What to Avoid in Skincare Products

Do you know what is in your skincare products?  Do you take the time to read the ingredient list on product labels?  Are you able to pronounce the ingredients?

We live in the Information Age.  We all have devices that are readily available to tell us whatever it is that we are seeking to find.  So there shouldn’t be any excuses to understanding what goes into the products you consume and put on your skin.  However, many of us trust companies to be honest about what they offer to their customers.  We trust that their formulations are offering products that are for our best interest and that everything used to create that product is listed.  But as you will learn below, this is not always the case.

There are many brands on the shelves and in e-commerce stores that ‘claim’ to offer ‘natural’ products, but hide behind their marketing by exploiting key ingredients that consist of only a very small percentage of the recipe.  Or worse, they exclude ingredients all together, that if published, would have deterred the consumer from purchasing in the first place.

Similar to nurturing a new born, you should care about feeding your skin the proper nutrition and use ingredients that are beneficial to the skin and that will help it function at its best. Natural and plant-based components are at the core of WENVIA’s wholesome recipes. 

As you shop for skincare products, be mindful of what’s listed in the ingredients.  Below is a list of ingredients (aka ‘junk’) that rest assured, will NEVER be found in any WENVIA skincare products:  

DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine) 

I know!  I can’t pronounce these either.  These liquids are clear, colourless, and have viscous properties that give off an ammonia-like odor.  Theses are found in many eye cosmetics, fragrances, hair products, and sunscreens. They are also usually present in foamy products like commercial face washes and soaps.

The foamy lather you’ll find in WENVIA Soap products is derived from the specially selected plant-oils used in the recipe and/or natural additives, like turbinado cane sugar.

ALUMINUM 

Aluminum is a toxic metal with estrogen-like side effects in the human body, which could alter the endocrine system's normal functioning.  A vast number of commercial personal skincare products contains this metal, particularly antiperspirant deodorants. 

WENVIA’s Natural Deodorant Cream was purposefully made without the use of aluminum or baking soda.  Made with only 7-simple ingredients, our natural deodorant cream provides the same protection and deodorizing properties and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that there isn’t any junk present.

MINERAL OIL 

This petroleum by-product covers the skin and clogs the pores like plastic.  Mineral oil is extremely hazardous to the human body as it interferes with the skin's ability to clear pollutants from the inside out.  This could cause the build up of acne and other skin conditions.  Commercial creams, lotions, ointments, and cosmetics are common examples of products that include this harmful ingredient.

DMDM HYDANTOIN & UREA (Imidazolidinyl) 

Here is another ingredient that is difficult to pronounce.  These synthetically created preservatives frequently emit formaldehyde which can cause allergic reactions, joint discomfort, headaches, and insomnia.  There are plenty of commercial skincare items, cosmetics, shampoos & conditioners, and detergents where these chemical preservatives are commonly found.  Rest assured, these ingredients will never be part of WENVIA’s formulations.

PHTHALATES
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable. These are chemicals that boost the flexibility and strength of plastics, yet aren't always listed among the product's ingredients. Phthalates are typically found in ingredient lists containing fragrance oils, and listed as "fragrance." Some companies offer ‘cleaner’ versions of fragrance oils which claim to be Phthalate-Free; however, why choose something that you know is man-made versus ingredients that are derived from natural plants?

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES
Anything synthetic should always be looked at with suspicion. You never know what you're getting into because they're made up of hundreds to thousands of different substances that aren't specified on the label. Synthetic fragrances are commonly found in commercial cosmetics and skincare items.

At WENVIA, we pride ourselves in ONLY using essential oils within our skincare products - only nature’s best.

PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
Another ingredient that is often used and difficult to pronounce, is a substance that has the potential to change and lower the skin's natural moisture factor. Its purpose is to thicken products and alter its melting point and is often found in cleansers to aid in dissolving oil and grease.

PARABENS (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl)
As stated with the CDC, parabens “…are man-made chemicals often used in small amounts as preservatives in cosmetics…”. The purpose of this chemical, is to slow down the growth of bacteria and mold in the product in order to increase its shelf-life. Many commercial body care products include the use of parabens, like: shampoos, conditioners, skin cleansers, deodorants, etc. Constant use of products with this chemical could cause a hormonal imbalance, which could impact the reproductive development, fertility and birth outcomes.

I hope you found this information enlightening and informative and that you’ll be encouraged to read and understand what’s on the labels of all skincare products that you purchase and use.

The benefit of choosing WENVIA is that this work is already done for you. We ensure that none of these harmful chemicals are present in the products that we offer.  We use simple ingredients so you know exactly what goes into every product and more importantly, onto your skin.