Over the years, companies have put pressure on consumers, making it their job to read and be able to identify every ingredient found within a product, ultimately leaving the consumer to have to come a constructive decision on whether that said product is deemed ‘safe’ by their standards.
Phthalates, one chemical hidden amongst a never-ending sea of unpronounceable ingredients, is found in the most common of household items and yet can have an adverse effect on your health. When pregnant with her first child, Medeau founder Allison Stubbings questioned the day-to-day products which she would use and found the dangerous hidden secrets behind phthalates. We’re here to share her research with you.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE PHTHALATES?
Phthalates are a group of man-made chemical compounds typically used to make plastics more durable. They are odorless, oily liquids that do not evaporate easily and are not chemically bounded to the material they are added to, making it difficult for consumers to avoid exposure to them.
WHY DON’T WE USE THEM?
Phthalates are hormone disruptors, this means that when they are absorbed into the body they can either mimic or block female hormones, or in males, suppress the hormones involved in sexual development. Additionally, because phthalates can cross the placenta, this means that certain household products which you use on the everyday can also impact the development of a fetus.
Enough research on phthalates has been conducted which indicate that companies should proceed with caution when using any chemical in the phthalate class, particularly in products for pregnant women or young children, whom the research has indicated are the most vulnerable to the effects of phthalates.
WHERE ARE THEY COMMONLY FOUND?
This secret little chemical can be found in the most common of household items including air fresheners and plug-ins, shower curtains or inflatable mattresses, car interiors, food and liquid containers, baby formula and baby food, and cosmetics and personal care.
When it comes to fragrance, phthalates are most commonly used to make the scent last longer throughout the day, allowing companies to claim that their formulas last longer than their competitors’.
WHAT HEALTH ISSUES CAN THEY CAUSE?
There has been a significant amount of research regarding long-term exposure to phthalates and the impact it can have on your health. The most significant is the effect it can have on both male and female hormones, disrupting the body’s natural ability to both produce and balance hormones, interfering with reproductive development and ultimately causing fertility issues. Additionally, phthalates have been linked to type II diabetes, damage to the liver, kidney and lungs, cardiovascular disease, obesity and other metabolic disorders, though it’s important to note that these are all following a long-time exposure of phthalates.
WHERE DOES MEDEAU FIT IN?
Following our founder’s deep dive and commitment into researching the adversities regarding phthalates, Allison vowed to never use any such ingredients within the Medeau product range.
Alongside our perfumer, eminent British nose Azzi Glasser, we’ve developed formulations that use science-backed ingredients that will not cause your body, or anyone else’s, any long-term harm. The longevity of our Medeau fragrances has been thoroughly researched, which is why we focused on the substantive base notes materials, such as rose, cedarwood, vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver and
tuberose, within the fragrances to allow for an all-day scent elixir.