Endocrine disruptors are a substance or a mix that will impact your endocrine system and will induce negative effects on your health. The effects can be diverse and can lead to pathologies such as obesity, fertility issues (on more than one generation), early puberty and even cancers.
Endocrine disruptors can be found almost everywhere (cosmetics, furniture, papers, detergents, clothes, drugs, etc.).
Some substances can impact the endocrine balance of the body without having a permanent/negative impact on the body such as coffee or water for instance. In our modern society, we use voluntarily endocrine disruptors as well (birth control pill, growth hormones, etc.).
The issue is that some substances impact negatively our endocrine system and this impact can even be permanent. Another important thing is who is affected by endocrine disruptors. Pregnant women, very young ones and seniors are the highest risk profiles.
List of endocrine disruptors in cosmetics (non-exhaustive):
- BHA (antioxidant)
- Parabens (preservative)
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (UV)
- Triclosan (antibacterial)
- Benzophenone 1 & 3 (UV)
- Cyclopentasiloxane / Cyclotetrasiloxane / Cyclomethicone (emolient)
- Resorcinol (artificial colour)
- BHT (antioxydant)
Use in cosmetics?
In formulas, endocrine disruptors are present in many forms. Fillers, preservative, active components. As we told you, endocrine disruptors are pretty common and thus can be found in a lot of different substances that will be used for different reasons.
But endocrine disruptors can be found in containers as well. Phthalates or bisphenols are known as endocrine disruptors that are used to produce plastic containers. They can contaminate the product which can be particularly dangerous when it’s a product meant to be applied on lips: it’s a mucous membrane and you will likely swallow a little bit of product every time you use it.
Why are they used?
That’s a complicated question.
Some endocrine disruptors are controverted but not officially recognized as harmful. That may be because studies take time or because there’s no one yet to finance them. So manufacturers won’t stop using them.
Agencies can warn about the hazardous effects of certain substances but they only have advisory power. They do not make the law. If a product is not forbidden by the law then manufacturers have the right to use them.
Another reason may be that some endocrine disruptors have a negative impact only on certain profiles or are considered as low-negative-impact in general. Once again, the issue is when you are exposed to a certain substance on a daily basis, the level of hazardous nature is subjective. Even if a product is considered ok at a low level, the over-exposure to that product will change the impact.
Lastly, most of the fillers that are known as endocrine disruptors are cheap, stable and bring positive immediate effect. As we told you in the article about mineral oil or silicones, these makeup components create the illusion of a more appealing skin at first, then after some time, you will start to see the negative impacts.
The Discovery banned endocrine disruptors
Some endocrine disruptors are allowed by the law but we decided to act just as if they weren’t. We only believe in healthy, non-toxic and respectful beauty. Selling harmful products would be against everything we believe in and we do our best to provide you with high-quality skincare.
That is true for the formula of The Discovery products as well as for the containers. We put utter care in the choice of every components and element of The Discovery products and our goal is to constantly improve.
