The Good, Bad and The Fugly! Preservatives: How To Pick Safer Cosmetics

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Photo Credits Fablore

Dare I say it? Yes, preservatives can be good! Ok, there I said it. 

Preservatives get a bad wrap (and for good reason). However, preservatives help cosmetic products to remain safe to prevent harmful bacteria growth and any microbial visitors. 

Below are some pointers to know the difference between good and bad preservatives and how to choose cosmetics that work best for you. 

Good- The nice natural preservatives and antioxidants. These are the guys we don't need to fear.
  • Benzoic Acid
  • Sorbic Acid
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Alcohol
  • Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
  • Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
  • Polyphenols
  • Flavonoids

Bad- Chemicals that can harm the reproductive organs for males and females and can also help you develop a super power to become immune to antibiotics developing MRSA (gag!)



  • Ethylparaben
  • Propylparaben
  • Butylparaben
  • Isobutylparaben
  • Triclosan
  • Methylisothiazolinone
  • Methylchloroisothiazolinone
  • Chlorphenesin
  • Chloroxylenol
  • Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate
  • Methyldibromo glutaronitrile


    • The Fugly- The cancer causing killers and neurological damage 
    • Formaldehyde.
    • Benzylhemiformal
    • Diazolidinyl urea
    • Imidazolidinyl urea
    • 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
    • DMDM hydantoin
    • MDM hydantoin
    • Quaternium-15
    • Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate
    • phenoxyethanol
    • 2-butoxyethanol
    • 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)-ethanol
    • 2-(2-ethoxy)-ethanol
    Photo Credits DailyWorth

    In my opinion, I would prefer to make  my own moisturizers. In which you still need to protect yourself from harmful bacteria. Essential oils are a great natural alternative to all listed above. You can add a grapefruit seed extract or geranium to your concoction and be good to go. 


    BUT a lot of times, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT! So we resort to purchasing our beloved cosmetics. First and foremost, read  the label and scan for a few key words to make it easier. 

    Here's a translation of some of the commonly used language. 

    Organic
    • “100 % Organic” requires only organically produced ingredients. (The USDA seal may appear on the package.)
    • “Organic” requires a minimum of 95% organically produced ingredients. Products cannot be produced using synthetic preservatives, petrochemicals, ionizing radiation or any other excluded methods. (The USDA seal may appear on the package.)
    • “Made with Organic Ingredients” requires at least 70% organic ingredients. (The USDA seal cannot be used anywhere on the package.)
    Vegan
    Does not contain any animal ingredients or animal-derived ingredients. This includes, but is not limited to, honey, beeswax, lanolin,albumen, carmine, cholesterol, gelatin, and...(gasp!) COLLAGEN! So this depends on how hard core your are with your naturalness. This of course would blanket the cruelty free. 

    Cruelty Free 
    They don't test on animals. Watch out for the pesky company that will claim they don't test on animals unless required by law. You don't need those half ass kind of companies in your life. 


    Learning the facts about what is in our day-to-day products is pretty scary. When it comes to our bodies, ignorance is not bliss. Educate yourselves with the facts about what you are using in your beauty regime. Some of you may be super excited about ditching your products. But there are some of us that have spent a small fortune on the make up and hair products we have collected. I am one of those people. So I am going to challenge myself and you to commit to replacing one/two products a month with a a natural product. 

    Beauty doesn't need to be poisonous! 

    What is the first product you are going to switch out? 
    My name is Danielle Verdugo. I've created this blog to connect with the generation of women who want to do good in the world and be a better person than they were yesterday.

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