THE DANGERS OF SILICONE

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THE DANGERS OF SILICONE

Cosmetics and hair care products are part of our daily routine and we all have our personal favourites in it. But recently we are all hearing a lot about paraben-free, sulphate-free and silicone-free products and most cosmetic brands are resigning from using the very substances in their products and trying to replace them with their natural equivalents. Why are these controversial substances slowly, yet gradually disappearing from hair care products?

Parabens: Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben are all different types of parabens! It is used as a preservative in cos

Parabens: Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben are all different types of parabens! It is used as a preservative in cosmetic products and increases their shelf life. Conditioners, body lotions, face creams and even shampoos all contain them. However, the cons of parabens just aren’t worth the risk.

or all the good that silicones do, though, there are some major drawbacks for your hair health. As most cosmetic silicones aren’t water soluble, they build up on hair over time, weighing it down. This insoluble barrier doesn’t let enough hydration into the hair shaft, meaning that while your strands may look frizz-free on the outside, they’ll still be parched, brittle and prone to breakage underneath all that product. Silicones also penetrate the epidermis and irritate the skin.

Sulfates: sulfates cause the soapy lather that you get when you shampoo your hair or take a bath with body wash. Sulfates are, in essence, cleansing agents that act as surfactants to your skin and hair. This means that they attract dirt, oil, and grime from your skin and hair, which is then disposed of down your shower drain when you rinse it off.

But unfortunately, these harsh chemicals don’t just strip the dirt from your skin and hair, but also all of the natural oils, moisturizers too. Sulphates are also synthetic detergents which have adverse, highly irritating influence on skin. To clarify, they can cause itching, acne, spots, eczema and dehydration. It also happens that they are combined with dioxane, known for its cancerogenic features. These detergents are recognized as comedogenic and their particles penetrate through skin getting inside organisms. They can cause a number of problems for your hair including drying, irritating your scalp, fading your color, and even hair loss.

How to avoid them? Parabens: The sad truth is that it isn’t possible to exclude parabens form hair and body care completely. However, it’s worth using them in scarce amounts, or to reach for the products that contain the least harmful type of paraben, which is Methylparaben. Instead of applying synthetic hair masks, it’s better to choose oils; a good solution here is offered by precisely developed oil blends featuring natural and high quality ingredients. Again, it’s wise to reach for paraben-free shampoos, yet you don’t have to follow this rule while selecting a hair conditioner since this cosmetic is applied to the strands only. Paraben alternatives in cosmetics for longer shelf life are vitamin c, vitamin E, essential oils and coconut oil.

Silicones: The best solution is to resign from using the most damaging ones, which have the tendency to irritate scalp along with the delicate ear skin area. This group of silicones is called heavy silicones and includes: Simethicone, Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone.

Sulphates: It’s suggested to check the list of ingredients of a particular product before buying it1 and try using milder sulphates like Sodium Laureth Sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulphate. No matter what, chemicals are chemicals. Everything is best used in moderation so it’s always a good idea to switch up your beauty routine and rotate between different products.