Forbidden Ingredients 🚫 

At Banbu, we are highly aware of the importance of using the right ingredients for you. In several posts, we have discussed the dangers of artificial cosmetics and their components. We have also talked many times about the ingredients we use in our products, achieving quality cosmetics that are respectful of your body and the planet. But we want to add one more thing.

This is a list of ingredients you will NEVER FIND in Banbu:

• Phthalates: Phthalates are chemical substances primarily used to soften plastics. Since they are not inherent components of these plastics, they can be released throughout the product's life cycle. They are on the list of endocrine disruptors and are therefore linked to infertility problems or even kidney and liver toxicity.

• Parabens: Parabens are chemicals added to cosmetic products as preservatives. Their function is to prevent these products from degenerating over time due to the effect of fungi or bacteria. These are also on the list of endocrine disruptors, making them hormonally dangerous, and they have also been linked to breast cancer on several occasions.

• Petroleum derivatives: These are hydrocarbons, frequently used for moisturizers or lip balms, for example. What they do is draw all the moisture from the skin to the outer layer, giving a false sense of hydration. Once the effects wear off, the skin is even drier than before. By doing this, they clog skin pores, blocking the elimination of toxins and skin respiration.

• Silicones: These are a mixture of silicon and oxygen widely used in cosmetics for their properties. It is a light component that greatly improves the appearance of hair and skin. The problem is that, to begin with, this layer of silicone prevents the scalp from regenerating properly. In the case of applying silicones to the face frequently, it clogs the skin's pores and prevents it from absorbing necessary nutrients.

• Halogenated compounds: These are liquids that contain bromine, iodine, fluorine, or chlorine, among others. They are linked to the appearance of microbial resistance and a higher incidence of allergies.

• Formaldehyde derivatives: Formaldehyde, also called methanal, is chemically the simplest aldehyde. Among its characteristics, it stands out for being colorless, very strong-smelling, and highly flammable. Studies have shown that these chemicals are linked to skin irritation and the appearance of eczema and ulcers. It also irritates the respiratory tract and can even cause cancer in the consumer.

• Diethanolamine (DEA): As an ingredient in a cleaner, it stands out for its foaming properties. In cosmetic products, it is used to give a creamy texture, meaning it provides a pleasant consistency to the product. Additionally, it is used to regulate pH, and since it is liposoluble, it is effective at penetrating deep into the skin. You can find it in various products, although it is mainly common in shampoos. After absorption, it accumulates in organs, especially the brain, and has a carcinogenic effect.

• Phenoxyethanol: It is a broad-spectrum preservative with antimicrobial activity, effective against bacteria as well as yeasts. New studies show possible adverse effects, including liver toxicity, central nervous system damage in children, and reproductive problems.

• PEGs: These are also hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, but we will give them a special category, differentiated from the rest. As part of their process, they could be contaminated with impurities that are harmful to health. Furthermore, being very chemically stable, they take many years to degrade in the environment. Data reports that exposure to this compound, through different routes, is probably carcinogenic and, in the long term, can cause kidney and liver damage.

• Sulfates: These are salts derived from sulfuric acid and fatty acids. They are widely used for their detergent, surfactant, and emulsifying properties. The detergent properties of sulfates make them irritating to the skin, attacking the natural protective barrier. They are linked to the appearance of atopic dermatitis.

• Aluminum salts: Aluminum salts are the most used ingredient in antiperspirant products. They temporarily block the ends of the excretory ducts of the sweat glands. In recent years, aluminum in cosmetics has been linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer's.

• EDTA: Both Disodium and Trisodium EDTA are substances whose purpose is to enhance the effectiveness of other preservatives, but they have been shown to greatly weaken the membrane that protects cells and are truly harmful to the environment.

• BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene or BHT is an antioxidant extensively used to prevent the decomposition or rancidity of food. Among the negative effects attributed to it are damage to the liver, kidneys, and lungs. Furthermore, various organizations have identified this compound as a pollutant for marine environments.