Ingredient Spotlight: Triclosan

NO triclosan here!

(no triclosan in our Pink Mineral Bar!)

Is this ingredient in your cosmetic bag? 

Updated October, 2012

In a previous Ingredient Spotlight post we put the spotlight on parabens. Have you been purging your parabens? Continue to check your ingredient labels, it is well worth it to do so.

Today we shine the light on triclosan.

Triclosan is an artificial antimicrobial chemical (say that three times fast) used to kill bacteria on the skin and other surfaces.

It is the most comon ingredient found in antibacterial hand soaps as well as skin care and cosmetics. In skin care, it tends to show up in your facial cleansers.

You will also find it in a number of everyday items such as dishwasher detergent, toothpaste and deodorants.

Recent studies indicate that the thyroid function is effected by triclosan and potentially other hormone systems can be disrupted. There is also evidence that it can react with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform, another suspected chemical that can be damaging to our health.
Due to the fact that triclosan is stored in the fat cells and can build up in our bodies over time, it is important to avoid it where you easily can.

Easy enough to start with your makeup and skincare.
Want to do more research?
Skin Deep; Cosmetics Safety Database , which tends to be on the radical side and not cosmetic industry friendly, ranks it as a 7 or ‘high hazard’. Also, see my post here in regards to new thoughts on Skin Deep.
Personal Care , which tends to be more conservative and written by those in the cosmetics industry, mostly small indie business, I might add.
Medscape a reliable source in the medical profession, though again on the conservative side.
Have at it! And let us know what you come up with? What is your assessment on triclosan? Will you make every attempt to avoid it where you can? Or, not so much?
What are my thoughts? I find it a questionable enough ingredient. I avoid it. I suggest you do the same.

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Lisa

Written by Lisa DL

Lisa D Liguori is the founder and beauty expert behind Simple Beauty Minerals, a green healthy-beauty marketplace, featuring handcrafted mineral makeup, botanically based organic skincare and pure essential oils - with a seriously skilled personal touch.

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  • Vida

    Great info! Keep the useful data coming. Unfortunately I'm too lacking in style to offer any useful style essentials. When I buy something that's sort of flashy and cool, I end up being too afraid to wear it, and it sits in my closet while my khakis and white t-shirts get worn over and over again. Sigh. I am in awe of you style, Lisa!

  • Lisa D"Ettorre-Liguori

    Thanks Vida? But what about those cool biker girl boots you bought last fall?? I had boot envy ;)