How to avoid the worst chemicals
Did you know that many of the products we use every day, such as shampoo, conditioner, facial cleanser and creams, contain ingredients that can affect both our health and the environment? Many of us are not aware that these chemicals can have unknown harmful effects that are only discovered over time.
To help you make safer choices, we've compiled our best advice on how to avoid the worst chemicals in skin and hair care products - we call them "The Awful 8".
What is "The Awful 8"?
"The Awful 8" is our list of chemicals that can potentially harm both your body and our environment.
These are precisely the 8 ingredients you should avoid:
- Parabens : Preservatives that can disrupt hormone balance.
- Sulfates (SLES and SLS) : Foaming agents that can dry out and irritate the skin and scalp.
- PEG : May contain traces of toxic substances such as dioxane.
- Phthalates : Hormone-disrupting substances that are often found in fragrance products.
- Synthetic perfume : May cause allergies and irritations.
- Triclosan : Antibacterial agent that can damage the environment and affect hormones.
- Siloxane (D4, D5 and D6) : Used to provide smooth texture, but breaks down slowly and accumulates in nature.
- Synthetic dye : May contain harmful heavy metals.
Chemicals in shampoo
Shampoo is among the most commonly used care products and often contains several of the substances on the Awful 8 list.
Among these are sulfates such as SLES and SLS, which are used as foaming agents to create the "clean feeling" we have become accustomed to through advertising and marketing.
Sulfates can be harsh on the skin, stripping the body’s natural oils and drying out the hair and scalp. Over time, this can cause sensitivity and damage the skin’s protective barrier.
How to avoid "The Awful 8"?
The environmental perspective – what does this mean for nature?
Chemicals from shampoo and other care products often end up in wastewater and end up in nature, where they break down very slowly.
Siloxanes accumulate in ecosystems, harm wildlife and pollute the environment.
Research has shown, among other things, high levels of environmental toxins in fish in the Oslo Fjord , which can be partly traced back to chemicals from personal care products, such as shampoo. These substances affect not only wildlife, but also the entire food chain – including us humans.
Your power as a consumer
As a consumer, you have the power to make a difference. By choosing not to buy products containing chemicals on our Awful 8 list, you send a signal to manufacturers that safer alternatives are important.
At the same time, you protect yourself and reduce your impact on the environment. Small changes in daily choices can make a big difference over time.
Elm Organics only offers certified products through EcoCert Cosmos Organics, the most strictly regulated inspection and certification body globally.
Our products are completely free of harmful chemicals – a safe choice that takes care of you, the animals and our planet.
