How to 'green' your cabinet.
Your skin is your largest organ and is a permeable barrier, which means it absorbs whatever you put on it. If you are planning for a new pregnancy, and especially if you are currently pregnant and during your first 12 weeks it is wise to switch to non-toxic products. Your products don't have to be 100 per cent organic, but they should by all means be 100 per cent non-toxic. So check your labels and let's have a look on some of the ingredients you should start avoiding and why.
PARABENS
Look for methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl-, etc
These preservatives prevent the growth of bacteria and dirsupti the normal behavior of estrogen
FORMALDEHYDE
Look for quaternium-15, DMDM hydantion, imidazolidinyl urea,
diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 3 diol etc
These preservatives are predominantly used in cosmetics
PHTHALATES
Look for DBP, DEHP, DEP
These chemicals could cause birth defects
DIETHANOLAMINE/ TRIETHANOLAMINE
Look for DEA, MEA, TEA
Carcinogens that disrupt hormone function
DIAZOLIDINYL UREA & IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA
Look for diazolidinyl urea or imidazolidinyl urea
These antimicrobial preservatives releases formaldehyde
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
Look for SLS and SLES
Known skin irritants -usually added in soaps and shampoos- that by result
require an addition of a petrochemical produt to help reduce allergic reactions
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Look for PEG
This thickening and softening agent is used in conjunction with known carcinogens
NANOPARTICLES
Look for nano- something
These extremely small particles can help make insoluble additives water-soluble
and as a result carcinogenic additives can be better absorbed into the skin
SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE
Look for fragrance, flavor added
Engineered fragrances can have as many as 3000 or more chemicals present,
including hormone disrupters and allergens
VITAMIN A
Look for retin-a, retinol & retinyl palmitate
These vitamin A derivatives can lead to dangerous birth defects
TETRACYCLINE
Look for doxycyline & minocycline
This common antibiotic can have negative effects both for pregnant moms and their babies