Face care – what cosmetic ingredients should you be careful about?

Paraffin, mineral oils and other petroleum-based ingredients (including petroleum jelly)

Paraffin is not allergenic, but it can cause a lot of damage to your skin. Why? It creates an impermeable protective layer and hinders its gas exchange. This can lead to inflammation and, for example, aggravate acne. Look for paraffins in the following names: Paraffin Oil, Parrafinum Liquidum, Synthetic Wax, Paraffin, Isoparaffin. Other petroleum derivatives and mineral oils are hidden under the names: Petrolatum / Vaseline, Isododecane, Isohexadecane, Mineral Oil, Cera Microcristallina, Ceresin, Isobutane, Isopropan, Ozokerite.

It is worth remembering about how to protect your skin without using paraffin. A protective layer on the skin can be created by natural vegetable oils.

Preservatives and parabens

If you are taking care of your face, you have certainly read on the packaging more than once that the product does not contain parabens or preservatives. Do you know what the truth is? They are found in cosmetics, but interchangeably! Products with parabens have preservatives and vice versa. Do you know why it is so important? Parabens are irritating. Look for them under the names: Butylparaben, Benzylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Preservatives that have a detrimental effect on our body and should not be on the list of ingredients are: Cetrimoniumbromide, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Chlorhexidine, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Butylcarbamosinyl TA, Iodicopramopy.

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors

These are substances with bactericidal properties and act as preservatives. They are used, for example, in nail and hair varnishes. They can cause allergies and irritate the respiratory tract.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Facial care is hardly associated with the famous SLS and SLES. Unfortunately, they are very common ingredients in body cleansing products, hair, and toothpaste. It is thanks to them that the products foam. Unfortunately, they can dry out the skin, irritate and cause allergic reactions. They also cause burning and itchy skin.