Protecting Your Skin: How to Care for Sensitive, Absorbent Skin

Here’s an article I originally wrote for Maria Rodale’s blog, Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen. Maria is an author and the CEO of Rodale Publishing (now part of Hearst). The piece examines everyday hygiene habits and how cumulative exposure to ingredients in personal care products can affect long-term health. Often we make the problem worse by layering multiple products—each with trace contaminants—that add up over time.

Originally published March 24, 2015

Our skin is the body’s first line of defense, but it is not an impenetrable barrier. Transdermal products such as nicotine and birth control patches work because the skin absorbs certain compounds. That same property means we should pay attention to what we apply to our skin.

Products that remain on the body—lotions, makeup, deodorant, perfumes—have more opportunity to be absorbed than wash-off items like soaps and shampoos. Because of that, prioritize evaluating leave-on products first.

Count how many personal care items you use daily, then narrow that list to the leave-on products: deodorant or antiperspirant, lotion, makeup, lip balms, perfume or cologne, hair styling products, aftershave, and similar items. Studies suggest the average daily leave-on product count is about 12 for women and 6 for men.

Despite appealing scents and attractive packaging, many personal care products contain ingredients linked to health risks. Roughly one-third of products contain at least one ingredient associated with cancer; nearly half contain ingredients that may affect reproductive health or fetal development; about 60 percent contain chemicals that can act like estrogen or otherwise disrupt hormones; and more than half contain penetration enhancers that increase how quickly other chemicals are absorbed into the body.

It’s also important to note that neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides comprehensive regulation for cosmetics; therefore individuals must take responsibility for researching product ingredients and exposures.

Below are practical steps to protect your skin and reduce unnecessary exposure:

Simplify. Many people keep multiple cleansers—facial wash, body wash, hand soap, foot wash—when a single, gentle cleanser can do the job. Cleansing ingredients work the same way across the body, capturing oil and grime on one end and rinsing away with water on the other. Streamline to versatile, essential products made with safe ingredients.
Take baby steps. Choose just one product a month to investigate—start with the product you use most. Check its ingredient list for red flags and then research safer alternatives if needed. Over time you’ll replace multiple products without feeling overwhelmed. After a year you could have improved a dozen product categories and developed the habit of choosing more thoughtfully.
Use trusted independent resources. Third-party organizations that evaluate product safety can be helpful when you’re starting your research. Independent databases and campaigns often summarize scientific findings and flag concerning ingredients.
Read labels and watch for red-flag ingredients. Common ingredients often associated with risk include:

Parabens — Endocrine-disrupting preservatives that can mimic or block natural hormones. Look for propylparaben, isopropylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben among others.
Fragrance — Listed simply as “fragrance” or “parfum,” this term can hide dozens of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), which have been linked to male reproductive development issues. Fragrance blends are proprietary and may contain compounds you’d otherwise avoid.
Ethoxylated ingredients — Ingredients with “-eth” endings (myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth), PEG, polyethylene, or oxynol can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a by-product considered a probable human carcinogen by some agencies. This contaminant is not listed on labels because it is a manufacturing residual.
Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) — These can be contaminated with nitrosamines, which have been shown carcinogenic in animal studies and are considered likely human carcinogens by some authorities.
Formaldehyde releasers — Ingredients such as quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, and DMDM hydantoin release small amounts of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen and a skin sensitizer that can increase allergic reactions.

By staying informed, reading labels, and making gradual changes, you can significantly reduce unnecessary exposure and make your daily routine safer and simpler.

Further reading