You have made a decision to change to healthier products. The information below will help you make good choices for your health and a healthier environment.
It can be challenging to choose healthy products, especially since there are so many on the market, and so many of them make claims such as “natural”, “eco-friendly”, “green”, “biodegradable” or “good for the environment”. How do you know what to believe? Here are a few tips that can help you.
Avoid the following chemicals:
- Aluminum
- Benzene
- BHA or BHT
- Bisphenol A
- Carbopol (Carbomer)
- Colours
- DEA (diethanolamine): Cocamide, Oleamide, Lauramide DEA
- DEET and other pesticides
- DMDM hydantoin
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Flavours
- Formaldehyde
- Glycol ethers: Polyethylene glycol (PEG), Propylene glycol (PG)
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- MEA (Monoehanolamine)
- Methenamine
- Mineral oil, White oil
- Nitrates/Nitrites
- Parabens
- Parfum/Perfumes or Fragrances
- Petrolatum
- Phenoxyethanol
- p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)
- Phthalates (DMP, DEP, DBP, DnBP, BBzP, DEHP, DINP, DIDP, BBP, DNOP)
- Quarternium-15
- Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
- Silicone: Dimethicone (PDMS)
- Siloxanes: Cyclomethicone, Cyclotetrasiloxane
- Sulfites
- TEOA/TEA (Triethanolamine)
- Triclosan
1. Always read ingredients and avoid the products if there is parfum/perfume or fragrance on the label.
2. Do not rely on labelling such as “natural”, “eco-friendly”, “green” “biodegradable” or “good for environment”.
3. Buy unscented or fragrance-free products.
4. Choose clear products, free of colourings.
5. Seek out products with a short list of ingredients.
6. Use fewer products and use them less often.
Consult websites such as www.ewg.org/skindeep and www.lesstoxicguide.ca