Red Flag Skincare Ingredients

CONSISENCY IS KEY
While most people think to make goals regarding diet, exercise or work, adding skincare goals could benefit you as well. Want to keep your skincare routine on the up-and-up to have your skin looking its best? Think of your skincare routine as part of your self-care practice, and when we skip out on taking care of ourselves, we don’t feel our best either. Consistency on your skincare routine definitely matters, because one week of a skincare routine isn’t going to be enough to see results. Typically it takes one to three months of using your skincare products consistently before you’ll see results, so try not to give up too soon if you’re not seeing the results you want yet when trying new products.

CLEAN SKINCARE PRODUCTS
One of my skincare goals this year is to be better about reading the ingredients on skincare and makeup labels to make more informed decisions on what I buy and use on my skin. I’ve been eating a plant-based diet for over 10 years now, so I’ve become very used to reading food labels. However when it comes to skincare and makeup, I haven’t been as good about reading the ingredient labels as much. I already knew some, but this year I’ve aimed to be more intentional in my beauty shopping choices.

If you want to learn more about how to read skincare labels, check out our latest blog here. Now let’s get into more details about a few ingredients you’ll want to avoid and why.

PARABENS
This is a common in many skincare items, and it’s a known endocrine-disrupting chemical that mimics estrogen and can interfere with the reproductive system and can increase the risk of certain types of cancers. To learn more about the effects of parabens, check out this article from the EWG website. What to look for on the label: Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and others.

PHTHALATES
Another ingredient to avoid is phthalates, which is also an endocrine disruptor. It’s been linked to reduced sperm count for men, reproductive issues, and breast cancer. What to look for on the label: BPA Bisphenol-A. You’ll often find this ingredient in scented deodorants and skincare products.

SODIUM LAUREL SULFATE
Commonly listed as SLS or SLES, this ingredient is often found in foaming products like foaming skin cleansers and foaming hand soap. It’s a powerful skin, eye and lung irritant, so if you find it listed on an ingredient label, you may want to opt for something different instead.

FRAGRANCE/PARFUM
When you see parfum or fragrance listed as an ingredient, this should be a red flag. This is a “cluster ingredient” that can contain up to 4,000 different and potentially harmful chemicals/ingredients. Due to proprietary interests, they don’t have to disclose the specific ingredients. These can cause reproductive issues, allergic reactions and increase the risk of certain cancers.

DIAZOLIDINYL UREA
Diazolidinyl Urea is a formaldehyde releaser that has been linked to allergies and suppression/interference with the immune system.  To learn more about this no-no ingredient, check out this link on the EWG website.

LEAPING BUNNY: A COMPASSIONATE CHOICE FOR SHOPPING CRUELTY-FREE
More people are becoming mindful about the impact of their shopping choices and taking the time to learn more about what ingredients go into their products, how they’re sourced, and taking seeking out products that are cruelty-free. Reading the labels on their beauty and skincare products is an important place to start when you’re trying to make a conscious effort to use products that have good ingredients and don’t test on animals. Recently we shared our most exciting announcement yet: reHEMP is now officially Leaping Bunny Certified! To read more about what the Leaping Bunny program is and why you should choose products that are Leaping Bunny certified, we recently posted a two-part blog series on the topic. Start here for Leaping Bunny: A Compassionate Choice for Cruelty-Free Products, and then check out Part 2 of the blog series here.

SAVE 23% ON YOUR ORDER
To celebrate our Leaping Bunny certification, we are offering 23% off all orders at rehempit.com with promo code LEAPINGBUNNY23.

FREE ROSE QUARTZ CRYSTAL WITH PURCHASE
Every reHEMP order will receive a free rose quartz while supplies last, so place your order soon to add this popular crystal to your collection. Rose quartz is known as the crystal of unconditional love (including self-love) and promotes emotional healing and growth. Rose quartz connects to the heart chakra and is used to purify and open the heart. Its properties also include: compassion, forgiveness, beauty and stress reduction. Carry this with you throughout the day, use it in meditation, or wear it in a necklace when you need a boost of those energies in your life.