The singular word “Fragrance” or “Parfum” on your product labels can be up to hundreds of different chemicals, whether natural or artificial, combined to mimic or create a specific smell.
Over 3,000 chemicals declared as currently in use by the International Fragrance Association are harmful to human health, including carcinogens (cause cancer) like styrene, BHA, and pyridine; reproductive toxins like phthalates, lilial, and nonylphenol; neurotoxicants like xylenes and phenol; and skin allergens like HICC, cinnamal, and gerniol.
Fragrance is the NUMBER ONE cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis in the US. A lot of the artificial chemicals used to create a certain smell accumulate within the body, wreak havoc on the liver, and leave you with skin allergies/issues that seem to never go away.
Solutions?
1. Stick to unscented or fragrance-free personal care products, especially if your skin is on the sensitive side. This drastically reduces your chances of coming in contact with harmful fragrance ingredients.
2. Shop with brands who are transparent about what they use to scent their products, and stick to those who use plant extracts/essences and therapeutic grade essential oils (not the aromatherapy ones!!). I’m using our Vanilla Coconut Scrub and Sweet Vanilla Hydration Mist + Body Butter in this video, which are fragranced using organic vanilla extract and therapeutic grade vanilla essential oil. Dassit.
3. LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “unscented” AND “fragrance-free”! Especially if you shop with commercial brands! Sometimes “unscented” means there is a scent inducing chemical in the product but another chemical is used to neutralize it!
Read your labels! Know what EACH ingredient is and potential side effects it can have on your health! Our skin is our LARGEST organ and is constantly taking substances IN and out of our bodies!
Products used in the video, as well as completely unscented, fragrance-free body products can be found by clicking the link below or by heading to 🌱benebeautybybri.com💋
References:
Position on The Chemical Identity of Fragrances (American Academy of Dermatology Association)
Facts on Fragrance (womensvoices.org)
#benebeautybybri #careembodied #blackskincare #organicskincare #holisticskincare #dermatitis #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemaawareness
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