For anyone trying to avoid toxic chemicals in the home, cosmetics can pose a real problem. All sorts of crazy things pop up in cosmetics. Most of those ingredients are there to either make the product lather, stick to your skin, or to preserve the product from all the microbes lurking around our homes. Some work 
as ph balancers while others are used as good old-fashion detergent cleansing agents.
The really tricky thing about cosmetics is that even companies that are trying to jump on the "all natural" products band wagon are putting ingredients into their products which are anything but natural.
Sometimes that's okay. Not all synthetic ingredients are bad and many times an ingredient is used in such small concentrations that our exposure to it is minuscule or when they are put with other products, their toxic properties are voided. There are definitely "all-naturally" derived ingredients that are anything but good for you as well. For example, arsenic and poison ivy occur naturally, but I don't plan on ever rubbing either of them on my face. I told you cosmetics can be tricky!
Still, I compiled a list of some not-so-natural ingredients that I try to avoid in my cosmetics.
Diazolidinyl Urea - used as an antiseptic and found in body powders, cleansers and soaps, lotions and moisturizers, shampoo, make-up remover, sunscreen. It may release formaldehyde, which is definitely not a good thing.
Imidazolidinyl Urea - a very commonly used preservative found in personal care products, even baby shampoos and oils. This preservative also releases formaldehyde. Parabens, although they have many critics, I think are a much better preservative choice than imidazolidinyl urea. The real problem with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives is that when they are present in a formulation that also includes amines such as triethanolamine, diethanolamine or monoethanolamine, nitrosamines can be formed, and nitrosamines are carcinogenic substances that can possibly penetrate skin. I just stay away from this ingredient all together to keep things simple.
Diethanolamine (DEA) - the effects of DEA are inconclusive at this point. It is used as a foaming agent and has had some negative press. A study done in 1999 on its effects involved applying the ingredient directly to mouse skin for a minimum period of 14 weeks and a maximum period of two years. There was no evidence of carcinogenicity when low doses, meaning 50-100 mg per body weight, were used. There were internal organ changes when dosages of up to 800 mg were used. This was found in the National Toxicology Program Report Service, Volume 478 July 1999, pages 134-212. In most cases our exposure to any product with DEA would normally be brief and in small amounts, but you can decide for yourself.
Triethanolamine (TEA) - this is used as a detergent and a dispersing agent in things like shampoo and lotion. Again, combining TEA with nitrates can result in cancer-causing nitrosamines. In most products containing TEA the concentration is extremely minimal, so again, you be the judge.
Parabens - parabens like ethyl, methyl and propyl often receive bad press. They are preservatives and are the second most common ingredient in skin care products. That doesn't mean that they are found in high concentrations though, which is why they are almost always found at the bottom of the ingredients list. And even most "all natural" companies use parabens. Studies have tried to link them to breast cancer but have been unsuccessful.
Parabens are preservatives that are actually somewhat plant derived. They kill pretty much all the fungi, mold, and bacteria that lurk in our homes; without them most of our products would begin rotting before we brought them home from the store.
Right now there really isn't a good alternative to parabens, but I believe some may be available in the near future. Until then, you can look for products that use things like essential oils as preservatives. Your cosmetics won't last as long and some essential oils can be irritating so you'll have to experiment.
I think the best way to avoid a lot of things that God never really intended for us to be in contact with is to avoid using a lot of products on my skin. I don't use a lot of lotions, perfumes, or body oils on myself or my little boy. He's never seen a drop of baby powder or baby oil on his skin, and he turned out alright. But, in the products that you will pick up at the store in the near future, come armed with information about what's actually in those products.
For anyone trying to avoid toxic chemicals in the home, cosmetics can pose a real problem. All sorts of crazy things pop up in cosmetics. Most of those ingredients are there to either make the product lather, stick to your skin, or to preserve the product from all the microbes lurking around our homes. Some work
as ph balancers while others are used as good old-fashion detergent cleansing agents.
The really tricky thing about cosmetics is that even companies that are trying to jump on the "all natural" products band wagon are putting ingredients into their products which are anything but natural.
Sometimes that's okay. Not all synthetic ingredients are bad and many times an ingredient is used in such small concentrations that our exposure to it is minuscule or when they are put with other products, their toxic properties are voided. There are definitely "all-naturally" derived ingredients that are anything but good for you as well. For example, arsenic and poison ivy occur naturally, but I don't plan on ever rubbing either of them on my face. I told you cosmetics can be tricky!
Still, I compiled a list of some not-so-natural ingredients that I try to avoid in my cosmetics.
Diazolidinyl Urea - used as an antiseptic and found in body powders, cleansers and soaps, lotions and moisturizers, shampoo, make-up remover, sunscreen. It may release formaldehyde, which is definitely not a good thing.
Imidazolidinyl Urea - a very commonly used preservative found in personal care products, even baby shampoos and oils. This preservative also releases formaldehyde. Parabens, although they have many critics, I think are a much better preservative choice than imidazolidinyl urea. The real problem with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives is that when they are present in a formulation that also includes amines such as triethanolamine, diethanolamine or monoethanolamine, nitrosamines can be formed, and nitrosamines are carcinogenic substances that can possibly penetrate skin. I just stay away from this ingredient all together to keep things simple.
Diethanolamine (DEA) - the effects of DEA are inconclusive at this point. It is used as a foaming agent and has had some negative press. A study done in 1999 on its effects involved applying the ingredient directly to mouse skin for a minimum period of 14 weeks and a maximum period of two years. There was no evidence of carcinogenicity when low doses, meaning 50-100 mg per body weight, were used. There were internal organ changes when dosages of up to 800 mg were used. This was found in the National Toxicology Program Report Service, Volume 478 July 1999, pages 134-212. In most cases our exposure to any product with DEA would normally be brief and in small amounts, but you can decide for yourself.
Triethanolamine (TEA) - this is used as a detergent and a dispersing agent in things like shampoo and lotion. Again, combining TEA with nitrates can result in cancer-causing nitrosamines. In most products containing TEA the concentration is extremely minimal, so again, you be the judge.
Parabens - parabens like ethyl, methyl and propyl often receive bad press. They are preservatives and are the second most common ingredient in skin care products. That doesn't mean that they are found in high concentrations though, which is why they are almost always found at the bottom of the ingredients list. And even most "all natural" companies use parabens. Studies have tried to link them to breast cancer but have been unsuccessful.
Parabens are preservatives that are actually somewhat plant derived. They kill pretty much all the fungi, mold, and bacteria that lurk in our homes; without them most of our products would begin rotting before we brought them home from the store.
Right now there really isn't a good alternative to parabens, but I believe some may be available in the near future. Until then, you can look for products that use things like essential oils as preservatives. Your cosmetics won't last as long and some essential oils can be irritating so you'll have to experiment.
I think the best way to avoid a lot of things that God never really intended for us to be in contact with is to avoid using a lot of products on my skin. I don't use a lot of lotions, perfumes, or body oils on myself or my little boy. He's never seen a drop of baby powder or baby oil on his skin, and he turned out alright. But, in the products that you will pick up at the store in the near future, come armed with information about what's actually in those products.