If you’re an average woman, between skin care, hair care, and cosmetics you probably use around twelve products each day. These twelve products likely contain around 168 ingredients. If you’re not aware and alert, many common cosmetic and skin care products that you use every day may be full of carcinogens, hormone disruptors, irritants,  and toxins.

Many of these items are designed to penetrate into your skin. And they do.

Don’t assume that just because a product carries a brand name or is available for sale means it is safe for your body; you must read the label.

What ingredients should you avoid in make up, hair care and skin care products?

Here’s a short list of body care ingredients to avoid:

• Phthalates
• Parabens
• Sodium laureth sulphate, or sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES)
• Triclosan
• Lead
• Formaldehyde
• Toluene
• Hydroquinone
• Fragrance