Expecting moms – stay away from cosmetic chemicals – As  the fetus  grow and change over nine months, mother reconsider some options for growing baby’s health. This includes foods, daily habits, exercises and also personal care products. Doctors also give suggestions and advice what to use not to use during precious pregnancy. Apart from these regular helpful advice like to stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, and eat a healthy and balanced diet, it is highly recommend that women green their personal care product routine.

A significant and growing body of research shows that pregnant women’s exposure to chemicals — particularly endocrine-disrupting compounds— can negatively affect normal development and may even increase their child’s risk for later life disease.

Starting in the ninth week of pregnancy and continuing on to birth (otherwise known as the fetal stage), hormones direct the development of the reproductive and endocrine systems (which regulate metabolism and other aspects of development) of a baby.  This is a very sensitive window of susceptibility, and it is important to make sure that both moms (and baby!) are extra careful to reduce and avoid exposure to possible endocrine disrupting compounds, reproductive and developmental toxicants, and carcinogens. Prenatal development is intimately tied with what the mother consumes. Similarly, personal care products and cosmetics may also reach a developing fetus, and it is important to look at what is in your makeup bag during pregnancy.

Products of Concern: Color cosmetics, shampoo, lipstick, conditioner, fragrance, nail polish, lotion, anti-aging products

Chemicals of Concern: Benzophenone, butylated compounds, carcinogens, fragrance, octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, polyacrylamide, p-phenylenediamine,

Where will you find these chemicals?

1. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate: Found in antiperspirant; check for aluminum chloride hexahydrate and aluminium chlorohydrate.
2. Beta hydroxy acids: Salicylic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, trethocanic acid and tropic acid.
3. Chemical sunscreens: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, oxtinoxate, menthyl anthranilate and oxtocrylene.
4. Diethanolamine (DEA): Found in hair and body products; stay clear of diethanolamine, oleamide DEA, lauramide DEA and cocamide DEA.
5. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): Found in spray self-tanners; could be harmful if inhaled.
6. Formaldehyde: Found in hair straightening treatments, nail polishes and eyelash glue; look for formaldehyde, quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM), hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol).
7. Hydroquinone: A lightening agent; abstain from hydroquinone, idrochinone and quinol/1-4 dihydroxy benzene/1-4 hydroxy benzene.
8. Parabens: Keep away from propyl, butyl, isopropyl, isobutyl and methyl parabens.
9. Phthalates: Found in products with synthetic fragrances and nail polishes; avoid diethyl and dibutyl especially.
10. Retinol: Vitamin A, retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, adapalene, tretinoin, tazarotene and isotretinoin.
11. Thioglycolic acid: Found in chemical hair removers; can also be labeled acetyl mercaptan, mercaptoacetate, mercaptoacetic acid and thiovanic acid.
12. Toluene: Found in nail polishes; skip methylbenzene, toluol and antisal

If you are expecting follow these safety tips:

• Simplify your beauty routine by reducing the number of products you use!
• Reduce or avoid nail treatments or hair dye during pregnancy.
• Be careful with lipstick or mineral makeup since they may contain traces of heavy metals like lead.
• Read labels closely and find safer alternatives using tools like the Think Dirty app and GoodGuide.
• Use natural homemade cosmetics, the ingredients of which you are aware.

See more at: http://www.safecosmetics.org

Image credit: Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)