What is included. What should not be in detergents?

Cream is an integral part of any woman’s daily care routine. Nowadays there is such a huge number of creams on the cosmetic market that it can be quite difficult to understand their diversity.

Not all remedies are equally effective, and some of them can even bring relief. And of course, to understand how the cream will work, first of all, you need to pay attention to its composition.

The components of any facial product can be classified into several large groups.

We would like to remind you that All ingredients are listed on the label in descending order.. That is, if mineral oil is in the first or second place in the composition of your jar, then it makes up the majority of the cream.

The components written at the very end have minimal concentration and have almost no effect. That's why choose a cream whose active ingredients will be located in the middle or beginning of the composition.

The basis of any cream is water. The quality of the water is usually not specified.

But remember that good or luxury products are most often made on water from thermal springs, while products from budget brands are made at regular filtered water.

2nd place is usually occupied by moisturizing or nourishing components. This could be glycerin, which acts only on the surface of the epidermis, or silicones, which penetrate deeper into the pores. It is also possible to have mineral oil, the purpose of which is intensive nutrition. But a more suitable option would be various natural oils rather than petroleum products.

Quite often alcohol is added to the cream, since it is a good and at the same time cheap solvent. But there are safer solvent options.

Of course, each product contains emulsifiers and texture formers, which promote quick application of the cream and its easy penetration into the skin.

And of course, perhaps the most important thing in any tool is its active ingredients. They can be used hyaluronic acid, extracts of various plants, vitamins, natural oils, and much more.

Note: These substances should not be at the end of the composition to bring maximum benefit to your skin.

The difference between creams in composition depending on their purpose

Creams are divided into many different groups: day, night, moisturizing, nourishing, anti-aging and others.

How does their composition differ?

1. Day and night cream in terms of the content of certain components they almost do not differ from each other. But the texture of night cream is usually lighter; it does not contain silicones, which give the skin an instant glow and a well-groomed appearance. Substances that are incompatible with ultraviolet rays are added to the night cream.
2. Anti-aging product has more differences. It usually contains vitamins C and A, coenzyme Q10, and peptides. These substances smooth out small and even large wrinkles, restore elasticity to the skin and tighten the oval of the face.
3. Moisturizing and nourishing cream are also different from each other. A moisturizer contains ingredients that provide moisture to the skin as well as moisture-retaining ingredients. The most popular of them is hyaluronic acid. The consistency of the nourishing cream is thicker and is less absorbed. Its main part is vegetable and animal fats. In its composition you can often find fat-soluble vitamins and. Cosmetologists usually recommend using a moisturizing cream in summer and a nourishing cream in winter.
4. Product for problem skin, first of all, should contain antimicrobial, exfoliating components. These include salicylic and azelaic acid, copper and zinc, clay, sulfur, AHA acids, retinoids, triclosan. It is better to use such a product as prescribed by a doctor, so as not to harm yourself.
5. Massage cream for the face is made on the basis of natural oils, which, when massaged, penetrate into the deep layers of the dermis and act from the inside. In such a product you can often find extracts of various plants, ceramides and peptides, amino acids.
6. They went on sale a few years ago BB and CC creams. Their composition is no different from regular moisturizers, but they also contain tinting ingredients that create an even complexion and disguise imperfections.

What should be the composition of a face cream?

First of all, we would like to say that choosing a cream is a very individual matter, and what is ideal for one person will cause allergies in another. But there are still general recommendations for selection.

Attention : see if your cream contains mineral oil. It is a petroleum product and can clog pores, cause inflammation and provoke the formation of comedones. Mineral oil can only be used by girls with very dry skin and narrow pores. For those with oily and combination skin types, it is better to avoid this component.

A good face cream should not contain alcohol.. It causes allergies and irritation in sensitive skin, and also dries it out.

Should be avoided aluminum acetate. It is used as an astringent, but with prolonged use it can cause flaking, tightness and dryness.

Ingredients breakdown

In the table below we provide a breakdown of the components in face creams. When purchasing, you can use this list to avoid dangerous or unnecessary ingredients.

Useful video

Check out an expert's opinion on the ingredients in modern face creams.

Carefully read the composition of the cream before purchasing it. to make sure it meets all your requirements. Try to avoid aggressive and comedogenic components, and also be sure to pay attention to the ratio of nutrients. Do not forget, . And then your skin will delight you for many years to come!

This compound is a derivative of petroleum products. It is the second most popular component of moisturizers after water. This compound may cause eye and skin irritation. Propylene glycol is found in shaving products, baby oils, and shampoos. If the label contains Propylene Glycol, Proptylene Glycol, 1,2-Propanediol, we don’t take it!

2. Formaldehyde

It's formaldehyde. This is a common preservative. You can find it in nail polishes, shampoos, and whitening products. On the label it can be designated as 4 formaldehyde, formalin, formic aldehyde, oxomethane, oxymethylene. Toxic and carcinogenic. Never.

3. Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a popular ingredient in whitening cosmetics, hair lighteners, concealers, face washes and sunscreens with an SPF greater than 15. Hydroquinone reduces the production of melanin pigment in the skin. This leads to increased exposure to UVA and UVB rays in the deeper layers of the skin. You understand how dangerous this is. May appear on the label as 1,4-Benzenediol, 1,4-Dihydroxybenzene, P-Dioxybenzene, 4-Hydroxyphenol, P-Hydroxyphenol, 1,4 Benzenediol.

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4. Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate

These substances remove fat and salt from the skin. May cause irritation to the skin and eyes, but pose a real threat only after prolonged (more than an hour at a time) contact with the skin. So if your shampoo contains it, don’t panic, but in the future try to choose products that do not contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Anhydrous Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Irium, SLS, SLES, MSDS, ALES , A.L.S.

5. Paraben

Any cream contains substances whose names end in -paraben. For example, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben. These substances are used as preservatives. Parabens are considered safe, but recent research has confirmed that methylparaben may interact with UVB rays and accelerate skin aging. Be careful with him!

6. Aluminum acetate

Used in face creams as an astringent. It was originally developed to create waterproof fabrics... interesting analogy with leather, isn't it? With prolonged use, Aluminum Acetate causes peeling of the skin.

7. Bithionol

Used in creams as a bactericidal agent. May cause increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, itching and redness. If you have sensitive skin, then the mention of Bithionol on the label is a stop sign!

8. Triclosan

The latest achievement in antibacterial chemistry. Used in cleaning products and detergents for household needs, as well as in cosmetics. But scientists noticed that bacteria began to “learn” and form strains resistant to triclosan. Since regular soap cleanses the skin just as well as triclosan, let's not help bacteria prepare universal soldiers? Triclosan will not work!

9. Glycerin/Vaseline

Chemical compounds of fat and water in which fat is broken down into smaller components. Contrary to advertising, they are not a moisturizer, but cause dehydration and drying of the skin (at air humidity below 65-70%, they “pull” moisture from the deep layers of the skin, which increases the drying of the deep layers of the epidermis, making dry skin even drier). It is easy to identify them in the composition: Glycerin and Vaselin, there are no pseudonyms.

10. Dihydroxyacetone

This chemical compound is most often found in low-quality auto bronzers. It can worsen asthma. Particularly harmful for pregnant and lactating women. Hiding under the name Glycerone, 1,3-dihydroxypropanone-2. Armed and very dangerous.

11. Fluorocarbon

Commonly used in hairsprays under the name Fluorocarbons. Toxic to the respiratory tract.

12. Phenoxyethanol

Causes serious allergic reactions. Trade name: Arosol, Dowanol EPH, Phenyl Cellosolve, Phenoxethol, Phenoxetol and Phenonip.

13. Fluoride

For many years, this ingredient has been advertised as being good for teeth, strengthening enamel, and protecting against caries. It was introduced into toothpastes and recommended to children as “a component necessary during the development of permanent teeth.” But the National Toxicology Program, with the assistance of the US National Health Service, conducted studies that confirmed that fluoride, although one of the natural components of dental tissue, should not enter the body in the form of fluoride. Fluoride is needed in small quantities and can be absorbed in organic forms through food.

14. Talc

Terribly toxic. This is especially true for powder. Make sure yours is marked “Talc free”.

15. Butane and propane

Found in deodorant sprays, they are very harmful to both the skin and the respiratory tract. Do you need it?

The variety of cosmetics for body and hair care very often makes it difficult to make the right choice. We buy into bright and colorful advertising that promises our hair unprecedented strength, shine, accelerated growth and volume, but the paradox is that really good hair cosmetics are not advertised as zealously as budget shampoos, stuffed with all sorts of chemicals, parabens, and perfumes. , silicone, sulfates and other components harmful to hair health.

I wrote this article for quite a long time, while I was studying the compositions of various shampoos and conditioners for hair care. Today you will learn how to choose natural hair cosmetics by reading the ingredients and trusting truly reliable and trusted manufacturers.

What should not be in a good shampoo?

First, a little background. Previously, I did not pay much attention to the choice of shampoo; the main criterion for purchasing were the inscriptions: “for normal, oily or dry hair”, “easy combing”, etc. The composition of the product was a mystery to me and I became addicted to one shampoo, which I used for a month. Then my head began to itch terribly after using it, and small ulcers even began to appear. I changed the shampoo to a representative of a different brand, but the same story repeated itself with a new and new washing friend, and it didn’t feel funny to me. I had to delve deeper into this matter.

How to choose a shampoo based on its composition?

A good shampoo must have the following inscription: free of SLS, SLES, mineral oils, silicones and parabens. It is in this composition that if any component from the above is not indicated as missing, then the manufacturer is being cunning.

For example, this manufacturer writes on the packaging of its shampoo: no silicone, no parabens, but when we carefully study the composition, we see the inscription “Ammonium lautyl sulfate”. Sulfate in shampoo is a fairly inexpensive detergent that is absorbed into the scalp and is not completely harmless to health. That's it, you shouldn't buy this shampoo anymore.

It’s also not very good when the shampoo contains perfume in addition to sulfates. This is a flavoring or fragrance. Most often chemical, and only occasionally natural.

Determining that a shampoo contains parabens or silicone is also quite simple. Parabens are highly toxic substances that tend to accumulate in the body, which can lead to permanent allergies to something. Take a careful look at the composition, if you see a word with the ending “Paraben”, for example Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, then this means that the manufacturer has added parabens to the shampoo.

You can recognize silicone in shampoo by the end “thicone” (Amodimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Stearoxy Dimethicone, etc.), or “siloxane” (Polysiloxane, etc.).

All these chemical components can make your hair healthy only visually, but at the same time they will deplete your hair from the inside and saturate your scalp with substances that are harmful to your health.

It is worth noting that natural shampoos foam much less, while others only need a small amount of water to create a large and rich foam.

Among my favorite and trusted manufacturers of natural hair cosmetics, I should highlight: Korres, Natura Siberica, Planeta Organica, Fresh Line, La Roshe. Korres shampoo does not cause any irritation to my scalp, it foams very poorly and it is absolutely impossible to comb my hair after using it. It should only be used in conjunction with a conditioning balm from the same manufacturer. Natura Siberica is a Russian organic cosmetics that is very affordable and I love it, but it is not suitable for everyone. The situation is the same with Planeta Organica shampoo.

cosmetologist

Paying attention to the small print at the bottom of the jar, and not to its name, is not at all a sign of tediousness. We study the composition of cosmetics and find out which components should not be in it, and what will happen if they do end up in the list of ingredients. Our expert is Marina Vereshchatina, cosmetologist, specialist in natural and organic cosmetics, training manager of the Weleda brand.

SLS/ALS/SLES

Using these letters, you can calculate the most common surfactants in traditional cosmetics - surfactants that form abundant foam. They are obtained from petroleum products, and manufacturers respect them for being cheap.

The most common surfactant is SLS. As a fat solvent, it is present in most cleaning products - from baby shampoos to car products. And wherever it turns out to be, it exhibits its aggressive cleaning properties. The skin, as you know, is covered with a natural hydrolipid mantle, which is extremely important for the health of the epidermis: the mantle protects it from external irritants, affects elasticity and prevents water loss. If you use a cleanser with aggressive foaming agents, the hydrolipidic layer will be washed away, and that’s it - hello, a feeling of dryness and tightness, and sometimes manifestations of dermatitis. SLS and similar components worsen the condition of skin with atopic dermatitis and neurodermatitis.

Often, cleansers with cheap surfactants disrupt the water balance fatally, and the skin becomes sensitive

If there are synthetic surfactants in the shampoo, it will cleanse the scalp too actively, depriving it of its protective resources. To compensate for excessive dryness, the body will begin to produce sebum in unprecedented volumes, and then we are tormented by the question: why am I forced to wash my hair every day? But the greatest harm can be caused by SLS/ALS when present in toothpaste. Surfactants disrupt the microflora of the oral cavity, and this is the cause of sensitivity of the mucous membrane and aphthous stomatitis.

Mineral oil

It can be hidden under a dozen names depending on its state of aggregation - solid, liquid or gel. It seems impossible to us to remember all the variant names, so the main thing is not to forget that the words mineral and paraffin should not be in the composition. However, the complete list of variations of mineral oil names looks like this: mineral oil; paraffin oil; liquid paraffin; paraffinum liquidum; light liquid paraffin (paraffin liquidum); paraffinum perliquidum; oil mist; oil mist (mineral); mineral oil mist; mineral; mineral syrup, mineral oil hydrocarbon solvent (petroleum); mineral oil (saturated paraffin oil); petroleum; white mineral oil; white oil; white mineral oil mist; hydrocarbon oils; petroleum hydrocarbons; paraffinic; petroleum jelly and soft paraffin.

Mineral oil itself is a very cheap ingredient, but this does not prevent cosmetic brands from adding it to budget products and luxury products. Mineral oil is essentially what we pour into a car engine, the same substance that we are offered to care for, including children’s skin. How does the oil work? The synthetic covers the epidermis with an occlusive film and thus prevents the removal of metabolic products. This is where the metaphor “skin doesn’t breathe” makes sense.

Nevertheless, our expert admits the presence of this component in some products. But we are not talking about daily care, but about a single application: for example, when mineral oil is part of a therapeutic ointment.

Aluminum salts

Aluminum chloride, Aluminum chlorohydrate - many have now learned the main active components of antiperspirants and are absolutely right. Poor antiperspirants have withstood so many attacks, and the claims against them are not groundless. They work using aluminum salts: they block sweating, clogging the sweat glands, which in itself is not physiological. After all, sweating helps remove waste and toxins from the body and provides thermoregulation.

Aluminum salts accumulate in the body, and this is especially inappropriate for people with diseases of the excretory system, liver, and kidneys. There are no conclusive studies yet regarding the carcinogenic effect of aluminum salts, and perhaps it is a matter of time. It’s not for nothing that, for example, in the USA, many antiperspirants are already made without these components.

Propylene glycol

Often found in synthetic cosmetics and antifreeze. This product of petrochemical synthesis makes the cell membrane more permeable, creates the effect of imaginary moisturizing, and displaces its own moisture from the skin. But there are also more severe side effects: contact dermatitis, increased dry skin with eczema and atopic dermatitis.

Preservatives

According to our expert, the most harmful of them is formaldehyde. The mere fact that it is used in embalming is already alarming. Formaldehyde is a cheap component, but with exceptional preservative properties. Hence the strong attachment to it among manufacturers of conventional cosmetics. This is what professionals call the most ordinary products, they are sold in regular stores, have a low cost and price on the shelf, the traditional composition is glycerin, lanolin, mineral oil, etc. Fortunately, in recent years, formaldehyde in its pure form is used less and less, the reason – its toxicity.

However, some substances are capable of releasing it under certain storage and transportation conditions. Therefore, after you have made sure that the product does not contain parabens, once again look through the composition for formaldehyde releasers. In cosmetics, these toxic substances appear under the names: 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, DMDM ​​Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Imidazolidinyl urea .

Do you scrutinize labels like so many moms and dads around the world do, or do you just trust the big name manufacturers? If the latter option is closer to you, remember that this approach does not at all guarantee that your child will receive truly healthy products. Numerous revelations in the press indicate that often even the most famous manufacturers, whose brand is seemingly synonymous with quality, sin by adding ingredients to baby food that are not the healthiest for babies.

Of course, you won’t find arsenic in their products, but starch is easily harmful not only to children, but also to adults. Flavorings and artificial colors can also often be found in products for children. Hence the conclusion - the salvation of drowning people is the work of their hands. This means that when you go to the store in search of a treat that is healthy for your child, stock up on a magnifying glass to study the label and useful information to read it correctly. We will now provide you with the information you need.

What comes first?

First of all, you should pay attention to the sequence of listing the ingredients included in a particular food product. Ideally, the fewer, the better. For example, in fruit puree there should be a maximum of two of them: the fruit puree itself and, say, vitamin C, which in this case is a natural preservative. It’s good if this is where you stop reading the label. Alas, this is not always the case. Manufacturers often also include the starch we have already mentioned in baby food - an ingredient that may not be the most harmful, but certainly not the most healthy.

If we are not talking about baby food, but about products intended for children over three years old, then even studying the label can take a lot of time. In this case, we remember the main rule - the more a product contains a particular ingredient, the higher it is on the list. And, accordingly, vice versa.

White death?

Ideally, of course, there should be no sugar at all in products intended for children. The fact is that the body of a little man has its own characteristics. For example, children's tooth enamel is more susceptible to caries, so children's teeth are destroyed much faster than adult teeth. Caries can destroy them to the ground in just a few months, and this is fraught with serious problems, both with digestion and diction.

All types of carbonated drinks have a particularly destructive effect. Juices (not nectars!) are much better. By the way, freshly squeezed juices prepared at home are not as healthy as many people think. The fact is that, having a high concentration, they have a rather aggressive effect on the stomach. So, a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice, depending on the type of fruit, can take up to a kilogram of fruit. Think for yourself, is a child’s body capable of bearing such a load? At the same time, the composition of ready-made drinks is more balanced. Again, unless we are talking about cheap nectars generously “enriched” with sugar.

Some manufacturers cheat and add so-called hidden sugars to their products: sucrose, maltose, molasses, etc. Remember - all this is also sugar and therefore not very healthy.

But what if children have a known sweet tooth? It’s very simple - choose products with healthy sweeteners. Such as glucose and fructose. They are not just tasty, but also have a beneficial effect on the baby’s brain function, and this is so important. Is not it?

Chocolate – to be or not to be?

Of course there will be! But it is very important that children consume the right desserts. Good, high-quality chocolate will not only not harm a child, but will also help. It improves intestinal function, calms the nerves, promotes the production of the hormone of happiness, and also improves brain activity - it is no coincidence that parents all over the world always offer their child a slice of good chocolate before tests or exams. True, there are some peculiarities - while dark chocolate with a large number of cocoa beans in the composition is recommended for adults, then such a product is not very suitable for a child’s body. It can excite a child’s fragile nervous system, not to mention the fact that he is unlikely to enjoy its taste. That's why we recommend milk chocolate. Only one that contains exclusively natural ingredients and a large amount of milk. For example, children's products Simon Coll. This chocolate is created specifically for boys and girls and takes into account all the characteristics of a child’s body.

Its advantages, among other things, include its interesting shape. There are chocolate pencils, umbrellas, crayons and just bars in festive, original packaging, the pictures of which are very exciting to look at.

It is no secret that today food in municipal children's institutions leaves much to be desired. This is especially true for schools. That's why many moms and dads prefer to take care of their child's school snacks themselves. And here the ideal solution is Simon Coll milk chocolate, as well as “My Friends” biscuits from the Italian concern Bauli. Created in the shape of little animals, they are not only tasty and healthy, but also very entertaining. Every day, diversify your child’s diet with a new image. The advantages of Bauli biscuits include the fact that they do not contain flavorings, dyes or flavor enhancers.

Are preservatives as scary as they are said to be?

The inscription “no preservatives” is a balm for the soul of child-loving mothers and fathers. But in fact, a rare product can do without ingredients that extend its shelf life. There is no need to be afraid of this. The main thing to understand is that preservatives are different. For example, every housewife who makes preparations for the winter uses the most common of them - salt and vinegar. And if it is better not to give the latter to children, then completely excluding the former from the children’s diet will be problematic. The main thing is measure and time. So, children under one year old are usually given unsalted foods, and then this seasoning is gradually introduced into the diet. But again, remember the quantity! The less salt the better. This means that when listing ingredients, it should be at the very end of the list.

Another relatively safe preservative is citric and malic acid. But it’s really best to avoid artificial “extenders” of shelf life in products. These include sorbic and benzoic acids, as well as their salts.

Emulsifiers – benefit or harm?

Once again, we draw your attention to this aspect: everything depends on the age of the child. In the diet of children under one year old, special baby food usually predominates, the composition of which should be simple and affordable. Let's say, if this is vegetable puree, then it is better if, besides vegetables and water, there is nothing else there. But the older the child is, the more difficult it is to protect him from the surrounding variety of tastes. And, if everything is clear with such undeniably harmful products as soda and chips, then difficulties may arise with others. After all, even banal yogurt can include almost the entire periodic table in its composition. The hysteria in the press about this has led to the fact that parents are now terrified of even completely harmless, and even useful ingredients. One of these products unexpectedly included an emulsifier. Used to create a greasy texture in low-fat products, it creates an unpalatable feeling among consumers. And, by the way, it’s completely in vain. The fact is that the emulsifier also varies. For example, the most common is lecithin. It is believed that not only is it not harmful, it is also beneficial for human health.

This scary E

One of the most terrible ingredients for many people has the constant prefix E. As soon as you see it in the composition of products, your hand reaches out to the shelf to put the jar or box in its place. And again in vain. Because one and another are discord. For example, apple pectin, which is extremely healthy, is also designated by this letter. It is also included in the designation of vitamin C and such an antioxidant as vitamin E. So, in addition to the letter designation, look carefully at the numbers. Apple pectin is E440, vitamin C is E300, and vitamin E can be designated by a whole range of numbers from E306 to E309.

But products containing E labeled from 100 to 180 are best avoided. This is usually how dyes are designated, which have absolutely no place in baby food. In general, the fewer ingredients it contains, the better. At least there will be few problems with studying the label.

Trans fats

But they should not be included in products for children (and not only). It is not difficult to distinguish such products from all others - if the list of ingredients includes vegetable margarine, hydrogenated or saturated vegetable fat, cooking oil, spread or palm oil, it is better to immediately refuse to purchase such food for children.