However, not safe doesnt mean dangerous.
It means it cant be guaranteed to be safe.
So theres a gray area in between safe and dangerous.
Often, sources that claim these ingredients are unsafe are relying on grossly misinterpreted data.
Some of the things that are banned are radioactive materials and jet fuel, says Dr. Wong.
Theyre things that no non-super villain person would ever put into beauty products.
board-certified dermatologist in New York City
But those are in that gray area where arguably, they could go either way with the safety.
Its like a genuine difference of opinion between scientists.
An example of this is parabens.
Parabens are preservatives that some regard as endocrine disruptors.
Five types of parabens havebeen banned in the EU, while others are strictly regulated.
Still, many beauty brands have removed parabens from their formulas to keep customers happy.
Something similar has happened in the realm of deodorants.
Yet natural deodorant brands have continued to market aluminum-free products as a safer alternative.
However, clean is a term thats unregulated, so it doesnt have a concrete meaning.
board-certified dermatologist in New York City
It is almost completely marketing, says Dr. Wong.
To some, it might mean formulas that are free of additives like fragrance.
For others, it might mean primarily plant-based formulations.
Theres been a lot of phasing out of ingredients that are perfectly safe.
And so, a lot of ingredient manufacturers have had to make alternatives to old ingredients.
But even so, sulfates arent dangerous, and many people can tolerate them in products.
Weve also seen a departure from heavily fragranced products.
Whether natural or synthetic,fragrance is one of the most common irritants in skin-care products.
Additionally, this has led to a rise in ingredient transparency among brands.
They will have undergone a rigorous safety assessment by an expert safety assessor to ensure their safe use.
3 formulation for months.
Olaplex takes the health of our consumers and regulatory compliance seriously, an Olaplex representative tells Well+Good.
Those [products] were under preserved.
They were actually unsafe.
They were causing infections, and there were recalls issued, says Dr. Wong.
Companies are generally ready to recall products if they think actual human harm may happen.
Benzene wasnt used as an ingredient and arose as a byproduct during formulation.
These recalls demonstrate that its not in a companys best interest to put out harmful products.
We live in a capitalist society, and so everything comes back to profit.
Im not telling people that they cant be proactive, they cant be interested, they cant learn.
But I do think that sometimes, its helpful just to remember that data interpretation is complicated.
Its not that you just look at this number and this number, and then you automatically understand.
As a consumer, you want to shop in a way that aligns with your priorities.
And if being mindful about ingredients is among them, carry forth.
…
Got it, you’ve been added to our email list.
