Happy Monday!
Spross, here, coming at you with our first official Code Check post. What’s Code Check? You can check out our introduction blog to this amazing app here: Click Here To Read : We Are What We Eat
In short, Wolfgang and I started getting curious about what is really in the products that we use every single day. Advertisers always hook us by telling us that their products are good for us, that their products keep us healthy, happy, beautiful, keep our skin clear, our houses spotless, etc. Sound familiar?
Well, we wanted to see for ourselves what is really in those products that we buy and love. So we downloaded Code Check on our phones. It’s a very simple application where you scan your products barcode and it tells you in great detail exactly what is in it. You can also click on each ingredient and see in more detail just why that ingredient is good or bad for you. There are plenty of apps out there, but we just really like this one (and no, this is not a paid advertisement, we just really truly love this app!)
We so often buy things without looking at the ingredients list. Things that we eat, things that we put on our skin that is then absorbed into our bodies…without a single thought as to what is in it. And let’s face it, even when we do look at the ingredients list, who can really understand all that anyways? That’s where Code Check comes into play!
So, let’s get started! Today I am going to give you just a few examples of products that millions of people use everyday.
Let’s start with one that I used to use literally every day for years. I also know many people who use this product: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
As you can see from the screenshot that I took from the app, there are 8 ingredients with no concern, 1 with low concern, and 3 with high concern. Let’s dive into those 3, shall we?
The first three on the list: Cera Microcristallina (say that 5 times fast!), Paraffin and Paraffinum liquidum.
Plainly stated: Paraffin wax and paraffin oil
Functions in the product: binding in cosmetics, improves shelf-life and reduces transparency of cosmetics.
Problems: In terms of skin care, paraffin wax clogs the pores. That’s not really something we want in our skin care products, as we are usually aiming for the opposite. However, paraffin wax can also be highly toxic. When burned, paraffin wax can release toxic fumes which, over time, can be a cause of asthma and lung cancer. Sure, you aren’t burning the lotion first, but do you really want to put something on your skin that can be toxic at certain temperatures?
This product is not as bad as some others that we have found, however, knowing what’s really in it, even if it’s just 3 ingredients, I no longer want to put that on my skin. How do you feel about it?
Let’s look at another one: Axe Bodyspray (specifically “Excite”)
In the picture, once again, you can see the concerns. There are 4 low concern, 2 significant concern and 3 high concern. In this product, there are zero ingredients with no concern identified. Zero.
Starting with the high concerns:
Butylphenyl Methylpropional : a synthetic substance
Functions: used for perfume and aromatic raw materials
Problems: Potent allergen. When inhaled, it can affect people with contact allergies and asthmatics.
Isobutane:
Functions: Propellant (this is basically what generates the pressure in order for the bodyspray to “propel” out of the canister)
Problems: High health risk expected (Investigation pending). Irritation or allergy potential.
Polyaminopropyl Biguanide
Functions: Preservative (inhibits the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics)
Problems: Classified as a CMR2 substance since January 2015 (CMR2 = substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction)
The 2 with significant concern:
Propane and Butane: both propellants like mentioned in the Daily Lotion above.
High health risk and also a high allergen potential.
The other 4 with low concern are all allergy based. Could affect those with contact allergies and trigger asthmatic attacks.
These are just two products, but I would be willing to bet that there are many of you out there who use them, or products just like them. Unfortunately, many body and face lotions contain ingredients similar to the Aveeno lotion, many of them with even more concerns. And most bodysprays, hairsprays, etc, have very similar ingredients to those like in the Axe bodyspray.
Companies are making these products, many are being approved by boards of health, and then these products are advertised to the public as things that are good for us, things that we need. Many of these products are also very harmful to the environment, and with the masses in which they are produced, they are only contributing to and creating more problems.
If we are more aware of what we put in our bodies, put on our bodies, then we can truly be healthy and live life knowing that we are doing what is truly best for us and the world in which we live.
You can download the Code Check app today and start checking your everyday products! Want to download it? Click Here
Thanks for stopping by and reading our blog post. If you have anything to add, or want to share your thoughts, please comment in the comment section below.
*Please keep in mind that these products contain very low doses of the mentioned ingredients. Studies are based on long term use of these products*
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Love,
Spross
