HBD: Forget Parabens. We Found Another Dirty “P” Word
April 29 2010
You can’t help yourself. It started at the drugstore; now you’re stalking random medicine cabinets for paraben abuse. If you weren’t annoying enough already, here’s another red flag: phenoxyethanol.
And you thought you were done with the p-word.
An aromatic ether alcohol, phenoxyethanol is a preservative that’s taking the place of today’s beauty villain: parabens. This ingredient starts out as phenol, a toxic white crystalline powder that is created from benzene (a known carcinogen), and is then treated with ethylene oxide (another known carcinogen). Sounds dreamy, right?
For you super sleuths, phenoxyethanol is also known as:
* Dowanol
* Arosol
* Emery 6705
* Phenoxetol
* Rose ether
* Phenoxyethyl alcohol
* Glycol monophenyl ether
* Beta-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether
Why? Because as soon as water is used in a product such as foundation or a facial cream, a preservative is needed to kill bacteria or prevent mold. And manufacturers know that “rose ether” sounds a helluva lot better than “phenoxyethanol.”
Some companies rave about natural preservatives; others question their efficacy because, they say, natural substances that show antimicrobial activity typically are either not adequate for broad spectrum protection or are not active against the most threatening microbes. Others, such as essential oils, require very high concentrations to be effective, while some boast nasty odors or colors that would be unacceptable in beauty products. Experts and chemists alike claim it’s necessary to have some anti-bacterial ingredients in our cosmetics to kill bacteria or else nothing could stay on the shelf.
Find out how manufacturers get off inserting phenoxyethanol under the innocent phrase “derived from grapefruits,” by reading the rest of this story on HDB’s Beauty & Style section.
Do you care about what you’re putting into your mouth and on your body? Would you prefer thighs that don’t touch? Are you a sucker for the environment? Get your daily snack for social change, and take a stand for what you believe in, damnit. From the co-author of New York Times Bestseller, Skinny Bitch, Healthy Bitch Daily is your online lifestyle resource that keeps it real, with fun topics on nutrition, health, fitness, beauty, style and staying eco-chic. Find something new to talk about at the dinner table.
