By Emily Do
When shopping for cosmetics or skincare, you’ve probably seen a lot of brands advertising their “clean” or “safe” products: Paraben-free shampoos! Formaldehyde-free nail polish! But what are all these chemicals that these products are claiming to be free of?
This article is a quick guide to some of the most commonly used chemicals in personal care products and the possible health effects of exposure to these substances.
Phthalates
Phthalates (pronounced tha-lates) are chemicals commonly found in personal care products, specifically those with fragrances, acting as a solvent or stabilizer. Such products include nail polish and hair spray.
Research on both the extent and health effects of phthalate exposure is ongoing, with few conclusive results so far (as is the case with many of the chemicals in this article).
The Food and Drug Administration currently does not classify phthalates in cosmetics as a major safety risk. However, phthalates are said to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning they can alter your hormones, and have been linked to multiple negative health effects, such as reproductive cancers and early puberty.
Parabens
Many personal care products boast of their paraben-free status. You may have seen these claims and assumed the product was safe and clean, without even knowing what a paraben is.
Parabens refers to a family of chemicals that are often used in cosmetics as preservatives. Like phthalates, parabens have not yet been exhaustively researched, but we do know that they interact with estrogen, a hormone involved in female development. Because of this, scientists think that paraben exposure likely contributes in some way to breast cancer development, but this is not a definite theory.
PFAS
PFAS have a long, hard-to-pronounce name – per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances – which is why if you have heard of these chemicals, you’ve probably heard them referred to as PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
These are a large group of chemicals characterized by their atomic structure, but their most important characteristic is that they do not break down easily, hence the name forever chemicals. They have a multitude of uses in commercial products, but they are also found in our food, water, and environment.
Several health harms have been linked to PFAS exposure, including increased risks of some diseases or cancers and lowering your body’s ability to fight infection.
Conclusion
Knowing the potential health effects of these chemicals doesn’t mean that you should throw out all your personal care products that contain them. But it does make a difference to be more aware of what chemicals you may be exposing yourself to and to make an effort to reduce potential avenues of exposure.
One way you can do this is through the EWG Skin DeepⓇ database, where you can find brands that are EWG Verified®, meaning they are free of ingredients that EWG’s scientists have identified as concerning. Just a few minutes of research can make a large difference in protecting your health.