DR. UGro Gashee Ingredients

PARABENS

Look for: methylparabens, isopropylparaben, propylparabens, isobutylparaben, butylparabens, and ethylparabens                                                                                                                     

Found in : Used as preservatives in foods, pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals and cosmetics such as makeup, body washes, deodorants, shampoos and facial cleansers                           

Concerns: Exert estrogen like effect and cause and accelerate breast cancer, disruption of fertility and birth outcomes. It can cause skin sensitivities and ecological damage such as coral killing.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

Look for: Sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, sodium lauryl sulfate, SLS, Sodium laureth sulfate, SLES, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ALS, and sodium pareth sulfate

Found in: Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products and cleaning products such as shampoo, body wash, cleansers, mascara and acne treatments where they primarily function as surfactants (Lathering agents)                                                                                             

Concerns: By removing lipids from the skin barrier, they cause skin, lung, and eye irritants. Some products containing SLS are sometimes contaminated with the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of its production process.

PHTHALATES

Look for: phthalate, diethylphthalate, DEP, dibutylphthalate, DBP, dimethylphthalate, Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, DEHP and fragrance.                                                                      

Found in: Used as platicizers in cosmetics, personal care products where malleability and stickiness is desired – eg deodorants and hair sprays) , food, insecticides, medical tubing and fluid bags, building materials.                                                                                           

Concerns: Although the FDA has not found helath risks posed by phthalates in cosmetic products, there are reports of their implication disrupting the endocrine system, breast cancer risk and birth defects

FORMALDEHYDE and FORMALDEHYDE RELEASING PRESERVATIVES

Look for: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal.                                                                                                        

Found in: Mainly used as preservatives they are found in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals such as eyelash glues, hair gels, hair styling products, baby shampoo, soap, color cosmetics and in particularly high quantity in nail polish.                                                                  

Concerns: They are carcinogenic and mutagenic (Can cause birth defects). They are a very common cause of skin irritation and allergic reactions

SYNTHETIC COLORS

Look for: FD & C (Food drugs & cosmetics) or D & C (Drugs and cosmetics). These are colors derived from Petroleum refinery byproducts.                                                                          

Found in: cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products such as toothpastes and mouthwash                                                                                                                         

Concerns: Many have been linked to skin irritation and allergies, nervous system toxicity / ADHD and cancer. They can also contain heavy metals which can penetrate into the skin. They are banned in the EU from cosmetics and heavily regulated in the USA

MINERAL OIL / PETROLATUM

Look for: Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin Oil, Mineral Oil                                     

Found in: cosmetics and personal care products, from bath oils, hair care products, to skin care cosmetics. They are also used as skin barrier agents and solvents                                

Concerns: They generally are comedogenic and may cause premature skin aging. Alarmingly, they are subject to contamination by polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are cancer causing. The term White Petrolatum is reserved for highly refined petrolatum that is supposed to be free of PAHs.

POLYETHYLENES / PEG

Look for: Polyethylene, polyethylene glycol (PEG)                                                               

Found in:  Cosmetics and personal care products, including as a binder, thickener, film-forming agent, emulsion stabilizer, and abrasive. Commonly found in scrubs, body wash, toothpaste, makeup and skin cleansers.                                                                                        

Concerns: They could be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which may be carcinogenic with skin penetrating capability

PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG)

Look for: Propylene glycol, PG, 1,2-propanediol.                                                                    

Found in: Cosmetics, foods and pharmaceuticals as a solvent, humectant, thinner and fragrance ingredient. It can be found in moisturizers, sunscreen, makeup products, conditioners, shampoo and hair sprays.                                                                                                    

Concerns: Skin irritant and penetrator. May be implicated in liver, kidney and nervous system abnormalities.

TRICLOSAN

Look for: Triclosan, Triclocarban                                                                                          

Found in: Used as a preservative because of its antimicrobial abilities. Found in antibacterial soaps and detergents, toothpaste and tooth whitening products, antiperspirants/deodorants, shaving products, creams, color cosmetics                                                                         

Concerns: An endocrine disruptor — It reduces thyroid function and enhances estradiol and testosterone activity as well as estrogen or testosterone responsive cancer cells. It is a skin irritant and a disruptor of ecosystems by its environmental toxicity.

BHA & BHT

Look for: Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)           

Found in: As synthetic antioxidants, they are used as preservatives in foods and a variety of personal care products including Lip products, hair products, makeup, sunscreen, antiperspirant/deodorant, fragrance and creams

Concerns: Include endocrine disruption and organ-system toxicity. They have caused cancer of the liver in animal tests.

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES:

Fragrances are a blend of chemicals that gives each perfume or cologne its unique scent. The scent chemicals are often not listed since they are considered trade secrets                         

Look for: Fragrance or perfume or any one of the scent chemicals. Also look for solvents, stabilizers, UV –absorbers, preservatives and dyes which are frequently associated with the scent chemicals and have in themselves sources for concern                                                              

Found in cosmetics, perfumes and pharmaceuticals                                                             

Concerns: According to the International Fragrance Association, over 3000 scent chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects including sensitivities, allergies, reproductive toxicities and cancer

PHENOXYETHANOL

Look for: Phenoxyethanol, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Euxyl K® 400 (mixture of Phenoxyethanol and 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane), PhE 

Found in: Many natural and synthetic products where it is used as a preservative replacement for parabens or as a stabilizer in perfumes and soaps. However, it is synthetic cosmetics frequently found in pharmaceuticals, makeup, fragrances and personal care products including toothpastes                                                               

Concerns: skin reactions that vary in severity from minor to anaphylaxis. It has been linked to acute nervous system toxicities in infants. 

NO TOXIC CHEMICALS

To view a comprehensive list of harsh chemicals and processes avoided in the making Dr.UGro Gashee visit our list of disallowed and allowed ingredients and processes page