If you have teens in the house, you might notice that they are MUCH more into skincare than ever before!
Sleepovers include tips for exfoliating lips and facials! It is so great to see teens embracing skincare, but it is worth noting that teens are encountering toxic chemicals in skincare that can alter hormones (among other things).
If you have kids, check this out from the Environmental Working Group (EWG)--> "Laboratory tests reveal adolescent girls across America are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and body care products. The Environmental Working Group detected 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families - phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks - in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls aged 14-19. Studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption."
"These tests feature first-ever exposure data for parabens in teens, and indicate that young women are widely exposed to this common class of cosmetic preservatives, with 2 parabens, methylparaben and propylparaben, detected in every single girl tested."
The reason that this is a bigger problem for teens is that they are encountering these chemicals at a time of rapid growth, so there is a possibility that they are more vulnerable to the effects of these chemicals on hormones than older adults. The average teen uses 17 self care products, while the average woman uses 12.
So if your teen wants to go shopping for skincare, help guide them through this process and read the labels. An easy 'rule of thumb' is...if it has a big smell (and you know it's not natural), it probably has a lot of chemicals. I distinctly remember the smell of the Teen Spirit Deodorant, Pantene Shampoo and St. Ives Apricot Scrub from my teen years!
For my own kids, they use natural deodorant (no aluminum), Dr. Bronner's soap and clean skincare:)
Do you have teens that you are guiding through this process? Let me know how you're doing!
Do you have teens that you are guiding through this process? Let me know how you're doing!