Until recently, hormone disruptors in our beauty products were seen as no problem.

They either didn’t penetrate the skin barrier or were only problematic in large doses.

At least, that’s what everyone thought.

But recent declines in fertility rates have caused scientists to take a second glance at hormone disrupting chemicals.

… And the findings are significant.

If you’re on a journey to clean living, eliminating hormone disruptors matters.

Here’s how to do it.

 

What Are Hormone Disruptors?

Hormone disruptors (aka endocrine disruptors) are common everyday chemicals that either imitate or disrupt the hormones in your body. You can find hormone disruptors in everything from beauty products to food to furniture.

These chemicals are almost always unnecessary. They are used to take up space in body products, preserve ingredients, or extend the life of plastic products. Hormone disruptors are cheap to produce, so many companies prefer to use them over natural ingredients.

Hormone disruptors are so concerning because of their impact on the body. Our hormones aren’t just responsible for fertility but also play a key role in blood sugar regulation, metabolism, and energy levels. When we allow hormone disruption, we open ourselves up to hormonal issues like infertility, PCOS, and thyroid dysfunction.

 

How Can These Chemicals Impact Your Hormones?

The important thing to remember about hormones is that they balance each other out. Meaning, if you pump your body full of synthetic estrogen (commonly found in lotion products and lipstick), you may throw other hormones out of whack.

This is a common problem we notice with hormone disrupting chemicals. A woman may notice symptoms from low progesterone (headaches, hot flashes, and bloating), but the root cause could actually be estrogen-disrupting chemicals.

 

Hormone Disruptor Examples

The fine print. Here’s how to recognize hormone disruptors in everyday products.

 

BPA (And BPA Alternatives)

Most commonly found in plastic, Bisphenol A is linked to infertility and nervous system damage. This is why it’s never recommended to heat plastic in the microwave (since this can release BPA into your food).

Since BPA is so toxic, we recommend eliminating it as much as possible (which is good for the environment, too). And don’t get tricked by plastic products that claim to be “BPA free.” Usually, they contain chemical compounds that are just as harmful to your hormones. In beauty products, avoid plastic containers and plastic ingredients (like glitter).

 

Forever Chemicals (Or PFAS)

This isn’t just one ingredient; it’s a class of ingredients (aka “forever chemicals”). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in products to strengthen them or make them water resistant. You’ll find them in waterproof clothing, camping gear, and cookware.

These are possibly the most dangerous form of hormone disruptors. They’re linked to birth defects, high cholesterol, developmental issues, and even cancer.

 

Phthalates

Used in heavily scented products, phthalates preserve chemical fragrances. They are commonly airborne, since they’re found in light plastics and vinyl. You might experience a release of phthalates when unwrapping new furniture. But the most common cause of phthalate exposure is synthetic fragrances in beauty products.

 

Parabens

Possibly most famous for their toxic role in makeup and skincare, parabens are artificial preservatives. You’ll find them in heavily processed foods, most cosmetics, and shampoo.

If a product claims to be “paraben free” but has “fragrance” listed as one of the top ingredients, this may be a greenwashing tactic. Parabens are allowed under the fragrance (or parfum) label and don’t have to be disclosed. Products that are labeled as paraben free but don’t have natural ingredients likely contain hormone disruptors regardless.

 

Triclosan

A common antibacterial agent, you can find triclosan in hand soaps, toothpaste, body wash, and any antibacterial products. Triclosan has both estrogenic and androgenic properties (meaning, it can interfere with male and female reproductive hormones). It’s also been linked to cardiovascular issues, liver toxicity, and thyroid health.

 

5 Reasons Why Hormone Disruptors Don’t Belong in Your Beauty Products

To put it simply, there are better options. Here are our top five reasons for avoiding hormone disruptors in skincare and household products:

 

You Get Better Results with Clean Products

 

Clean ingredients nourish your skin instead of masking problems. Usually, you won’t need to use a natural product on a long-term basis in order to relieve eczema, skin irritation, or dryness. This is because clean ingredient products work to resolve the root cause issue.

 

Fertility Rates Are Rapidly Declining

… In both men and women.

For men, sperm counts have dropped by more than 50% in the last fifty years. This means, if trends continue, men could be infertile in as little as fifty years.

For women, fertility is also at a historic low (with about 11% of women experiencing infertility). Some studies suggest hormone disruptors are to blame. According to one study, hormone disruptors “are associated with adverse fertility outcomes such as reduced gestational age, weight, pregnancy gain, increased risk for miscarriage, and increased time to pregnancy in women.”

 

Hormone Disruptors Are Associated with Breast Cancer

One study showed a potential correlation between teens who used hormone disrupting skincare products and higher rates in breast cancer. While these findings aren’t definitively “proven” (yet), we find this information compelling enough to greatly reduce the amount of hormone disruptors for the next generation.

 

Hormone Disruptors Drive Chronic Illness

Estrogen levels rise and fall in the female body throughout the menstrual cycle. When they fall, the excess hormones are flushed through the liver. But toxins that mimic estrogen are also sent to the liver, which can overload it and cause long-term inflammation.

Anyone who has a chronic illness diagnosis (or has chronic illness in their family) should pay careful attention to the products they use. Adding synthetic estrogen or other chemicals to your daily routine can dramatically impact how you feel and your ability to manage the illness. A diagnosis associated with your thyroid, hormones, or metabolism is further reason to reduce toxic burden by eliminating hormone disruptors.

 

They Irritate Dry and Sensitive Skin

Since hormone disruptors are chemically produced, they tend to irritate dry and sensitive skin. Even in products that are marketed to “soothe” and “revive” dry skin, hidden chemical ingredients do more harm than good.

 

Hormone Disruptors in Makeup

Women are exposed to 160+ chemicals daily, and many of them come from makeup. A single makeup product can harbor between 15 and 50 different chemicals, including sneaky hormone disruptors. Here are some hormone disruptor examples and how to recognize them:

• Microplastics. Check for glitter, exfoliants, and polyethylene.

• Parabens. Methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben are some examples.

• Artificial fragrance. A cocktail of 3,000+ undisclosed chemicals.

• Formaldehyde. More commonly, formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, which combine  to form formaldehyde chemicals. Look for quaternium-15, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (SHMG), and DMDM hydantoin.

 

Hormone Disruptors in Skincare

Hormone disruptors are commonly used in skincare products to extend the shelf life of a product. Even products that are labeled “paraben free” can include other disruptive chemicals. In skincare, check your labels for these ingredients:

• Parabens. Methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben.

• Artificial fragrance. Labeled as “fragrance” or “parfum,” an umbrella term for 3,000+ undisclosed chemicals.

• Triclosan. Although it’s banned by the FDA, this ingredient is still common in antibacterial soaps and toothpaste.

• Phthalates. Like dimethyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, or benzyl butyl phthalate.

• Butylated hydroxyanisole. A potential hormone disruptor, labeled as “BHA” for short.

 

Beauty Products That Are Good for Your Hormones

You want makeup and skincare products you can trust to be good for your hormones.

So do we.

That’s why we created the cleanest makeup and skincare products available. Not only are they free of hormone disruptors, but they also work to nourish and support the skin barrier.