What's the big deal with phalates, anyway? Well, the first problem, is that they're not required to be on the list of ingredients in products. This is because certain ingredients are considered "trade secrets." However, their primary function is to extend the staying power of scent. So anytime you see "fragrance", "perfume", or "parfum" on the contents list, you can be fairly certain that the product contains Phthalates.
Consequently, they are in almost all of your beauty products that smell nice. Hand soaps, lotions, cremes, facial cleansers, deodorants, after shaves...you get the idea.
Many studies have linked phthalates to a number of health concerns. The biggest one pertains to their role as hormone disruptors. Hormone disruptors can be implicated in everything from various cancers, to birth defects, to premature puberty.
Try to choose personal care products that are unfragranced, or, are fragranced with natural essential oils.
A whole chapter in the book, "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" is devoted to phthalates. I have a book review on that book in an earlier blog entry.
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