PRESERVATIVES: important!!!

[Akira]

The categories of preservatives used in the cosmetics are various. Those that now I write are substances that yield (free) formaldehyde, one substance with a toxicological level much high, quite classified officially (not by me ) like cancerogenous.
However this thing would not have to alarm to us too much because the law places a strict quantitative limit for the employment of these substances (comprised between 0.1% and 0.6%) beneath the potential risk threshold (theoretical).
These substances can however cause to irritations and negative effects on the skins.. SO PAY ATTENTION please

5-BROMO-5NITRO-1.3-DIOXANE (it is most powerful, personally i avoids it always. Also the companies is discarding it nearly of all)

2-BROMO-2NITROPROPANE-1.3DIOL (it is like first but less powerful, it's better to avoid ALWAYS if it is in a product for frequent use)

DMDM HYDANTOYN (little better of previous)
DIAZOLIDINYL UREA (lighter than hydantoin)
IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA (like previous but the less powerful)

COCAMIDE (DEA-MEA-MIPA) often appears on labels as Cocamide DEA and are commonly found in cleansers, shampoos and body washes as an emulsifier and foaming agent. According to a 1998 research study by the National Toxicology Program, these chemicals affect hormone function and are known to produce cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines in laboratory animals. The FDA is currently evaluating the link between DEA and cancer in humans.
COCAMIDE, in combination with some surfactants (SLES and by-products ), strengthens negative effects at aesthetic level (the solution gets more aggressive) and at tossicologic level (they free Nitrosamine)

SODIUM CHLORIDE it is used to thicken the emulsions. It is used with great facility for its reduced cost. Toxicologically it is innocuous, but to aesthetic level, if used (like unfortunately often it is employed) in high amount cracks the keratin of the hairs . (All we know the effect of the baths in sea on the hairs, the effect of the saltiness)

[HairLossFight.com]

Thanks Akira, I really enjoy these informative posts!

[Jacob]

Good info. Here's something I came across:

So whats the big deal? If the ingredients in body care products were potentially harmful, wouldnt we know about it?

Not necessarily. The Food and Drug Administration established regulations for body care products, termed "cosmetics," over 60 years ago, before skin absorption was known to be a factor. In fact, the FDA defines cosmetics as "articles which are intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed or introduced to, or otherwise applied to, the human body for cleaning, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or function." Because of this outdated definition, cosmetic regulations are far less strident than they should be; the effects they may have on the body are not taken into consideration at all, even though the potential occurrence of these effects is now certain. Winter explains, "Good tests are available for skin penetration, yet they are rarely used for cosmetics What degree of absorption is there when a cosmetic is left on the face (as a makeup base might be for 12 hours) or spread over the entire body (as suntan lotion may be)? What is the exposure to ingredients that may be used over a number of years? What of systemic absorption, toxicity and chronic effects?"

The relatively lax regulations on cosmetics allow companies to use any number of different chemicals in their products, as long as they list the product's ingredients on the package. Cosmetic companies generally use chemicals in their products because they're very inexpensive and can drastically extend a product's shelf life. Unfortunately, while the use of these ingredients may benefit cosmetic companies, it can be quite detrimental to consumers. Since FDA regulations are based on the incorrect idea that cosmetics do not permeate the skin, ingredients that would not be allowed in a product thats meant for internal use are accepted for cosmetic use by the FDA. This means that, although chemicals with the potential to damage the body are prominent in many products, they are not acknowledged as dangerous.

http://www.communitypharmacy.coop/artic ... rticleID=5