Did you know your skincare might be sabotaging your hormones? I learnt that endocrine disruptors can hide in everyday products. When it comes to trying to be healthy, we’re pretty clued up on what we’re putting into our bodies. We know that junk and processed food is bad for us, and anything that’s been sprayed with pesticides could probably do with a good rinse before we eat it. But do you know the real effects of what you’re putting on your body?
The Hidden Dangers of Skincare Products
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Our favourite everyday beauty products might be secretly packed with ingredients that are actually wreaking havoc with our hormones. Your endocrine system, i.e. the system in which all of your hormones are secreted into the blood, is affected by everyday toxins and pollutants. These pollutants trick our hormones into acting in different ways than they’re naturally supposed to behave and so they’re called ‘endocrine disruptors’.
These changes to your hormones can cause anything from irregular periods, hormonal breakouts and (in very extreme cases) birth defects, illnesses and cancer. Yikes. ‘We’re exposed to over 80,000 toxins, circulating in our environment every day,’ says nutritionist and hormonal health expert Angelique Panagos. ‘There is growing evidence that pesticides, bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the body’s carefully regulated hormonal system and they artificially increase the levels of hormones in the body, or impede their proper and essential breakdown.’
The Effects of Hormone Disruptors on Our Bodies
Of course, exposure to these everyday hormone disruptors aren’t going to cause our bodies any major harm in the short term. But, many endocrine disruptors can still be found in our every day products, and might want to be avoided or cut down on especially if you’re pregnant, or breastfeeding. ‘Almost anything can be a hormone disruptor,’ says wellness and skin health expert Marie Reynolds. ‘The water you drink, toothpaste, food with pesticides or preservatives, shampoo, skincare, make-up, hair dye, tooth fillings, pollution, plastics and medication are all, to some extent, endocrine disruptors.’
The Worst Offenders
But, short of living in a glass box, it can be hard to avoid them completely. And of course, some are worse than others. ‘If we’re looking at hardcore hormone disruptors then recreational drugs and smoking are definitely the worst offenders,’ says Marie. ‘If you think how many chemicals one cigarette alone contains, it’s not surprising that they’re so bad for us.’
Making Small Changes to Your Skincare Routine
But there are ways in which you can cut down on the every day ingredients that might affect our hormones, with just some small tweaks. ‘I personally avoid parabens and phthalates in skincare and use mineral make-up where possible. I eat organic and do not drink tap water at all. The thing is to not over obsess but try to eliminate what you can. Making small mindful changes every day will make a difference,’ says Marie.
How to Shop for Happy Hormones
So, how can you shop for hormone-friendly beauty products? Here are a few tips: Avoid parabens in beauty products, ditch plastic packaging where possible, and avoid synthetic fragrances. Look out for natural perfumes made from essential oils and botanical ingredients.
Where to Shop for Toxic-Free Beauty
If you’re unsure which beauty products are free from hormone disruptors, then a good place to start is by shopping at a ‘clean’ beauty retailer. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.com now ships to the UK and stocks tonnes of toxic-free beauty brands. PureSkinLab.com is a non-stop beauty shop stocking beauty, cleaning and home products that do not contain any harsh chemicals or parabens. FreePeople’s beauty and wellness section offers a great variety of natural beauty products and you can always rely on The Organic Pharmacy for an edited selection of organic beauty.
Our Favourite Hormone-Friendly Beauty Products
Here are some of our favourite hormone-friendly beauty products: Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Deodorant, bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick, Tata Harper Lip and Cheek Tint, Faith in Nature Grapefruit and Orange Body Wash, Marie Reynolds London Goji Mallow Cleanse, Hurraw Coconut Lip Balm, May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon, The Inkey List Rosehip Oil, The Organic Pharmacy Self Tan, RMS Beauty ‘UN’ Cover Up, We Are Paradoxx Hangover Hair Elixir, and Kjaer Weis Dazzling Bronzer Compact.
Conclusion
It’s time to take control of what we’re putting on our bodies and make some small changes to our skincare routines. By avoiding parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances, and opting for natural, hormone-friendly beauty products, we can reduce our exposure to endocrine disruptors and keep our hormones happy and healthy.
