We’re commonly exposed to toxins and hormone-disrupting chemicals through our personal-care products, food, water, home environments, hobby supplies, work environments, and more. We must be aware of potential toxin exposures so we can reduce our exposure to them and not only keep hormones balanced, but also maintain radiant and glowing skin.
With the boom of the global population and advances in technology, our environmental exposure to toxins has increased as manufacturers create new toxic chemicals and put them into products. On top of that, many already exist in our air, water, food sources, and personal-care products, including our skin care products. These toxins include lead, mercury, arsenic, bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, and much more.
What’s scary is these exposures can trigger hormonal imbalances.
Our bodies were designed to eliminate harmful invaders. The skin, liver, kidneys, and lymphatic and digestive systems naturally work to protect us, but sometimes the influx of toxins is too great a burden to bear. Some toxins including lead and mercury can be stored by the body more easily than others. And when these levels increase, we can develop hormonal imbalances and experience accelerated aging – not to mention other serious issues.
How Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Impact Skin
One of the biggest accelerators of premature aging is oxidative damage. This occurs internally from exposure to toxins and unhealthy lifestyle choices such as eating processed foods and too much sugar. Beyond aging, oxidative damage plays a role in the development of significant health challenges.
In the skin, free radicals damage collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure. This damage results in sagging, dullness, and uneven tone. External exposure to pollutants in the air and skin care products and excess sun exposure can all trigger oxidative damage, accelerating premature aging.
Oxidative damage already happens naturally with age, so we don’t want to accelerate it! In the skin specifically, antioxidants decline as the years pass. Eating foods high in antioxidants is a simple way to help protect the body and the skin from the harmful effects of this process.
If you’re concerned that toxins are disrupting your skin and hormones, take this hormone quiz to find out if hormonal imbalances could be the root cause of your skin issues.
Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals in Skin Care
How many lipsticks, mascaras, eyeshadows, foundations, sunscreens, masks, cleansers, creams, and lotions are in your bathroom drawers and cabinets? According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of 12 personal-care products each day.
Even if you like your thorough skincare routine, be mindful that what you put on your skin can be absorbed into your body and may elevate the level of toxins and hormone-disrupting chemicals you’re already exposed to each day.
Ingredients found in popular skincare products have been shown to cause endocrine-disrupting effects, and some are even carcinogenic.
Unfortunately, the FDA in the United States does not require safety testing of skincare ingredients.
They’ve only banned 11 ingredients for use in personal-care products while the European Union has banned over 1,300 ingredients in personal-care products.
It’s ultimately up to you to take a closer look at what you’re putting on your body.
Here are three examples of potentially toxic ingredients in skin care products that may disrupt hormones.
Parabens: We know from research that parabens are absorbed through the skin and can be stored in our body’s tissues. Used in many personal-care products as preservatives, parabens have been detected in tissues and are known to have estrogen-mimicking effects. To identify parabens on skin care labels, look for propylparaben, benzylparaben, methylparaben, or butylparaben.
Fragrance: We all like to smell good. Unfortunately, fragrance is not a single ingredient even though it is listed that way – and fragrance can contain many hormone-disrupting chemicals. Instead of synthetic fragrances, choose pure essential oils such as ylang-ylang and bergamot.
Oxybenzone (benzophenone): Benzophenone-type UV filters are a common active ingredient in chemical sun protection products such as sunscreen and lip balms. Research suggests these have hormone-disrupting effects. Oxybenzone isn’t the only sunscreen ingredient linked with hormone-disrupting effects though. Steer clear of octinoxate, homosalate, and avobenzone. It’s safer to swap to mineral-based sunscreens. Protect your skin with a zinc oxide-based mineral.
There are many other toxic hormone-disrupting chemicals in skin care products. Avoiding all exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals is impossible in today’s modern world. But knowing the possible risks, why would we want to worsen the problem by using affected personal-care products when we have alternative choices?
Originally, I couldn’t find a natural skin care line on the market that met my criteria:
- Free of hormone-disrupting chemicals and other toxins
- Contained key nutrients in their pure, active form
- Perfectly pH balanced for healthy skin
That’s when I decided to create my own clean skin care line starting with The Daily Essentials 4-Step Skin Care System.
Switching your conventional beauty and skin care products to clean and natural products is a simple lifestyle change to help you avoid exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.
My new book, Natural Beauty Reset: The 7-Day Program to Harmonize Hormones and Restore Radiance, is all about how you can support your hormones and create balance all year long. Not only will you improve your skin, but you’ll improve your health at the same time with these tips. They support balance as each season changes so you can avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals and make positive changes.
When you read it, you’ll also uncover the real, overlooked causes of many other issues women face and use my step-by-step 7-day plan to eliminate frustrating issues without “Band-Aid” solutions that usually cause more harm than good.
Ready to get started? Order your copy now – it’s already a #1 best-seller on Amazon!
The Spa Dr.® Approach
At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on the skin and health care information and offer our guidance to support you on your journey.
We’re offering a free 9-part documentary series – Hormones, Health & Harmony to help you balance your hormones and restore radiance. Register HERE.
My next book, Natural Beauty Reset, provides an in-depth look at how you can nourish your body and support your health and hormones through the seasons. You can order my book now on Amazon.
The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.
If you are not already part of The Spa Dr.® community, please opt-in to receive our newsletter and join us on social media.
Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote harmonized hormones and natural beauty!
Reader Interactions