Chemical ingredients found in personal care products

Dipa Aryal
January 13, 2022
Others

Table of Contents

Personal care products are used to clean, beautify, improve attractiveness, or change the appearance of the human body. Cosmetics have been used for thousands of years. Cosmetics and personal care items, which range from antiperspirants, aromas, make-up, and shampoos to soaps, sunscreens, and toothpaste, play a vital role in our lives at all times.

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS	INGREDIENTS	USES	TOXICITY
Haircare Products
Hair Shampoos	Sodium Laureth Sulfate	surfactant, cleansing, and foaming agent	redness, skin rash, swelling, inflammation, itchiness, hives, in the skin cause hair frizz
	Coco Amido Propyl Betaine	surfactant, emulsifier, and thickening	eye pain, redness, itching, and irritation
	Disodium EDTA	Chelating agent	allergic reaction
	Capric Or Caplyric Triglyceride	helps to smooth the scalp	they are normally harmless in modest doses, they can still produce an allergic reaction in some people
	Sodium Chloride	Viscosity booster thickening agent	increase dryness in the scalp
	Citric Acid	Helps to maintain pH	in rare situations, cause allergies
	Lysine Hydrochloride	Help to maintain softness and shininess in skin	Irritation in skin
	Cocamide MEA	Cosurfactant	Skin irritation, allergic responses, and mild dermatitis
	Potassium sorbate	Preservative, antibacterial properties	some people can have an allergy
	GuarHydroxypropyltrimonium chloride	Conditioning agent for dry hair	It is not a skin irritant or sensitizer and safe to use
	Perfume	Fragrance	cause damage, irritation, or excessive dryness in hair

Hair Conditioner	Dimethiconol	anti-foaming agent, Conditioning agent for dry hair	It forms a barrier on your skin and can trap germs, perspiration, and dead skin cells in your pores, promoting irritation and acne.
	Cetearyl Alcohol	Emulsifier/ helps to make a product thicker	safe and nontoxic for use on the skin and hair
	Cetrimonium Chloride	Smooth hair strands to reduce frizz	allergies and immunotoxicity category.
	Hydroxyethylcellulose	gelling and thickening	May cause inflammation in case of inhalation and skin irritation
	Propylene Glycol	help to soften the hair	cause dehydration in hair
	Disodium Edetate	Chelating agent	allergic reaction

Hair oil	Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride	Smoothing agent	they are normally harmless in modest doses, they can still produce an allergic reaction in some people
	Isopropyl Myristate	soften and smooth hair	You should avoid it if you have naturally oily scalp or greasy hair.
	Dimithoconol	anti-foaming agent, Conditioning agent for dry hair	It forms a barrier on your skin and can trap germs, perspiration, and dead skin cells in your pores, promoting irritation and acne.
	Cyclopentasiloxane	Detangle your hair, prevent frizz, and reduce breakage	They are non-toxic and will not damage or destroy our hair
Skincare Products
Facewash	Cocoamidopropyl Betaine	foaming and cleansing agent	eye pain, redness, itching, and irritation
	Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate	foaming and cleansing agent	non-irritating and does not cause hair loss
	Potassium sorbate	Preservative, antibacterial properties	some people can have an allergy
	Disodium EDTA	Chelating agent	allergic reaction
	Citric acid	Helps to maintain pH	in rare situations, cause allergies
	Salicylic acid	reduced acne and keeping pores clear	dryness, itching, and irritation
	Cetyl Alcohol	protect against dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin, and mild skin irritation	burning, stinging, redness, or irritation may occur.

Face Moisturizer	1,3 Butylene glycol	Good conditioning properties	little probabilities of allergic reaction although it is considered safe
	Hydrogenated polyisobutene	Waterproofing agent	Safe for use
	Ammonium acrylolyldimethyl taurate	emulsion stabilizer	It is safe for use even for sensitive skin
	Polyglyceryl methacrylate	keep the skin hydrated	little probabilities of allergic reaction although it is considered safe
	Sodium hydroxide	maintain the product’s pH	a little amount is safe but a large concentration can cause burns, hives, and pores in the skin
	Hydroxyethyl Urea	moisturizing properties	Though it’s mostly harmless, sometimes it can induce skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
	Sodium Hyaluronate	increasing moisture in the skin	It is quite safe for your skin, but if it irritates or reddens your skin, you should stop using it.

Sun protection	Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate	UV absorber	There isn’t a lot of evidence that this compound is dangerous to humans.
	Sodium Phenylbenzimidazol sulfonate	UV absorber	No reports of side effects but some people feel allergy
	Cyclopentasiloxane	Protect moisture of the skin	It is safe for all type of skin
	Magnesium sulfate	help for detoxification and reduce inflammation	you may feel some allergic reaction
	Magnesium stearate	Absorbs oil	small amounts are safe to use
	Capric triglyceride	Smoothing agent	they are normally harmless in modest doses, they can still produce an allergic reaction in some people
	Propylparaben	preservative	It is safe when used minimum concentration

Face Toner	Sodium PCA	provides outstanding complexion benefits	safe for use in cosmetics
	Sodium metabisulfite	antioxidant agent	If we used maximum concentration some organs may be affected by sulfite exposure.
	Disodium EDTA	Chelating agent	allergic reaction
	Lactic acid	increases cell turnover and reduces dullness by breaking down the proteins that bind our skin cells together.	Lactic acid might make your skin more sensitive to sunburn.
	Glycolic acid	exfoliating ingredient	mild skin irritation, hyperpigmentation or even severe burns
	Potassium sorbate	Preservative, antibacterial properties	some people feel an allergic reaction

Body lotion/ Moisturizer	Isopropyl myristate	great anti-caking agent and binder	Although it is typically harmless, certain persons with skin issues may need to avoid using products that contain it.
	steric acid	emulsifying agent	safe ingredient for any skin type
	Triethanol amine	Balance pH level	safe for skin
	Glyceryl stearate	emollient	safe to use small concentration
	Butyl methoxy benzoyl methane	sun protection factor	Causes skin rashes, allergic reactions and inflammation
	Benzyl salicylate	It provides a mild, sweet flowery or musky fragrance	small amounts are safe to use
	propylparaben	preservative	Low concentration is safe as used in cosmetics
	isopropyl titanium tristearate	emulsifying agent	no adverse sideeffect have been found

Methylparaben may cause cancerous skin damage.

FAQs/MCQs:

Is sulfate shampoos are safe to use?

If your hair is highly prone to frizz, you might avoid using sulfate shampoo because Sulfate causes irritants, inflammation, dryness in the skin but it is not a carcinogen.