The Most Toxic Soaps and Shampoos Well Worth Avoiding
by SixWise.com

When you wash your hair, body and hands, you do so with the intent of killing germs, removing dirt and leaving yourself feeling clean, refreshed and, of course, hygienic. Ironically, some of the very soaps and shampoos that we use to keep ourselves free of bacteria, dirt and other undesirables can be extremely toxic to our health.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently conducted a six-month investigation into more than 10,000 personal care product ingredients and found that, while we as consumers assume that our personal care products are safe, our assumptions are far too generous.

The vast majority--some 89 percent--of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products (products that you rub into your scalp and skin, spread onto your face and trust on your body) have never been evaluated for safety by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other institution. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that safety testing is a voluntary act and the testing that is done is controlled by the product manufacturers.

If that doesn't make you uneasy, consider these other startling findings uncovered by EWG's safety investigation into 7,500 personal care products (based on the product labels):

• 99.6 percent of the products contain one or more ingredients that have never been safety tested by the CIR. (CIR, a panel run and funded by the cosmetic industry, is supposed to "thoroughly review and assess the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics.")

• One of every 120 products contains ingredients classified as known or probable human carcinogens by the government.

• One-third of all products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens.

• 55 percent of all products contain "penetration enhancers," (including some that contain known or probable human carcinogens) which increase the product's ability to penetrate the skin and get into the bloodstream.

• The FDA has banned or restricted only nine personal care product ingredients. For comparison, the European Union has banned 450.

Here are the five most toxic bar soaps and shampoos, according to EWG (scores are based from 0-10, with 10 being the worst):

Five Most Toxic Bar Soaps

1. Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar, Oily Skin, Dry Skin and Original Formulas
Score: 8.1

Potential problems: One ingredient, triethanolamine, is a possible human carcinogen, and three other ingredients contain harmful additives linked to cancer or other health problems: sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, TEA-stearate and tocopherol. Further, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a penetration enhancer that could increase your exposure to the harmful ingredients. The soap also contains six ingredients that have not been assessed for safety by the CIR and one ingredient (fragrance) that could be an allergen.

Note: Each formula contains slightly different ingredients. Those listed are for the Oily Skin formula. For specifics on the other formulas, please visit the EWG's Skin Deep Report http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep/category.php?ewg_cat=Bar%20Soap.

2. Oilatum Cleansing Bar, Unscented
Score: 7.9

Potential problems: One ingredient, lecithin, may contain harmful impurities linked to cancer or other health problems, while four ingredients, lecithin, propylene glycol, tetrasodium EDTA and trisodium HEDTA are penetration enhancers. Propylene glycol poses risks of other health concerns, and 14 ingredients haven't been assessed for safety.

3. Got2B Spa Body, Full of Soap Soy & Oatmeal Loofah Cleansing Bar
Score: 7.5

Potential problems: One ingredient, triethanolamine, is a possible human carcinogen and may be linked to other health problems as well. Two ingredients, propylene glycol and sodium laureth sulfate, are penetration enhancers, 13 ingredients have not been assessed for safety, one ingredient (fragrance) could be an allergen, and two ingredients, propylene glycol and sodium stearate, may pose other health concerns.

4. Neova Cleansing Bar
Score: 7.3

Potential problems: Two ingredients, PEG-6 and sodium PCA, may contain harmful impurities linked to cancer or other health problems. PEG-6, specifically, may be linked to breast cancer. One ingredient, tetrasodium EDTA, is a penetration enhancer and 15 ingredients have not been safety tested.

5. Lever Deodorant Soap, Pure Rain Moisture Response
Score: 7.2

Potential problems: One ingredient, butylated hydroxytoluene, is a possible human carcinogen, and another ingredient, tocopheryl acetate, may be linked to cancer or other health problems. Two ingredients, propylene glycol and tetrasodium EDTA, are penetration enhancers, 13 ingredients have not been safety tested, fragrance may be an allergen and propylene glycol may also present other health concerns.

Five Most Toxic Shampoos

1. Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo, Stubborn Itch Control
Score: 9.3

Potential problems: One ingredient, coal tar, is a known or probable human carcinogen and two ingredients, cocamide DEA and PEG-55 propylene glycol oleate, may be linked to cancer or other health problems (PEG-55 propylene glycol oleate may be linked to breast cancer). Four ingredients, menthol, propylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate and tetrasodium EDTA, are penetration enhancers, and five ingredients have not been safety tested. The fragrance in this product may be an allergen, and four ingredients, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylene glycol and propylparaben, may pose additional health concerns.

2. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Score: 9.1

Potential problems: Three ingredients, butylated hydroxytoluene, hydrochloric acid and polyacrylic acid, are possible human carcinogens, and one ingredient, ketoconazole, is a pregnancy concern that is a known, suspected or possible reproductive toxin. Four ingredients, cocamide MEA, polyquaternium-7, quaternium-15 and sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, may be linked to cancer or other health problems, and three ingredients, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, sodium laureth sulfate and tetrasodium EDTA, are penetration enhancers. Seven ingredients have not been safety tested, the fragrance may be an allergen and cocamide MEA may pose additional health concerns.

3. Nioxin Bionutrient Protectives Cleanser, for Chemically Enhanced Hair
Score: 9.0

Potential problems: Six ingredients, acetamide MEA, cocamide MEA, cocamidopropyl betaine, diazolidinyl urea, PEG-150 distearate and tocopherol, may be linked to cancer or other health problems (PEG-150 distearate may be linked to breast cancer). Three ingredients, propylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate and tetrasodium EDTA, are penetration enhancers and 44 ingredients haven't been safety tested. Further, five ingredients, cocamide MEA, methylparaben, PEG-150 distearate, propylene glycol and propylparaben, may pose other potential health concerns.

4. American Crew Revitalizing Daily Moisture Shampoo, For Normal To Dry Hair
Score: 9.0

Potential problems: Four ingredients, cocamide DEA, cocamidopropyl betaine, polyquaternium-10 and polyquaternium-7, may contain harmful impurities linked to cancer or other health problems. Five ingredients, disodium EDTA, menthol, propylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate and tetrasodium EDTA, are penetration enhancers. Fifteen ingredients have not been safety tested, the fragrance may be an allergen, and four ingredients, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylene glycol and propylparaben, pose other health concerns.

5. Artec Blondes, Color Depositing Shampoo, Lemon Flower
Score: 8.9

Potential problems: Eight ingredients, cocamide DEA, cocamidopropyl betaine, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, lauramide DEA, octoxynol-1, polyquaternium-10 and polyquaternium-7, may contain harmful impurities linked to cancer or other health problems (octoxynol-1 may be linked to breast cancer). Two ingredients, disodium EDTA and propylene glycol, are penetration enhancers, 18 ingredients haven't been safety tested, the fragrance may be an allergen, and four ingredients, methylparaben, octoxynol-1, propylene glycol and propylparaben, may pose additional health concerns.

Because the personal care products we use daily expose us to a chemical cocktail with completely unknown health effects (some of us use as many as 25 different products containing more than 200 different chemical compounds daily!), and the products' manufacturers are not likely to start cleaning up their acts anytime soon, your best bet to protect your health is to seek out pure and safe personal care products. Sixwise.com has done the research for you and is happy to offer the following safe alternatives for your own personal care.

Safe Soap and Shampoo Alternatives

1. LavaErde Mineral Hair & Skin Cleansers, made with Rhassoul clay from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. These hair and skin cleansers are free of petrochemical derivatives, synthetic preservatives, surfactants and colors, and instead use exceptionally mild, biodegradable sudsing agents. They come in varieties for all skin and hair types:

• 100% Powder for All Skin & Hair Types
• Tangerine for those with Oil and Dandruff Problems
• Citrus for Sensitive Skin and Scalp
• With Patchouli, for All Hair Types

2. J.R. Liggetts Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo, made from an old New England recipe. This bar shampoo, available in four varieties and a sampler pack, is very gentle (perfect for sensitive skin & allergies) and contains no artificial colors, sodium laurel or laureth sulfate and no petroleum products.

3. Ecco Bella Holistic Remedies Hair & Scalp Intensive Therapy, an exclusive combination of essential oils including cedarwood, juniper, neem, organic herbs and green tea, all blended in a non-greasy Jojoba oil base. Perfect for itchy, flaky scalps, this treatment contains no talc, mineral oil, FD& C dyes, animal byproducts, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, or any harsh or unhealthy ingredients.

4. Vermont Soap Organics--luxurious, super mild handmade bar soaps. These bars are USDA Certified Organic to Food Standards, with no artificial colors, fragrances, preservatives or synthetic chemicals--including NO triclosan /index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=146. Here are a few of the Vermont Soap bar varieties:

• Butter Bar … best dry skin bar
• Citrus Sunrise … for all skin types
• Honey … gentle exfoliant for combination skin
• Oats & Aloe … unscented for dry sensitive skin
• Peppermint Magic … oily/combination skin

For more of the purest and truly natural soaps and other personal cleansing products on the market, see the new line of Personal Care Products we have found! And keep watching for more as we are busy analyzing more products in this area that make "natural" claims to recommend and offer ONLY those that really live up to those claims!

Recommended Reading

What is Rhassoul Clay & Why is It Ideal for Naturally Cleaning Skin & Hair?

PEG Compounds in Cosmetics: A Little-Known Danger to You

Source

Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Report