{"id":5975,"date":"2017-01-12T18:44:43","date_gmt":"2017-01-12T23:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/onlineshop\/?p=5975"},"modified":"2024-10-04T17:08:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T21:08:11","slug":"what-toxins-chemicals-are-in-your-shampoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/what-toxins-chemicals-are-in-your-shampoo\/","title":{"rendered":"What Toxins & Chemicals are in your Shampoo"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Ever try reading the ingredient list on your shampoo bottle? It\u2019s like a Latin haiku.<\/p>\n

Beauty industry chemist and author David Pollock<\/a>, the author of\u00a0Just Stop The Lies: The Secrets The Beauty Industry Doesn\u2019t Want You To Know<\/em>, reveals what all those complicated-sounding ingredients are and what they do. Pollock was behind the formation of a number of the industry\u2019s top-selling items for companies like Art of Shaving, Bliss Spa, Brookstone, Smashbox, and L\u2019Oreal\/SkinCeuticals before he had a change of heart and shifted his career focus to educate consumers and companies on what they\u2019re putting on their bodies.<\/p>\n

In short, he knows his stuff\u2014and now, so will you.<\/p>\n

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate\/Sodium Laureth Sulfate<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once found in pretty much every shampoo, these ingredients help cleanse and foam. Both are derived from coconut oil, but they\u2019re two different ingredients. \u201cThey\u2019re similar, but the Laureth goes through an ethoxylation process,\u201d says Pollock. Which means? \u201cEthoxylation results in a byproduct called 1,4 dioxane\u2014it\u2019s not listed on the label, but that is the cancer-causing aspect of the ingredient. So, avoid any ingredients ending in \u2018eth.\u2019 \u201d Which means you want to avoid ammonium laureth sulfate.<\/p>\n

While it used to be found in almost every shampoo, when concerns were raised over the ingredient\u2019s toxicity level, a lot of companies switched over to the ammonium versions\u2014not that it\u2019s much better. Says Pollock, \u201cThe sodium and ammonium laureth sulfates are known cancer-causing ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what should you look for instead? Anything with the words \u201cglucose\u201d or \u201cglucoside\u201d in them\u2014for example, sodium lauryl glucose or lauryl glucose.<\/p>\n

Sodium Chloride<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may sound sinister, but sodium chloride\u2014found in thousands of shampoos\u2014is just salt used to thicken or trigger thickening capabilities in your shampoo. No need to fret\u2014or search for another alternative.<\/p>\n

Cocamidopropyl Betaine<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find this foaming agent\u2014a surfact derived through a chemical process with coconut oil\u2014in shampoo and body washes. In a finished product, it causes no harm to the body, and while there are alternatives, they\u2019re not necessary.<\/p>\n

Polysorbates<\/strong><\/p>\n

This solvent or emulsifier helps to bind oil and water together, and is often used to dissolve in the fragrance or other oil additives. And while it\u2019s predominantly found in conditioners, there are some shampoos that carry it, too. But this one\u2019s loaded with trouble for your body.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s damaging at a few levels,\u201d Pollock explains. \u201cThe chemical process isn\u2019t one of my favorites, and while some professionals don\u2019t report any real health concern, mine comes from the reaction with the scalp (in haircare products) and the skin (in face and body products) since it often leaves a residue on the skin, disrupts the skin\u2019s natural pH, and emulsifies lipids in the natural protective barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are alternatives to using polysorbates, but as Pollock warns, \u201cThey\u2019re expensive, so they\u2019re often not used. My favorites are derived from corn: zea mays or maize, often listed as corn water or propanediol.\u201d<\/p>\n

Citric Acid<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just for oranges. This citrus fruit derivative, part of the alpha hydroxyl acid family, can be found in thousands of personal care products\u2014including many in the natural line of care. Typically it\u2019s used to lower the pH balance. And there\u2019s no need to fret\u2014it\u2019s all good for your body, so there\u2019s no healthier alternative needed.<\/p>\n

Glycol<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not all glycol is created equal. It\u2019s a common ingredient in hair and personal care products, but there are different types. Says Pollock, \u201cThe more common are polyethylene glycol, often listed as PEG. These, again, are ethoxylated and are cancer-causing chemicals.\u201d It\u2019s used as a solvent to incorporate products into a formula, and they\u2019re extremely dangerous\u2014they\u2019re known carcinogens. So what can we use in their place? \u201cThe corn maize-derived solvent listed above,\u201d Pollock suggests.<\/p>\n

Amodimethicone<\/strong><\/p>\n

That smooth feeling you get when you run your hands through freshly conditioned hair? That\u2019s amodimethicone, a silicone-based polymer used to seal in moisture. But it comes with its own host of troubles.<\/p>\n

\u201cDimethicones and silicones are occlusive, meaning they don\u2019t allow something to breathe\u2014they seal in moisture and seal out everything else,\u201d Pollock notes. \u201cI avoid dimethicones and silicones when possible because I believe the scalp needs to breathe. Sealing the scalp, in my opinion, could lead to thinning of the hair. However, on the hair follicle, it can protect it from heat and provide shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what should you use instead? Look for natural oils like jojoba, argan, rose hip, sweet almond, olive oil or shea butter.<\/p>\n

Behentrimonium Chloride\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another type of salt, behentrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt used in shampoos, conditioners and hairstyling products as a preservative. But is it damaging to your body?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can have some level of irritation, just like any preservative can,\u201d Pollock explains. \u201cPreservatives are meant to kill bacteria and contaminants, so they have to have some level of aggressiveness. This alone is often not the sole preservative\u2014most formulators use a combination of preservatives, each with its own particular function or bacteria to attack. But I don\u2019t have a real problem with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re concerned, though, Pollock recommends looking for products with dehydroacetic acid and benzyl alcohol instead.<\/p>\n

Hydrolysed Soy Protein<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a soy-derived protein, including their amino acid compounds\u2014which are essential building blocks. Found in tons of different haircare products, hydrolysed soy protein is thought to nourish and strengthen the hair follicle. But whether it\u2019s problematic for your body or not depends on your constitution.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome have a problem with soy,\u201d Pollock admits. \u201cIt\u2019s processed, so those with soy allergies wouldn\u2019t necessarily have a problem. Some doctors swear by soy as the key to any diet or part of any healthy lifestyle, while some think you should avoid soy. In this form, I use it and don\u2019t have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d rather play it safe, Pollock recommends other hydrolyzed proteins\u2014like rice, vegetable or wheat\u2014as an alternative.<\/p>\n

Hydrolysed Collagen <\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the trick with collagen: It\u2019s a key component to our bodies, but the skin can\u2019t absorb it because the molecule is too large. So while it\u2019s not damaging to your body, any brand claiming to strengthen your hair\u2014like conditioners or hair masks\u2014is just giving you a load of marketing hype. Says Pollock, \u201cThe best bet is to get the body to synthesize it, using a peptide, vitamin C or other technology to get the body to synthesize collagen on its own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cetrimonium Chloride<\/strong><\/p>\n

Both shampoos and conditioners are the home for this quaternary ammonium compound, which is most often used as a preservative. It\u2019s about as sinister as any of the other preservatives listed above, but as Pollock says, \u201cAs a conditioning agent, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s needed\u2014or helps enough to even use it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever try reading the ingredient list on your shampoo bottle? It\u2019s like a Latin haiku. Beauty industry chemist and author<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[72,74,75],"class_list":["post-5975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hair-products","tag-chemicals","tag-shampoo","tag-toxins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5975\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universitypharmacy.ca\/shoponline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}