Somethings are just not made for the Face. Whether they be harsh chemicals or natural ingredients, here are some you should most likely avoid and why.
1. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
I touched on this briefly in my post about looking after your skin's microbiome. SLS is a foaming agent that is found in anything that foams. Face wash, toothpaste, hand soaps, body wash etc. Most importantly - when you apply this to your face it removes acidity from the face and creates an alkaline environment that allows bad bacteria to thrive. This can result in red and inflamed Skin. Also of note - if your toothpaste has SLS in it and you let that foam fall down your chin - you may be adding to the problem!
2. Parabens
Parabens are a preservative used in products to extend their shelf life and can also appear in the ingredients list as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben. Studies have shown that parabens are pseudoestrogens AKA they mimic the hormone estrogen and it has been hypothesised that they may play a role in the development of breast cancer. Although evidence is inconclusive many companies have found natural ways of preserving their products so avoiding parabens can be pretty easy.
3. PEGs or Polyethylene glycol
PEGs can come in a range of different varieties based on what they are mixed with. In general they are microscopic plastic beads that are mixed with fatty acids to act as stabilisers, emollients, binders or cleansers in skin care. Polyethylene often contains ethylene oxide which is a known carcinogen. Unfortunately due to their plastic nature PEGs don't break down and are often washed down the drain and into our waterways.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has become a staple natural skincare ingredient in many households and whilst it may be ok to moisture the skin on your body, it isn't necessarily the best for your face. When you use coconut oil on your face, its high fat content blocks the hair follicle openings. Underneath the hair follicle lie our oil producing or Sebaceous Glands. Due to the thickness of coconut oil, it essentially sits on top of the skin and is never truly absorbed. Instead it blocks the pores and traps in bacteria and dead skin cells which causes the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum in a last ditch attempt to get out and hey presto, up pops some pimples!
5. Alcohol
Whilst alcohol can be a useful disinfectant and may be good at sterilising skin riddled with bacteria, it also dries the heck out of our skin. It gives us that 'tight' feeling associated with being clean, due to its ability to strip all the oils off the skin, but this isn't a good thing. Using alcohol on oily prone skin will definitely decrease the amount of oil on your face for some time, but ultimately the face is an oily environment and the sebaceous glands will start reproducing that oil you slicked away, two fold. Over time alcohol also begins to destroy the skins surface.
About the Author
Chloe is a Sydney based university trained Naturopath specialising in skin and reproductive health. When treating the skin she works with her clients using an inside out approach looking into what is causing the skin issue and helps treat this using herbal and nutritional medicine. She is also a self confessed skincare junkie and is never not trying or research new and emerging products to recommend to her clients during the healing process. She has a passion for empowering her client to regain control over their health to help bring back their best self. Her approach focuses on incorporating a nutritious diet and lifestyle changes along with nutritional and herbal medicine. To book an appointment with Chloe in Sydney click here.
