Do Chemical-Free Beauty Products Exist?

If you follow me on Twitter (charwbeauty), then you will know that I've decided to only purchase products that are 100% vegan and (hopefully) free from nasty chemicals. I have only just started my research into the chemicals hiding in our beauty products, but it's a start! 

Hair Products 

Starting with hair products, I picked up the Faith in Nature Fragrance Free shampoo and conditioner and the Dr Organic Coconut Oil shampoo and conditioner from Holland and Barrett. At the moment I'm using up my Superdrug Shampoo and Conditioner which are cruelty free and vegan, but unfortunately are not free from harmful chemicals. 

Superdrug Pro V Volume Shampoo with Arginine- list of ingredients: 

Aqua, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Glycerin, Laureth-4, Parfum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzophenone-4, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Citronellol, Formic Acid, Wheat Amino Acids, Magnesium Nitrate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, BHT, Hexylene Glycol, EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate.

There's a lot there right?!  

Now let's compare the Superdrug shampoo ingredient list to the Faith in Nature shampoo:

Aqua (Water), Ammonium laureth sulfate*, Maris sal (Sea salt), Cocamidopropyl betaine*, Glycerin*, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate,Citric acid*. 

Now as you can there are some ingredients that occur in both products, but there are a lot less harmful ingredients in the Faith in Nature shampoo. 

Skincare

Every day we use products that claim to help and protect our skin. But what's really lurking in our skincare routine? 

I was using the Soap and Glory 3-IN-1 DAILY VITAMIN C FACIAL WASH but switched to the Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Wash. Sounds great right? Well below is the ingredient list from S&G compared to the Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral wash.

Soap and Glory: 

Aqua (Water/Eau), Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Synthetic Wax, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Zinc Laurate, Limonene, Polyquaternium-7, Benzophenone-4, Amyl Cinnamal, Citric Acid, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citral, Methylisothiazolinone, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, CI 73360 (Red 30), CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 42090 (Blue 1), Maltodextrin.

Dr Organic: 

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Aqua, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Lauryl glucoside, Shea butteramidopropytrimonium chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 caprate, Maris sal (Dead sea salt), Ascophyllum nodosum extract, Fucus vesiculosus extract, Laminaria digitata extract, Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange) leaf oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis, Citrus nobilis (Mandarin) peel oil, Pinus sylvestris (Pine) needle oil, Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) flower/leaf oil, Mentha arvensis herb oil, Mentha spicata herb oil, Sodium phytate, Hydroxypropyl oxidized starch PG-trimonium chloride, Starch hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Sodium chloride, Lactic acid, Sodium lactate, Urea, Glycerin, Levulinic acid, Anisic acid, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Potassium sorbate, Ascorbic acid, Citric acid, Limonene, Linalool.

Even though the Dr Organic face wash has more ingredients, it doesn't contain any of the ingredients mentioned below. Whilst I feel this is very important, I do hope to find a face wash with a lot less ingredients! 

Other

Moving on to the controversial deodorant ingredient list now, I was very shocked that my Superdrug deodorant contained ingredients that cause breast cancer. Because of this I have since purchased a crystal deodorant stick from Faith in Nature. Let's compare.

Superdrug Cotton Fresh Less White Residue Deodorant:

Butane, Isobutane, Propane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Triethyl Citrate, Parfum, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate,

Polysorbate 20, Linalool, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Gossypium

Faith in Nature crystal push-up stick deodorant:

Ammonium alum

So as you can see, the Superdrug deodorant contains ingredients that are linked to breast cancer, disrupt hormones and skin irritation....No thank you. Where as the Faith in Nature deodorant has one ingredient that is deemed as 'safe', although I'm not 100% convinced.

Last but not least we have toothpaste. I recently started using the Dr Organic Aloe Vera Toothpaste and I absolutely love it. It's free SLS, parabens etc BUT it does contain fluoride which is disappointing. 

Let's compare a Colgate toothpaste ingredient list with the Dr Organic toothpaste. 

Colgate Total® Original Care ToothpasteAqua:

Glycerin

Hydrated Silica

PVM/MA Copolymer

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Cellulose Gum

Aroma

Sodium Hydroxide

Carrageenan

Sodium Flouride

Triclosan

Sodium Saccharin

Limonene

CI 77891

Contains: Sodium Fluoride (1450 ppm F¯)

Dr Organic Aloe Vera Toothpaste:

Glycerin, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Sorbitol, Hydrated silica, Aqua, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Mentha piperita (Peppermint) oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Menthol, Cetraria islandica (Icelandic moss) extract, Sodium monofluorophosphate, Escin (Horse chestnut), Xylitol, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Citric acid.

Contains Sodium monofluorophosphate (a source of fluoride at 1000ppm).