Are Toxins in Your Beauty Products Making You Sick? Unpacking the Risks of “Chemical” vs “Clean” Skin Care with Dr. Michelle Wong

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, we will be discussing the real risk of so called “toxins” in our beauty products as we have been told by the Clean Beauty industry. Our guest today is PhD cosmetic chemist, Dr Michelle Wong aka @Labmuffinbeautyscience. Michelle will be discussing the real of “toxins” getting into our body through our skin. Sh will also discuss actual risks and benefits of mineral vs chemical sunscreen, parabens in our shampoo, and benzoyl peroxide in our acne cream, and what vulnerable populations like pregnant people need to avoid in their beauty products. She also discusses why the clean beauty movement and the products it promotes may not only be less efficacious but also less safe. I conclude with a very important conversation about the EWG and why their “dirty dozen”, “toxic twenty” and “Skin Deep” database should not be used as a credible source of science. 

References:

• https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2958246
• https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Royal_Hospital_for_Women/Mothersafe/documents/skinhaircareandcosmetictreatmentsapril2021.pdf
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6773459/
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0272989X15621877#:~:text=In%20studies%202%20and%203,3)%20than%20the%20synthetic%20drug.
• https://www.teawithmd.com/2015/07/ewg-myths-about-sunscreen-safety/
• https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/addressing-sunscreen-safety-a-review-of-ewg-s-2024-guide-to-sunscreens
• https://www.theecowell.com/blog/a-case-against-the-ewg
• https://sharonmahan.com/the-problem-with-ewg-skin-deep/
• https://chemistscorner.com/why-the-ewg-skin-deep-database-is-still-a-dubious-source/
• https://cyrillelaurent.com/2019/11/06/ewg-skin-deep-what-a-scam/

Check in with today’s amazing guest: Dr. Michelle Wong

• Instagram: @labmuffinbeautyscience
• Website: labmuffin.com
• Youtube: @Labmuffinbeautyscience
• Book: The Science of Beauty by Michelle Wong 

Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you’re struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider.

If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to eatingdisorderhope.com.

 

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