How Safe are Your Personal Care Products?

No matter what your beauty routine is, many people’s bathroom cabinets are overflowing with products used for hygienic or cosmetic purposes. The ingredients used in these personal care products are varied and include a wide array of chemicals that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Breathing in the VOCs in products we use every day can lead to serious health problems. Here is what you need to know to pick safer products and keep you and your family safe.

What Are VOCs?

VOCs, or chemicals that vaporize at room temperature and are released into the air, can be found in thousands of everyday products. Some VOCs are classified as toxic or hazardous by federal law, and many can be easily oxidized to form additional harmful pollutants, like ozone. Many personal care products release VOCs in low concentrations, but since VOCs are found in so many products, it’s easy for them to accumulate to high concentrations indoors. In fact, VOCs levels indoors are consistently higher than outdoor levels, sometimes up to ten times higher. Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, cause difficulty breathing and nausea. Prolonged exposure can damage the central nervous system and other organs and even cause cancer. For personal care products like moisturizers or anything applied on the face, the potential to inhale VOCs increases due to their use near the nose and mouth.

Additionally, studies have shown that scented products emit more than 100 VOCs. A single fragrance in a product can contain chemicals which, when they react with the air, form dangerous secondary pollutants, such as formaldehyde. Unfortunately, current regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission do not require manufacturers to list individual ingredients used to create fragrances on the label, so you may not even know that you are in danger. Products marketed as “green” and “natural” can also be misleading for this reason.

Personal Products with VOCs to Watch Out for:

• Benzene, a known carcinogen that can cause many health problems, can be found in dry shampoo, sunscreen, spray deodorant and hand sanitizer.
• Formaldehyde, an eye, skin and lung irritant, can be found in shampoo, conditioner, lotion, nail polish, baby wash and cosmetics.
• Methylene chloride exposure can cause acute central nervous system and respiratory distress and can be found in products like hair spray, cosmetics and spray deodorant.
• Isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, can be found in moisturizer, lotion, body cream, cosmetics and aftershave.
• Toluene, which is used in paint thinners and can cause permanent brain damage is also used in nail polish, eyelash glue and hair dye.
• Acetone, associated with headaches, lightheadedness and irritation to the eyes, nose throat and skin, is used in nail polish remover, hair dye, nail polish, skincare products and some cosmetics.
• Feminine hygiene products have been found to contain a wide range of VOCs including chloroform, benzene, terpene, and phthalates from added fragrances.

How to Reduce VOCs Exposure

It is hard to completely eliminate VOCs in your home, but making some changes can reduce exposure and minimize chances for dangerous health problems. When choosing a product, select ones with labels that indicate “low VOC’ or “VOC-free.” You should also take this time to read the ingredients to ensure that they are free of the chemicals listed above.

Many plant-based alternatives are now available, such as safer nail polish and nail polish removers that do not have acetone, toluene or other harmful ingredients. Avoiding products with added fragrance will reduce VOC exposure in the home. It is important to check the full ingredient label for “fragrance” as some unscented products contain fragrances to mask other odors. You should also try to limit aerosol products, like hairspray or spray deodorant as they often contain high levels of VOCs.

Proper ventilation whenever you are using products that may include VOCs can go a long way toward improving your indoor air quality. Open windows and add a fan to pull the indoor air outside to help reduce the concentration of VOCs indoors. Using an air cleaner can also help trap and remove VOCs from the air. Whenever you are not using a personal care product, be sure it is tightly sealed and stored correctly.

Learn more about reducing VOCs in your home.