Beauty Ingredients to Avoid

Foods with bad-for-you ingredients aren’t the only things we should avoid. The same is true for some of our favorite face washes, lotions and body scrubs. That is why Vitality Day Spa uses Pevonia Botanica, a line made from natural products that get results.  Pevonia is a multi-award winning spa line with active ingredients for optimal skin health. Listed below are some common culprits to be on the lookout for. You won't find these culprits in Pevonia Botanica - only nature's best will do for you.

FD&C and D&C Colors

• WHAT IT IS: FD&C or D&C colors are made from coal tar derivatives.
• WHY IT'S BAD: Listed by the EPA as human respiratory toxins, they are also considered allergens and skin irritants.
• LOOK FOR: Colors from natural sources like annatto, beets, carrot, chlorophyll, and minerals like iron and mica.

Hydroquinone

• WHAT IT IS: Banned in some countries, this is a skin-lightening agent known to cause DNA damage and liver cancer.
• WHY IT'S BAD: It can cause serious skin irritation, swelling and thick skin.
• LOOK FOR: Kojic acid, licorice extract (glycyrrhizinate) and soy proteins.

Parabens

• WHAT IT IS: Parabens are synthetic preservatives (like propylparaben) found in creams, lotions and makeup.
• WHY IT'S BAD: Though controversial, recent studies have shown that parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, and have been linked to breast and ovarian cancer.
• LOOK FOR: Paraben-free

Sulfates

• WHAT IT IS: Sulfates (like sodium myreth-sulfate) are harsh detergents found in cleansers and toothpaste.
• WHY IT'S BAD: At even low-use concentration, they can cause skin and eye irritation as well as penetrate deep into the skin.
• LOOK FOR: Castile soap, yucca extract, soap bark extract and coco glucoside

Toluene

• WHAT IT IS: Toluene (a.k.a. methyl-benzene) is a solvent in nail polish that helps create a smooth application.
• WHY IT'S BAD: Inhalation can irritate the respiratory tract, and cause headaches and insomnia. Stored in fat tissue, it may lead to developmental delays or attention deficit in children of women with chronic exposure.
• LOOK FOR: Toluene, formaldehyde or DB-free