New Self-Care Trend: Throw Out Your Phthalates
February 13, 2024
Writer: Helen Hannan
Editor: Lexie Meltzer
We’re all fans of paying attention to the little things in life — the small moments and treats that make us smile and feel inspired. These happy little things are only half of the equation, though; there are also the ones that aren’t so pretty. This past year, I have been on somewhat of a journey to make myself aware of the little things in my life that may be doing more harm than good.
What I’ve come to concern myself with recently— skincare, makeup, perfume, and other self-care products marketed towards women— may be as small as a few ounces, but they’re often latent with ingredients that pack a punch. A suckerpunch, to be exact, to your endocrine system and your ability to regulate your hormones. Remember that hormones not only regulate your menstrual cycle and fertility, but they also regulate every single one of your biological functions (think sleep, energy level, metabolism), and they all act in a concerted effort to make you feel well (Hiller-Sturmhöfel et al., 1998).
Chemicals that affect your hormonal regulation are called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and are found in a lot of our makeup and self-care products (Hubinger, 2010). Even though we apply these topically via moisturizer, blush, perfume, etc., EDCs find their way into our bodies. We know this because we can measure what makes its way out of our bodies. Women of all ages have shown significantly higher levels of a reproductive toxicant, monobutyl phthalate, than men, and over 97% of samples tested contained three other phthalates (Silva et al., 2004). The family that these ingredients belong to — phthalates — is known to be reproductively and developmentally toxic (Hubinger, 2010). Phthalates are present in some makeup and skincare, but they are a particularly insidious ingredient in many scents and perfumes, typically listed within the ambiguous “fragrance” ingredient (Kazemi et al., 2022). EDCs are accelerating puberty, ovarian aging, menopause, altering our menstruation cycles— the list goes on. EDCs are making us unwell (Barrett et al., 2014; Ding et al., 2022; Harley et al., 2019).
These discoveries were heartbreaking to me; products marketed toward women are hurting us. Discussing EDCs in products is not meant to incite anxiety or fear, but rather to inspire freedom and autonomy. I think we all know in the back of our minds that there are a million-and-one chemicals in our skincare routine, but the issue lies in that we have trusted those who have told us we have nothing to worry about. In fact, we have something to worry about: our health and future.
What products you use is a personal choice. I still use some products I probably shouldn’t because I can’t get myself to toss them just yet. But I am slowly and mindfully going through my products thinking: Do I need this? Does this have chemicals I know could harm me? Can I spend 10 minutes looking for an alternative?
It’s true, products without these ingredients might not be as magical. No hairspray will ever hold like it used to in the ‘60s, but today we can do a slickie and look up at the sky at that big, sealed ozone layer we all know and love. Science is not a perfect science, and it’s our duty to listen and evolve when they tell us they are wrong.
Thankfully many companies have moved on from phthalates since the early 2000s, but they are still ever present today up and down our favorite product aisles. As a part of your self-care routine tonight, I challenge you to spend 20 minutes looking into the products you use and seeing if you can find some alternatives. If you’d like some ideas on where to start, look for products from The Honest Company and makeup from Credo Beauty; you’ll find brands like Ilia, Kiehl’s, By Rosie Jane, and others that have taken a stand against using ingredients harmful to our lives and futures. Better yet, pop into Bohmey Beauty in Kerrytown for their curated selection of clean makeup, skincare, and wellness products.
