Women absorb up to 5lbs of damaging chemicals a year thanks to beauty products:
Among the chief chemical suspects are parabens – preservatives widely used in skin and hair products, including soap, shampoo, deodorant and baby lotion.Capable of stopping bacterial growth, parabens are also thought to mimic the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen, which is known to help tumours grow.
Traces of the chemical have been found in breast tumour samples but the link with cancer is, however, hotly disputed.
Sodium lauryl sulphate, which helps soap, shampoo, shaving foam, toothpaste and bubble bath lather up, can irritate skin.
Other potential irritants include benzyl alcohols, which are used to scent and preserve perfume, makeup and hair dyes.
Cocamide MEA, which binds the ingredients of many moisturisers, is also a suspect.
The average woman absorbs 4lb 6oz of chemicals from toiletries and make-up every year, the industry magazine In-Cosmetics recently reported.