endocrine disruptors enhance or inhibit the function of certain hormones has a direct impact on our endocrine system, which is responsible for such vital functions as metabolism, growth, body development and reproduction.
Moreover, its effect is cumulative, unfortunately irreversible and can even be transmitted from generation to generation.
It is, therefore, very important to know what are the hormone disruptors in cosmetics and how to avoid them when making our self-care and beauty purchases.
List of endocrine disruptors in cosmetics
Here is a list of the most common hormone disruptors in cosmetics:
- Parabens: they can be disguised under names such as Isopropylparapen, Propylparapen, Isobutylparaben and Butylparaben, Methylparaben and Ethylparaben . When they penetrate the skin, they act in the same way as estrogens, modifying our endocrine system and having serious implications on female menstrual and reproductive health.
- Bisphenols: present in polycarbonate plastic containers or containers containing the symbol 7.
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: these are some of the preservatives to avoid in cosmetic products:
- DMDM Hydantoin: 1,3-dimethylol-5, 5-dimethyl hydantoin, Dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin,
- Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Hemiformal Bencilo
- 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropano-1,3-Diol
- 5-Bromo-5-Nitro-1,3-Dioxane Diazolidinyl urea
- Polyquaternium.
- Sunscreens: Products with UV filters such as sunscreens are the most likely to contain endocrine disruptors such as:
- Benzophenone-1,
- Benzophenone-2,
- Cymphenes,
- Cinnamates,
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate.
They are used for their ability to protect from sunlight without leaving the skin whitish, but they are not a successful solution, as they pollute and intoxicate us. When choosing your sunscreen, you should try to avoid chemical filters and choose products with 100% mineral filters.
- Phthalates: These are chemical substances that can be very easily absorbed by the skin: Butylbenzyl phthalate, Dibutyl phthalate, Di-isononyl phthalate, Di-isobutyl phthalate...
How to avoid hormone disruptors in cosmetics?
To avoid this type of problem, and not to make the purchase of our cosmetics a headache, keep in mind the following:
- Avoid plastic containers
- Use 100% mineral sunscreens with organic certification.
Buy certified organic cosmetics
free of perfumes and allergenic preservatives.- Avoid products with scents or perfumes that are not based on organic essential oils specifically described in the INCI list…
In case you do not buy natural and organic cosmetics, then we do recommend that you take the time to check the INCI list of the products you use daily or more often: body creams, facial products, sunscreen…
From Saper Cosmetics we invite you to let us help you and take care of you, in reference to facial and body cosmetics.
If you trust us, you won’t have to be constantly looking at the ingredient lists of your creams. We make sure that what you give your skin is of the highest quality, the highest nutritional value and the lowest environmental impact.
Our mission is to give you back what belongs to you: your right to be healthy and feel strong.
