Choose Better Replacements for These 7 Ingredients
All skincare products do not have the same quality. Each new skincare product on the market seems to come with a never-ending list of harmful and toxic ingredients to avoid. The real problem is not knowing the difference between the good and the bad ingredients.
Most companies along with regulatory associations like the FDA, do little to help in these areas. The root of the problem is the lack of federal regulations for skincare ingredients in the USA beauty industry.
Even with 1300 chemicals already banned within the EU, the United Kingdom has taken a further step towards stricter regulation of cosmetic products. On 3 October 2024, the country notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a proposed amendment to the Great Britain (GB) Cosmetics Regulations, which includes a ban on 13 additional substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR).
At Zero1bio, we are all about skin care simplicity. Focusing on efficacious ingredients that directly benefit the skin or ones that bolster the key ingredients.
What Ingredients Should You Not Use?
Whether it’s the rays of the sun, pollution, everyday stress, or even unhealthy eating, there are numerous reasons for skin damage. As overstated as it sounds, one should take very good care of their skin. Skincare begins with cleaning your skin throughout the day; choosing the right skin products for your face is essential.
Also, what about the toxins present in the products like parabens, plastic, polyethylene glycol, phenols, etc? Isn’t it the problem when it comes down to choosing the right skincare products? Not under our watch, trust me when I say Zero1bio ingredients stand behind their slogan “less is more”.
What to Avoid - Absolutely!
1. Hydroquinone
Inhibiting melanin, hydroquinone is a bleaching and lightening agent predominantly used for dark spots and scars. In the long term, the use of hydroquinone results in organ toxicity, skin irritation, cancer, and skin-related troubles. Hydroquinone-associated skin diseases include ochronosis, which is characterized by irreversibly blue-black marks on the skin.
It is always recommended to avoid concentrations higher than 2 % of hydroquinone, undisclosed hydroquinone-based skin lighteners, and those containing mercury, calomel, mercurio, and mercuric chloride.
2. Oxybenzone
Oxybenzone is used in prescription drugs as an active ingredient and is commonly found in retail sunscreens. As a sunlight filter, it also has some ultraviolet soaking capability. It operates as an estrogen receptor modulator and, for this reason, has been associated with cancer of the uterus (endometriosis) and changes to sperm manufacture.
Oxybenzone is linked with adverse effects as irritation, sensitization, allergic reactions, and possible disruption of endocrine function. It is also harmful to coral reefs, resulting in its legislative ban in Hawaii.
3. Silicone
Silicone is of interest in that it is not considered a toxic ingredient. However, it can allow trans-epidermal water loss to occur which will effectively seal moisture in your skin and lead to dehydration of your pores. This can disrupt the skin’s natural regulatory mechanisms.
4. Methyl, isobutyl, and propyl parabens
This is one topic which I know you may have heard about quite frequently, but do not exactly comprehend entirely.
Parabens are a group of preservatives (methylparabens, propyl parabens, butyl parabens, and ethyl parabens) used to increase bacteria and mold shelf life, that is, they increase the shelf life of a product by preventing the growth of bacteria and fungus.
5. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES) Exposure and Effects:
SLS and SLES are types of surfactants and may cause skin sensitization and allergic reactions. As evidenced by current data, the surfactants may significantly ail the skin, trigger canker sores, disrupt its natural oil balance, and inflict damage to the eyes. Surfactants also aid in the exacerbation of cystic acne, especially in the perioral and mandibular regions.
In broad terms, we can say that many studies have been conducted that relate parabens, because they can imitate estrogen, to breast cancer, skin cancer, and low sperm count. Although, it has not yet pronounced them harmful.
6. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a self-care product preservative which prevents it from going bad for as long as reasonably possible. Said product needs to be avoided at all costs because it is formaldehyde and formaldehyde has a widespread reputation of being an allergen and causing quite a deal of drama on one’s skin. It has proven to be one of the major rashes causing ingredients in a lot of beauty products and ranks high, approximately 6 in place proportions, in ingredients to steer clear of for skincare.
7. Siloxane
Do you enjoy feeling silky and smooth all the time as promoted by certain creams? Siloxane is a compound that can provide smoothness and lubrication, so it can be found in moisturizers and foundations. It does, however, rank among the most toxic skin care products due to its endocrine disrupting properties and its associations with fertility concerns. In any case, one should be careful with skin care ingredients with such severe effects and should know which ingredients to avoid. In such cases, we recommend our Skin Kare™ - Glowing, Spotless & Plump Skin.
Which Brings us to...
Avoiding certain skincare ingredients is crucial not only for achieving the skin you desire but also for your health in the long run.
In this guide, we’ve highlighted some of the ingredients that shouldn’t be used. The next step is to find their substitutes!
At Zero1bio, we do not use any of the harmful chemicals mentioned. That said, we provide all the advantages along with other important features such as safeguarding the skin from aggressive elements or deep moisturizing.