At the risk of completely turning you off skincare products, here's some food for thought when purchasing any sort of anti aging wrinkle cream product, not to mention other consumers products that touch your skin or that you ingest as part of your normal diet. In my research I've pared this list down to compounds that are found regularly in a wide variety of anti wrinkle creams. I hope you can use it to become better informed as to the detrimental effects they are proven capable of. Consumers need to become more aware of the importance of 'reading the ingredients list' on these products - just like you do at the grocery store!
Bronopol
This chemical compound has been around since the 1960's when it was first used as a pharmaceutical preservative where it was proven very effective at killing bacteria. It is also used as a substitute for formaldehyde in chemical toilets. Over the past 20+ years its use in personal care products such as facial creams has diminished as it was known to potentially form nitrosamines - of which some are well known carcingenics.
Butylparaben
It is one of the many parabens (preservatives) specifically used as an antifungal agent in many cosmetic products (I could list over 200 anti aging wrinkle creams that this compound is currently an ingredient of). It is known to have a disruptive effect on the endocrine system, produce immuno and reproductive toxicity (animal studies demonstrated these effect at low doses), neurotoxicity was also evidenced in animal studies, potential risk of breast cancer based on in vitro tests demonstrating mutation on mammalian cells. Also, and far less alarming it has been known to cause itching, burning and blistering on human skin as well as irritation to the eyes and lungs.
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Cellulose Gum)
This one is used as a binding agent, basically it makes the cosmetic hold all the ingredients together and makes the product nice and creamy. However, it has been proven to cause tumours in animals. One or more studies on animals has proven reproductive damage when given at moderate levels. When administered at high doses in animal studies damaging broad organ toxicity and biochemical/cellular level changes were indicated. It is often used in cosmetics.
Dimethicone
A very common anti-foaming/skin conditioning agent in anti wrinkle creams, although through assessments by cosmetic ingredient review panels it has been recommended to be restricted from inclusion in cosmetics (it is currently included in close to 500 popular wrinkle cream products). The main concerns center around its effects on organ system toxicity. The apparent benefit of this ingredient is its effect as a silicone emollient. It can coat the skin, however this prevents toxins from getting out. It is suspected of accumulating in the liver and lymph nodes.
Disodium EDTA
Wrinkle cream companies like to include this compound for its effects to help the cream penetrate the skin's epidermal layer as a chelating agent. This allows other ingredients to penetrate more deeply into your skin. It is considered harmful if either swallowed or inhaled ad has been known to cause skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation. Found in cosmetics. It has been proven to be cytotoxic and genotoxic to animals
Fragrances (Synthetic)
These fall right into a giant federal loophole in the law that protects companies from listing on product labels any of potentially hundreds of chemical compounds that may be in a product's secret fragrance formula. these can include neurotoxins while others may cause brain damage and as many now know are among the world's top allergens. Just one example of these is methylene chloride a known carcinogen. Consider buying fragrance free.
Isobutylparaben
There is strong evidence of this preservative's human skin toxicity. Also one or more studies on animals demonstrated endocrine disruption at moderate doses. Higher dosage animal testing indicated broad systemic organ toxicity effects. Additionally burning, itching and blistering of skin has been observed.
Methylparaben
Another fragrance ingredient/preservative it is found in hundreds of anti wrinkle creams, this ingredient has been linked to cancer, allergies/immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity and cellular and biochemical level changes. To a lesser degree concerns have been raised regarding its potential for neurotoxicity, as well as, eye, skin and lung irritation. It is closely related to benzoic acid and has been linked in in vitro mammalian cells to show positive mutations.
PEG Stearates
Known as a surfactant or cleansing agent, this ingredient has been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, irritation of skin, eyes or lungs. It is commonly used in many wrinkle creams in spite of one or more animal studies demonstrated tumour formation at moderate dosage and reproductive effects at higher doses. It is also known to be potentially contaminated with or breaking down into chemicals such as ethylene oxide which is linked to cancer or other notable health problems.
PEG-14M
This compound is used as a binder, emulsion stabilizer and an agent for increasing viscosity. It is not found in many wrinkle creams but there are some that still use it even though it is prohibited for use in cosmetics or subject to various restrictions according to industry and government safety guidelines and requirements. There is also concern that it may include toxic contaminants which have been linked to cancer. It has also been linked to toxicity in one or more biological systems through laboratory studies
Propylene Glycol
This one is used as a fragrance ingredient, a humectant (for trapping moister), a skin conditioning agent, solvent and viscosity decreasing agent. There are many serious health concerns about this one and it is still used widely in anti aging wrinkle creams. It has been linked to cancer, developmental toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity. Once it is absorbed into the blood stream it can find its way to all organs in the body including the liver, kidneys and skin causing abnormalities and damaging skin cell membranes. It is prohibited or restricted for use in cosmetics according to industry guidelines, which of course are only that - rules that aren't law, so companies keep on using it in their products, regardless of how dangerous they no doubt realize it can be.
Propylparaben
This agent is used as a fragrance ingredient and preservative. It's another one that has caused a long list of health concerns from cancer and developmental/reproductive problems (infertility, reproductive organ cancers, birth defects and developmental delays) to allergies and immunotoxicity. Additionally, burning, itching and blistering of skin and gastrointestinal or liver toxicity have also been reported through testing. In spite of all this the ingredient remains in wide use among hundreds of wrinkle creams on the market today, there's simply no law against it.
For more information on some of the highest rated wrinkle cream products please visit my Anti Aging Cream site where you can read reviews on popular products such as LifeCell Skin Cream.