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EASY DIY ORGANIC MALE GROOMING RECIPES
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You keep your haircut sharp, you go to the gym, and you watch what you eat, and you use grooming products to stay looking fresh. But do you know the damage to your health hidden in your favourite products?
Chemicals found in most conventional men's products have been suspected of causing obesity and insulin resistance, and linked to sperm damage and other reproductive issues, such as infertility!
With over 10,500 chemicals being used in personal care products, we have referred to the Canadian David Suzuki Foundation to pull back the shower curtain on a handful of serious offenders.
THE DIRTY DOZEN
1. BHA and BHT Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by five digitsc P-phenylenediamine is used in some hair dyes; other colours are used in a variety of cosmetics. Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain.
3. DEA, cocamide DEA and lauramide DEA Used in some creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
4. Dibutyl phthalate Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quarternium-15 and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer.
6. Paraben, methylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may interfere with male reproductive functions.
7. Parfum Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics. Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife.
And it seems some of the real nasty surprises are in male grooming products in particular. The Suzuki *‘Survey of Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics’ (linked at the bottom of this page) reports synthetic musks used in fragrances are of particular concern from an ecological perspective. Measurable levels of synthetic musks are found in fish in the Great Lakes and the levels in sediment are increasing. Laboratory tests of human umbilical cord blood commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Working Group detected common synthetic musks (Galaxolide and/or Tonalide) in seven out of 10 newborns sampled.’
Frightening stuff! The good news is that DIY skincare is not rocket science plus natural organic alternatives can be just as effective without all the nasties. Our recipes are quick to make and inexpensive, and with just a few organic ingredients you can make a whole range of products.
Why not give it a go this weekend and see it as an investment in your health and your wallet, and have fun designing your signature scent!
