Father's Day is approaching, so let's take a look at what that man in your life may be using each day on his skin: shaving cream.
We're going to take a closer look at getting a closer shave today with Barbasol Shaving Cream. I chose the "Soothing Aloe" formula because it must contain soothing ingredients, right?
Here is the ingredients list. See why the Skin Deep Database rates this brand's shaving cream an 8 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most hazardous. The potentially harmful ingredients are in green:
Water
Stearic Acid--surfactant and emulsifier. While stearic acid is pretty benign, one MUST be aware of the source. The fat of euthanized cats and dogs from shelters is sometimes used for this. Palm oil is another source. There are many sources, including coconut oil, but this doesn't state "Vegetable source"
Triethanolamine--emulsifier and pH adjuster; can be especially hazardous when combined with Diazolidinyl Urea. Studies have shown that a large number of cosmetics with TEA (short for Triethanolamine) are contaminated with Nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Also avoid labels which say TEA Lauryl Sulfate, as it's the same thing. TEA is also very acidic.
Isobutane--a propellant linked to cancer
Laureth-23--a surfactant. This is of great concern as it is linked (anything with PEG at the beginning or -ETH at the end) to 1,4 Dioxane, a contaminant the EPA says is one of the mos toxic ever.
Aloe--it doesn't say whether this is Aloe Vera Gel or Juice. The term is pretty vague here.
Diazolidinyl Urea--a preservative and formaldehyde-releaser derived from animals. Used in embalming. Linked to cancer.
Fragrance--can be highly irritating to some, not irritiating to others. For shaving, I'd avoid it.
Methylparaben--This particular paraben is used in water-containing products as a preservative. A study 5 years ago in the Journal of Applied Toxicology linked parabens to breast cancer as they may be hormone disruptive and lead to tumor growth. While the jury is still out on paraben safety, I personally find the links too strong and have been paraben free for almost 2.5 years.
Propane--This hydrocarbon, a propellant, helps give the product its mousse-like fluffy foam. It is extremely sensitizing to the lungs in moderate doses. It can be highly irritating to the skin, nasal passages and mucus membranes. Given that this is in close contact with eyes, nose, and mouth almost daily, it is to be of great concern.
Proplyene Glycol--is used in conjunction with other chemical ingredients as a preservative. It is also found in products to make it easier for other added ingredients to penetrate the skin. This ingredient has been shown in studies to aggravate skin conditions such as eczema. This derivitave of mineral oil is considered a petrochemical. There are many different grades of PG: industrial grade is found in anti-freeze. Some will tell you that skin care products with propylene glycol just like anti-freeze. This isn't true--the kind in cosmetics is cosmetics grade. That being said, can cause contact dermatitis, especially in such a very high concentration
Propylparaben--this type of paraben is a preservative agent against fungus. A study 5 years ago in the Journal of Applied Toxicology linked parabens to breast cancer as they may be hormone disruptive and lead to tumor growth. While the jury is still out on paraben safety, I personally find the links too strong and have been paraben free for almost 2.5 years.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate--You'll sometimes see companies say that this is natural because it is loosely derived from coconut. This is used to clean garage floors at service stations and in the car wash as a cleansing agent. The effects shown in animal studies are very disturbing to say the least. When SLS is tested on young animals, their eyes can stop developing because of the harmful proteins absorbed. They have been shown to suffer severe damage to their nervous systems and even death. One study I read showed that children who get SLS in their eyes may get cataracts. Children! SLS is also very bad for the environment and has been shown to be lethal to fish. Even though SLS in itself is no longer believed to cause cancer, when it is combined with other compounds, it can be quite hazardous.
The Bottom Line:
As you can see, Barbasol Shaving Cream isn't a good bet, especially for repeated use for years and years. So what can you use? The fact is, most shaving creams are similarly formulated.
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Shave Cream is a great option.
Best Bet
I've managed to get my hubby to switch to the bar I bought for my legs from Aunt Nancy's Handmade Soaps. It is made with nourishing oils, but the goat's milk is fantabulous for shaving, as it contains natural lactic acid to exfoliate and encourage cell turnover in a gentle fashion. The gentle essential oils, particularly the grapefruit, also make for a very gentle astringent formula so much more soothing that any shaving cream!
