Glow Safely: How to Avoid Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics

DR. HARINDER ARYA IS INDIA'S FIRST PEPTIDE SCIENTIST AND IS WELL-KNOWN GLOBALLY FOR HER RESEARCH ON SAFE FORMULATIONS FOR HAIR, SCALP AND SKINCARE. SHE IS A PART OF MANY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA INITIATIVES AND HAS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH PREMIUM RESEARCH INSTITUTES IN THE COUNTRY. SHE IS THE CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF-SCIENTIST AT INDUS VALLEY COSMETICS. SHE SHARES SOME TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM TOXIC INGREDIENTS.

- DEEPAK J WILLIAM

Indus Valley Organic has almost five decades of legacy. It formulated the very first organic hair colour and started contract manufacturing and providing the technical know-how to brands across the globe. Later, the hair colour was launched in the Netherlands and Europe, followed by the USA before launching it in India. It has expanded into the before hair and skin care segment successfully.

What kind of testing facilities do your labs offer?

Traditionally we have done water and food testing, we have been doing ingredient testing for personal care and hair products as well and are an empaneled lab for certifications; however, our lab has now transitioned to a more robust R&D Facility where we test and develop our property formulations.

What are the kind of ingredients that can be harmful to you in cosmetics?

Some of the harmful components still used in cosmetics these days are - Parabens, Phthalates, Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES & SLS) and more.

While Paraben used as a preservative can disrupt hormonal balance, the SLS used as foaming agents can cause skin irritation and aggravate allergic reactions.

One should look for better and cleaner alternatives. One such alternative is Sodium Benzoate for preservation and a mixture of Shikakai and Reetha, which act as natural foaming agents.

How would you classify these?

To identify these harmful chemicals, customers should start by understanding what they are using and reading the labels of the products before using them. Do not get deceived by the organic tag, even the biggest brands use these chemicals, and one can easily identify by reading the labels carefully.

Why are Parabens harmful? How do we identify these from the labels?