Beauty Tips:Toxic Ingredients You Should Never Use in Your Skin Care Routine

Propylene Glycol vs. Honey

The chemical ingredient: Propylene glycol

Explanation: "Propylene glycol helps stabilize products. It absorbs water to help them maintain their moisture levels. It's also used in polyester production and anti-freeze."

The natural option: Honey

Why it works: "Honey is a humectant, meaning it attracts and locks in moisture. It helps balance products and hydrate the skin."

Hydroquinone vs. Sea Fern Extract

The chemical ingredient: Hydroquinone

Explanation: "Many brightening products contain this harsh bleaching ingredient, which weakens skin. It can potentially lead to cancer, organ-system toxicity, and respiratory tract irritation. It is banned for use in personal care products in the E.U. and restricted in the U.S. and Canada."

The natural option: Sea fern extract

Why it works: "Sea fern is naturally detoxifying, and reduces the appearance of dark spots. It stimulates the skin's natural process of eliminating melanin, rather than just bleaching it."

Dimethicone vs. Bamboo Ferment and Irish Moss

The chemical ingredient: Dimethicone

Explanation: "Dimethicone is a synthetic silicon that is used for texture. It gives products a smooth spreadability, can form a protective barrier on the skin, and fill in the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The barrier that it forms can actually trap bacteria and dry skin out over time. It's restricted in Canada for its health and environmental impacts."

The natural option: Bamboo ferment and Irish moss

Why it works: "Both bamboo ferment and Irish moss provide deep hydration for smooth and silky-feeling skin, and form a protective film to prevent moisture loss."

Polyethylene Glycol vs. Cetearyl Olivate

The chemical ingredient: Polyethylene glycol

Explanation: "Polyethylene glycol (or PEG) is actually a class of ingredients that can emulsify a formula and enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. They can often be contaminated with impurities like ethylene oxide (used in mustard gas manufacturing) and heavy metals."

The natural option: Cetearyl olivate

Why it works: "Fatty acids from olives give this emulsifier deeply hydrating properties, helping to smooth skin. It also gives the products it's in a silky texture."

Retinol vs. Rosehip Oil and Sea Buckthorn

The chemical ingredient: Retinol

Explanation: "Retinol (or vitamin A) helps to smooth skin and reduce the appearance of acne scarring and wrinkles."

The natural option: Rosehip oil and sea buckthorn

Why it works: "Oils rich in vitamin A provide the same skin-smoothing effects as retinol, but don't cause the drying, irritation, and sun sensitivity that can come with synthetic forms."

Synthetic Peptides vs. Avocado Peptides

The chemical ingredient: Synthetic peptides

Explanation: "Peptides are used for antiaging products to minimize wrinkles for a 'Botox effect' and boost collagen production for a plumping effect. There are many varieties of peptides used in skin care products."

The natural option: Avocado peptides

Why it works: "These natural peptides hydrate and plump the skin, giving the same youthful effect as synthetic peptides."

Phenoxyethanol vs. Anise Berry

The chemical ingredient: Phenoxyethanol

Explanation: "Phenoxyethanol is less well-known than parabens, but it has the same preservative qualities. So often products listed as paraben-free will have just replaced it with phenoxyethanol. It's restricted in the E.U., and potential health concerns include allergies and nervous system effects."

The natural option: Anise berry

Why it works: "Anise berry preserves the organic compounds in products and maintains the integrity and the efficacy of formulas. It's best used in oil-based products rather than emulsions."

Parabens vs. Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment

The chemical ingredient: Parabens

Explanation: "Most people are familiar with Parabens. All kinds of products from skin care to hand soap to household cleansers list 'paraben free' on their labels, but not many people know what they actually do. Parabens are used to preserve formulas and prevent mold, and can keep products stable for anywhere from two to five years."

The natural option: Leuconostoc radish root ferment

Why it works: "The same bacteria that keeps fermented foods safe to eat makes this an excellent, completely natural preservative. It guarantees a shelf life of at least 12 months, and has none of the potential health risks like endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity that parabens have."

Credit: Popsugar