Cosmetics are supposed to take care of our skin and hair. However, some contain many toxic substances for health. So, how do you sort out the increasingly tempting marketing promises? Tips.

Difficult to navigate when most products display “natural”, “paraben-free”, “without controversial substance”, “dermatologically tested”. Manufacturers have fully understood this need we have to know what we are consuming, and they are riding this wave by giving it their all. They use advertising and marketing to make people believe that their products are better for health and for the environment. While it is true that most brands are making more and more efforts when it comes to the composition of their cosmetics, they are still too many to give in to the temptation of “cleanwashing”. What they do not specify, that the ingredients they removed have been replaced by others that are not necessarily better. So beware of promising formulations and instead focus on studying the list of ingredients.

Beyond having a good knowledge of toxic substances, it is necessary to know how to decipher the labels. Indeed, the ingredients are classified in order of quantity. In other words, the more an ingredient is placed at the top of the list, the more it is present in the product in large quantities. It is therefore essential to look at what are the first five ingredients on the list. Apps like Yuka or CleanBeauty are invaluable tools to help you spot harmful ingredients in a fraction of a second. Note that the words “tested under dermatological control” or “sensitive skin” do not absolutely guarantee the absence of allergens.

Beauty products contain many chemicals that are harmful to health. These include aluminum, phenoxyethanol, BHA or even BHT which are considered to be carcinogenic. If they are on the packaging, escape! Likewise, parabens (hidden under the names of butylparaben, propylparaben, sodium butylparaben, sodium propylparaben, potassium butylparaben, or potassium propylparaben) contain endocrine disruptors. Also watch out for substances such as p-phenylenediamine and benzophenone which are allergens.

Organic labeled products are a safe bet because they do not contain toxic products, since the specifications of organic labels prohibit them. The chemical ingredients are substituted by natural raw materials from organic farming and do not contain synthetic fragrances. As for mineral oils (mineral oil, paraffinum), made from petroleum derivatives, they are replaced by vegetable oils. Likewise, aluminum salts, suspected of being carcinogenic, are strictly prohibited in organic cosmetics.