Teens and young women experiment and regularly use cosmetics and personal care products …. sometimes loads of them! From body washes, lotions, perfumes, hair products to all manner of make up and tanning products….and many more!
Unfortunately, it’s at this time of their life that they may be particularly sensitive to exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals, given the major role they play during puberty. An EWG (Environmental Working Group) https://www.ewg.org/skindeep study reported that teens were using an average of 17 personal care products ..every day, 40% more than an adult woman!
Knowing which ones are healthy and which ones aren’t — is important. Why? “EWG found that adolescent girls’ bodies are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and body care products including potentially toxic chemicals — phthalates, triclosan, parabens”. Studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption…not to mention allergic reactions, sensitivities and skin issues such as acne flareups, dermatitis etc.
It’s important teens are given access to healthier products and advice about how to make better choices when selecting products they use on a daily basis. The best advice is to check ingredient labels for the main nasties such as these:
- Triclosan
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Phenoxyethanol
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- PEGs (Polyethylene glycol) Resourcinol
- “Fragrance” (listed as an ingredient) – unless stated naturally derived or essential oil. Visit https://www.ewg.org/skindeep for more information.
Learning to make their own simple, natural products can be an amazing way to understand and appreciate natural ingredients and also a fun activity for a girls get-together. Coffee or sugar scrubs, soaps, body oils, lip balms, perfume oils are all easy to make and can be so much healthier (and alot cheaper!)
