Product Toxicity

Written Assignment: 2

I decided to research Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer because I use this product almost everyday and interested to know what I'm really putting on my face. From the packaging, the ingredients are as follows:

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 6%, Oxybenzone (2%)Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Dihydroxyacetone, Cetyl Alcohol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Polyacrylamide, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Fragrance, PEG 100 Stearate, Erythrulose, C13 14 Isoparaffin, Steareth 2, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Laureth 7, Citric Acid, Caramel, Tocopheryl Acetate

It's not a good sign when I can't pronounce most of these words... but I looked up this product on the Environmental Working Group's online database to see to how hazardous these ingredients are. Below is the product summary from my findings. 

Out of the 1-10 hazard scale, this product scores a 6 and labeled as moderately hazardous overall. It's not a comforting feeling knowing that this product, that I so frequently put directly on my skin and face, has a high allergy and immunotoxicity concern. 

There were a handful of ingredients found in Jergens Natural Glow and Protect Daily Moisturizer on the toxicity lists found in the Okala Ecological Design guide, but I decided to focus my research on OXYBENZONE because of it's high hazard rating. Oxybenzone is classified as a "chemical" sunscreen agent that absorbs through the skin in significant amounts. Despite its sun protective abilities, it has been shown to penetrate the skin and cause photo-sensitivity. I was shocked to have learned that because this chemical has the ability to attack DNA cells, it is believed to be a contributing factor in the recent rise of Melanoma cases with sunscreen users.

Although I was very fond of this product and have been using this moisturizer for a couple years now, it may be time to make a change. It's going to be difficult to cut this product out of my daily routine during this dry season but I'm sure I can find a similar, less harmful product that will suffice and be better for my skin overall.