1. Old Spice High Endurance Body Wash.
One of the products I use on a daily basis is Old Spice Body Wash. Through the years I have used different brands of body wash, but I'm sure all have similar ingredients. One of the biggest things that caught my attention when I decided to use this brand was the smell; it has a very "clean" and pleasant smell. To my surprise, the fragrance is considered a high hazard due to the ingredients use. Like stated in the report, the fragrance used in this body wash can lead to allergies, immunotoxicity, irritation of the eyes, skin, or lungs, toxicity of different organs, and it's harmful to the environment. DMDM Hydatoin was also considered a high hazard. This chemical is a formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Over all as seen in the table bellow, this product is a moderate hazard and is a low concern for developing cancer.
Ingredients on label: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Sulfate, Fragrance, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Lauryl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, DMDM Hydantoin, Lauryl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium 10, Yellow 10 Aluminum Lake (CI 47005), Green 3
2. St. Ives Body Lotion
The second product I use on a daily basis is St. Ives body lotion. The reason why I decided on this brand and type of lotion was for its fragrance and the way it made my skin feel. Like the Old Spice body wash, the ingredients that make up the fragrance in this body lotion is considered a high hazard, with a score of 8. The body lotion also includes triethanolamine, which is known to causes allergies, immunotoxicity, and organ organ system toxicity. Again, i was pretty surprised that this product is considered a moderate hazard and has a low concern for cancer development.
Ingredients on label: Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Urea, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Dimethicone, PEG 100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance
Overall, like I mentioned above, I was surprised with the hazardous materials that are used to make the products I use on a daily basis. While reading the results of both products, I couldn't stop thinking of my experience with a benign testicular tumor few years ago. A lot of the chemicals in products can lead to reproductive toxicity and can cause problems in the future. Even though the two products I researches do not cause reproductive toxicity it made me wonder what products if any do. We are exposed to so many chemicals in a daily basis, that we don't really stop and thinking about the harm these chemicals are doing to our bodies. I tend to think "What can a small amount due to my body once in a while", but that once in a while becomes a lifetime. I have definitely decided to change my behaviors and look for products that do not harm my body and do not harm the environment. Individuals should be aware of the ingredients that are used in the products they use. We should be aware of the things we are exposing ourselves to in order to make decision that will benefit our bodies.
I’d be a little concerned about both products. In the database, the fragrance ingredient for the Old Spice Body Wash had a score of 8, the highest hazardous rating. The fragrance ingredient for the St. Ives Body Lotion also had a score of 8. The main issue is that we don’t know the ingredients used in fragrances. The fragrance is usually a mixture of several chemicals such as diethyl phthalate that has been associated with allergies, reproductive system dysfunctions and organ system toxicity. Manufacturers are not required to include these chemicals in their labels. The body wash also contains a formaldehyde-releasing ingredient. Formaldehyde is used as a preservative, and it is a human carcinogen and can cause allergic reactions. Although the overall score of both products was moderate hazard, both of them contain high hazard ingredients. I’d stop using them and look for less toxic products.
ReplyDeleteThe products you chose to analyze are products I have used in the past. It is interesting and alarming that fragrance is a common ingredient that has such a high hazard rating. You would think that the companies would refrain from using these or was want to use less hazardous fragrances such as natural essential oils. I too have become more conscientious when purchasing my personal care products and advised my girlfriend to do the same.
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