3 Ingredients You Need To Avoid In Your Skincare Products

Every day, the average female uses 12 personal care products while the average male uses 6 – making us exposed to anywhere from 85 to 168 unique ingredients¹.

While it can be overwhelming to wrap our heads around the plethora of ingredients found in the labels of our skincare products – there is a growing need to become more aware of how they could be negatively impacting our skin – especially if we already suffer from existing skin conditions.

Given that we use these beauty products on a daily basis, they are often absorbed and stored in our bodies – causing possible irritation and contact allergies in both the short and long-run, especially after being exposed to it for extended periods of time.

And the data says it all: roughly 8 – 15% of all cases of contact dermatitis is caused by the use of cosmetics². In addition, a recent study conducted by researchers at Chemical & Engineering News tested 187 cosmetic products for 80 of the most common known allergens. Shockingly, 89% of the products contained at least one known allergen on the list, while 63% contained two or more³!

Since people suffering from skin conditions often already have a compromised skin barrier – using products that can aggravate their condition can ultimately evolve into much bigger issues.

This is why it’s time to take matters into our own hands and as consumers, educate ourselves and actively avoid ingredients that are huge culprits in causing nasty flareups and reactions! Here are 3 of the biggest no-nos:

Parabens

Parabens are a type of preservative that is used to stop the growth of fungus, bacteria and harmful microbes in our skincare products and prolong its shelf-life.

Typically found in lotions, shampoos, makeup and even deodorants – you might find parabens under the name of butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. While they might seem harmless, they can actually cause premature aging and increased sensitivity and damage from UV rays⁴!

In addition, there has been a lot of debate on the association between parabens and breast cancer – since it has been detected in human breast cancer tissues and can mimic estrogen, although the research is largely inconclusive. However, it is clear that parabens disrupt the hormonal patterns in our body, and given that we aren’t able to naturally break them down, we can end up accumulating it in our body, resulting in illnesses in the long-run.

Regardless, it is best to not risk it and avoid parabens altogether.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), or SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) are substances that are commonly found in our facial wash, shampoo, and toothpaste. It is not uncommon to find SLS in our laundry detergents and industrial cleaning products due to their powerful cleansing and “degreasing” properties.

While SLS gives our products that nice “foamy” effect – it also strips our skin of its protective layers and natural oils, leaving us with dry, inflamed skin, brittle hair, and irritated eyes. In fact, studies have shown that sulfate is one of the key culprits of hair loss and thinning hair as it actually damages hair follicles and stops hair growth!

The truth is, SLS is not the only ingredient capable of effective cleansing – several botanical ingredients and seed phytonutrients can equally do a good job without causing great harm to our skin in the process.

SLS can go under several names such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium salt, dodecyl alcohol, and sodium monododecyl sulfate – so be sure to look out for those!

Fragrances

Yes, we all love and enjoy products that smell good – but did you know synthetic fragrances are the most common cause of allergies to cosmetics?

In addition, fragrances that are used in our products are typically a mix of 10 to 30 different ingredients, making it even harder to pinpoint the exact cause of a reaction.

Unfortunately, fragrances from natural sources such as essential oils can also cause a negative reaction – where researchers reported an increase in adverse reactions to patch tests that included essential oils such as jasmine, rose, ylang ylang, and chamomile⁵!

“Hypoallergenic”, “Natural”, “Organic” – How Good Are They Really?

Remember: not all ingredients are created equal – rather than looking at brand names and what is being marketed, you need to dig deeper into the what is behind the labels.

According to the Health Sciences Authority (HAS), “hypoallergenic” indicates that the product is less likely to cause allergic reactions, although not much scientific proof is required to prove it. The same goes for “natural” products.

These days, many products label their products as “unscented”, “hypoallergenic”, “sulphate-free”, and “fragrance-free”, but this does not necessarily mean that they are completely safe for use on sensitive and easily irritated skin.

Sometimes, it also depends on the grade and purity of the ingredients used, which is why it is recommended to not just do your due diligence on the ingredients list, but also study the brand or company making the product and their practices.

While it is believed that a complicated and extensive list of skincare products is essential to having glowing, healthy skin – less is actually more.

Keeping to a simplified and streamlined routine with tried-and-tested products containing minimal ingredients, as well as conducting your own patch test before giving yourself the green light to use any product is your best bet to keeping your skin in shape and maximizing the benefits of your products!

The moment you notice any redness, swelling, itching, or burning after using a product – stop using it immediately.

Key Takeaways

Regardless of whether you are suffering from a skin condition or not, you will definitely benefit from avoiding these ingredients in your skincare products, and your skin will thank you for it in the long run!

If you are still having problems resolving these skin conditions – you can always count on a dermatologist for recommendations on treatment and product alternatives.

At AYD, we believe in choosing the most innovative and advanced surgical, medical, and dermatological treatments to help our patients feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. Offering a wide range of head-to-toe treatments, Dr. Angeline Yong is an experienced and highly-trained skin dermatologist and firm believer of providing highly-customized care that is catered to every individual’s needs and goals.

At our dermatology clinic, we are able to prescribe medicines such as topical and oral corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and anti-histamines amongst others to treat our patients and relieve their symptoms, as well as recommend in-office treatments such as the pico laser to heal and rejuvenate your skin after the reaction has cleared.

Dr. Angeline Yong also offers a bespoke skincare range that was developed meticulously and personally tested by herself – focusing on building a strong foundation for your skin to keep it strong and healthy against the external environment.

All of our core skincare range are paraben-free, sodium lauryl sulfate-free, mineral-oil free, and fragrance-free products. We make sure to use only the purest, medical grade ingredients that are scientifically proven to work – so you can rest assured that your skin is only getting the good stuff!

If you are currently experiencing a bad, painful, and itchy rash from using any beauty and cosmetic products, or wish to simply know more about our bespoke skincare range – don’t hesitate to contact us today!

References:
1. Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. Available at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/research. Last accessed: June 5, 2020.
Wolf R, Wolf D, Tüzün B, Tüzün Y. Cosmetics and contact dermatitis. Dermatol Therapy. 2001;14:181–7.
2. Is the label ‘hypoallergenic’ helpful or just marketing hype? Chemical and Engineering News. Available at: http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2014/acs-presspac-december-17-2014/Is-the-label-hypoallergenic-helpful-or-just-marketing-hype.html. Last accessed: June 5, 2020.
3. Handa, O., Kokura, S., Adachi, S., Takagi, T., Naito, Y., Tanigawa, T., Yoshida, N., & Yoshikawa, T. (2006). Methylparaben potentiates UV-induced damage of skin keratinocytes. Toxicology, 227(1-2), 62–72.
4. Oliver, B., Krishnan, S., Rengifo Pardo, M. et al.(2015). Cosmeceutical Contact Dermatitis—Cautions To Herbals. Curr Treat Options Allergy 2, 307–321.

Use of this website signifies your agreement to The Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

You are deemed to have entered into an agreement with Angeline Yong Dermatology and to have agreed to be bound by the terms set out below by accessing ayd.com.sg (“the Sites”) or by otherwise accessing any content found on this web site. By accessing or using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed, without limitation or qualification, to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. The Site is owned and operated by Angeline Yong Dermatology.

Intellectual Property Protection
Use of Angeline Yong Dermatology Content
Changes to the Site
Privacy Policy
No Warranty, Disclaimer of Liability and Indemnity
Force Majeure
Miscellaneous
Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Intellectual Property Protection

The contents and design of the Site and any material e-mailed to you or otherwise supplied to you in conjunction with the Site (such contents, design and materials being collectively referred to as the “Angeline Yong Dermatology Content”, are copyright of Angeline Yong Dermatology. You may not use or reproduce or allow anyone to use or reproduce any trademarks (such as ” Angeline Yong Dermatology” name and logo or other trade names appearing on the Site) for any reason without written permission from Angeline Yong Dermatology. The software, which operates the Site, is proprietary software and you may not use it except as expressly allowed under these Terms. You may not copy, modify, reverse engineer or otherwise interfere with the software.

Use of Angeline Yong Dermatology Content

You may retrieve and display the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content on a computer screen or mobile telephone, print individual pages on paper (but not photocopy them) and store such pages in electronic form for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not save or post any of the Content on blogs, Facebook, and other websites that allows viewing by the general public without written permission from Angeline Yong Dermatology. Except as expressly set out above, you may not reproduce, modify or in any way commercially exploit any of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content.

Changes to the Site

Angeline Yong Dermatology reserves the right to change, modify, suspend, add or remove portions of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content available on the Site at any time and to restrict the use and accessibility of the Site in its discretion and without prior notification.

Privacy Policy

The information that you provide about yourself and your company to Angeline Yong Dermatology will only be used in accordance with Angeline Yong Dermatology’s Privacy Policy Statement. We will:

retain your information only for as long as there is a business need
take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is accurate, adequate, relevant and up to date.
update or correct your information held by us whenever necessary
take appropriate measures to prevent and minimize risks of unauthorised access to the information

We may use your personal information, such as your name and contact details, for the following purposes:

to perform the services that you have requested, which may involve contacting you by telephone, mobile phone, fax machine, post or email, including sending you electronic direct mailers.
to allow us to promote our products, events and activities.

No Warranty, Disclaimer of Liability and Indemnity

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the high quality and accuracy of the Site, Angeline Yong Dermatology makes no warranty, express or implied, concerning the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content, the Site, software or products or services available through the Site (the “Site Services”), which are provided “as is”. Angeline Yong Dermatology expressly disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to warranties of fitness for a particular purpose and warranties of merchantability. In no event will Angeline Yong Dermatology, its affiliates or other suppliers be liable for direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information or other pecuniary loss) arising directly or indirectly from the use of (or failure to use) or reliance on the Site Services, even if Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates has been advised of the possibility that such damages may arise.

Angeline Yong Dermatology does not guarantee the accuracy, content, or timeliness of the Site Services or that they or related systems are free from viruses or other contaminating or destructive properties. Angeline Yong Dermatology accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided “as is” with no warranty, express or implied for the information provided within them.

Upon accessing to this Site, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates from any claims and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, related to any breach of these Terms by you or your use of any Site Services.

Force Majeure

Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates will not be liable or deemed to be in default for any delay or failure in performance or interruption of the delivery of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content resulting directly or indirectly from any cause or circumstance beyond its or their reasonable control, including but not limited to failure of electronic or mechanical equipment or communication lines, telephone or other interconnect problems, computer viruses, unauthorized access, theft, operator errors, severe weather, earthquakes or natural disasters, strikes or other labour problems, wars, or government restrictions.

Miscellaneous

Changes to these Terms. Angeline Yong Dermatology may, in its discretion, change these Terms (including those relating to your use of Site and/or the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content. When Terms are changed, Angeline Yong Dermatology will notify you by email or by publishing details of those changes by including them in these Terms. If you use the Site after Angeline Yong Dermatology has published or notified you of the changes, you are agreeing now to be bound by those changes. If you do not agree to be bound by those changes, you should not use the Site any further after they are published. Access to certain areas of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content may be subject to additional terms and conditions.

Advertising, Third Party Content and other Web Sites. Parts of the Site may contain advertising or other third-party content. Advertisers and other content providers are responsible for ensuring that material submitted for inclusion on the Site complies with international and national law. Angeline Yong Dermatology is not responsible for any third-party content or error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertising material. The Site may contain links to other web sites. Angeline Yong Dermatology is not responsible for the availability of these web sites or their contents.

Assignment of Agreement. This agreement is personal to you and your rights and obligations under these Terms may not be assigned, sub-licensed or otherwise transferred. This agreement may be assigned to a third party by Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates.

Non-Waiver. No delay or omission on the part of either party in requiring performance by the other party of its obligations will operate as a waiver of any right.

Notices. Notices to Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates must be given in writing by letter.

Severability/Survival/Statute of Limitations. If any provision of these Terms is invalid or unenforceable, such will not render all the Terms unenforceable or invalid but rather the Terms will be read and construed as if the invalid or unenforceable provision(s) are not contained therein. Any cause of action of yours with respect to these Terms must be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction in Singapore, within one year after the cause of action has arisen, or such cause will be barred, invalid, and void.

Whole Agreement. Save as expressly referred to herein, any representation, warranty, term or condition not expressly set out in these Terms shall not apply.

Headings. Headings in these Terms are for convenience only and have no legal meaning or effect.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the Laws of the Republic of Singapore. The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of Singapore shall (subject to the paragraph below) have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of, under, or in connection with these Terms or the legal relationship established by them, and for those purposes irrevocably submit all disputes to the jurisdiction of Singapore courts. For the exclusive benefit of Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates, Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates shall retain the right to bring proceedings as to the substance of the matter in the courts of the country of your residence or, where these Terms are entered into in the course of your trade or profession, the country of your principal place of business.

Media.

3 Ingredients You Need To Avoid In Your Skincare Products