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At Heartwood, you will find a selection of products that we can all feel good about using.
We basically stock products that we’re proud to sell because:
Here are a list of toxic ingredients and chemicals identified by the experts over at EWG, as harmful, despite their continued use in personal care products. Needless to say, AVOID these!
You can learn more about toxic and harmful ingredients at Safe Cosmetics Australia, reading the labels of your skincare products and researching ingredients that you can’t pronounce.
WHAT WE DON'T ALLOW
Use:
Stabilise cosmetic formulations
Harm:
Disrupt hormones
Harm the male reproductive system
Found in:
Some nappy creams, bath, hair and skin products
Use:
Preservative
Harm:
Carcinogen
In animal studies, BHA produces liver damage; causes stomach cancers such as papillomas and carcinomas; and interferes with normal reproductive system development and thyroid hormone levels
Found in:
Some food, food packaging and personal care products
Use:
Colorant and anti-dandruff
Harm:
Carcinogen
Found in:
Some specialty products such as dandruff and psoriasis shampoos
Use:
Preservative
Harm:
Carcinogen
Asthmagen
Neurotoxicant, meaning it can cause adverse effects to the nervous system
Found in:
Some hair straighteners that can release toxic fumes during their use; bath products like body wash, nail polish and synthetic eyelash glues
Use:
Preservatives that slowly form formaldehyde
Harm:
Allergens
Found in:
Some shampoos and liquid baby soaps
Use:
Skin brightening and lightening, reducing hyperpigmentation
Harm:
A skin-bleaching chemical that can cause a skin disease called ochronosis, which is characterised by blue-black lesions, and make cause tumours
Found in:
Some skin lightening and brightening products such as brightening serums, cleansers and moisturisers
Use:
Colourant
Harm:
Neurotoxicant, meaning it can cause adverse effects to the nervous system
Found in:
some black hair dyes, lipsticks and other coloured cosmetics
Use:
Preservatives and fragrance enhancers
Harm:
Allergen and neruotoxicants
Found in:
Some hair, face, body and cosmetic products
Use:
Nanoparticles are used to penetrate the skin and enhance product texture. They are not labelled on products as ingredients.
Harm:
Avoid sprays and powders containing these nanoparticles, which could be inhaled and enter the lungs and bloodstream.
Found in:
Anti-ageing products and treatments, sun creams
Use:
Sun cream agent and ultraviolet light absorber
Harm:
May disrupt hormone production
Irritant
Allergen
Found in:
Some sun creams
Use:
Preservatives and solubilisers
Harm:
May disrupt endocrine system and cause reproductive and developmental disorders
Found in:
Some hair, face, body and cosmetics products; and sun creams
Use:
Thickener, solvent, moisture carrier and penetration enhancer
Harm:
Frequently contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, probable carcinogens
Found in:
Some hair, skincare and cosmetics products such as moisturisers and foundations
Use:
Stabliser
Harm:
Petroleum-extracted cosmetics ingredients which may cause contact dermatitis and are often contaminated with cancer-causing impurities
Found in:
Some makeup, hair care and nail products
Use:
Solubiliser. a type of emulsifier; and plasticiser, promoting plasticity and flexibility
Harm:
Damage the male reproductive system
Pregnant women should avoid nail polish containing dibutyl phthalate
Everyone should avoid products with “fragrance,” which indicates a chemical mixture that may contain phthalates
Found in:
Some perfumes, hair sprays, soaps, shampoos, nail polish
Use:
Colourant, fragrance ingredient
Harm:
Irritant, allergen
May cause immune system dysfunction
May cause thyroid dysfunction
Found in:
Some hair colour and bleaching products, and hair styling products
Use:
Solvent – able to dissolve other substances
Harm:
Volatile petrochemical solvent, paint thinner and potent neurotoxicant
May impair breathing and causes nausea
A pregnant woman’s exposure to toluene vapours during pregnancy may impair foetal development
Found in:
Some nail polish and hair dye
Use:
Antibacterial and antimicrobial
Harm:
Linked to endocrine disruption; thyroid function and proper functioning of reproductive hormones.
Found in:
Some soaps, deodorant, moisturisers, dental care products
